Biochemical and functional alterations induced by CD23 ligation in the human promonocytic cell line U937

The early events triggered in interleukin-4 (IL-4)-stimulated U937 cells by ligation of CD23/Fc epsilon RII with specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were analysed, as a model of the action of this molecule on the differentiation of promonocytic cells. As well as IL-4-activated human monocytes, addition of anti-CD23 mAb to IL-4-treated U937 cells triggered cAMP accumulation but did not evoke significant polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis. However, by a microspectrofluorometric technique allowing single cell analysis, anti-CD23 mAb was found to elicit calcium mobilization in these cells. In addition, the treatment induced phenotypic alterations in these cells, as evidenced by the acquisition of the monocyte marker CD14 and the increase of the alpha-chain (CD11a) and of the common beta-chain (CD18) of the leucocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) family antigens. Although weaker than in monocytes, CD23 ligation evoked a small secretion of the pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6 and thromboxane B2. These data suggest that a significant maturation of promonocytic cells towards a more mature monocytic phenotype can be achieved through successive exposure to IL-4 and CD23 ligation.