USE OF SURFACE MOLECULES AND RECEPTORS FOR STUDYING MACROPHAGES AND MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTES

Members of the mononuclear phagocyte system use their extensive repert oire of cell surface receptors to interact with their external environ ment. A number of different assays are available for the study of thes e molecules and their many functions. In this paper we describe how mo noclonal antibodies may be generated against macrophage molecules, and discuss how screening stategies aimed at producing functionally activ e reagents may be devised. Using the macrophage mannose and scavenger receptors as examples, we describe assays for determining macrophage a dhesion to culture plastic surfaces, endocytosis of soluble ligands an d phagocytosis of particles in vitro. These assays may be used in the production of inhibitory monoclonal antibodies, as well as in studies of the regulation of macrophage phenotype and activity.