DISTRIBUTION OF THE CD68 MACROPHAGE MYELOID ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN

The distribution of the pan-macrophage CD68 antigen, recognized by six different monoclonal antibodies, was examined In human blood, tissue, and cell lines uslng APAAP staining and Western blotting. All antibodies stained monocytes and macrophages, but labelling of neutrophils, basophils, and lymphocytes was seen with some of the reagents. In addition, the CD68 antibodies demonstrated a variety of staining patterns on some non-haemopoletic cells. The subtle dtfferences between the reactions of the different antibodies suggested that the CD68 antigen may ba heterogeneous, possibly due to differences In glycosylation. While C W antibodies are very useful markers of the macrophage/myelold series, the presence of small amounts of the antigen on some tymphold and non-haemopoletic cells means that care should be taken when using them for the diagnosls of tumours of unknown origin. © 1990 Oxford University Press.