PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF 3 LONG-TERM-CULTURED MURINE RESIDENT MACROPHAGE LINES

The antigenic phenotypes of three long-term cultured murine resident macrophage lines selected in vitro from cell suspensions of different tissues - namely MAY1 (from the peritoneal cavity), MASP (from the spleen) and MALU (from lung tissue) - were determined using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. The results indicate that all three cell lines belong to the mononuclear phagocyte system and express characteristics indicating a rather high differentiation state. However, there was a significant difference in antigen expression between the two macrophage lines obtained from solid tissues (MASP from spleen and MALU from lung), which were very similar in their antigenic pattern, and the MAY1 line obtained from the peritoneal cavity, which seemed to be less well differentiated. The antigenic profile of the "mesothelial" cell population associated with the MASP line indicates that this cell population is difficult to characterize and to include in a particular lineage.