CHARACTERIZATION OF CHICKEN MONOCYTES, MACROPHAGES AND INTERDIGITATING CELLS BY THE MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY KUL01

The distribution, function and ontogeny of the mononuclear phagocyte s ystem of the chicken were characterised using the monoclonal antibody (MAb) KUL01. KUL01 specifically recognises chicken monocytes, macropha ges and interdigitating cells, as well as activated microglia cells. I ts tissue distribution allowed to discriminate KUL01 from all earlier described MAb, reactive with mononuclear phagocytes. The specificity o f KUL01 for mononuclear phagocytes was further confirmed in functional assays: KUL01-positive macrophages in spleen and liver actively took up colloidal carbon, while monocytes and spleen and gut macrophages co ntained non-specific esterase and acid phosphatase activities characte ristic for antigen-processing. Further, it was demonstrated that KUL01 -reactive peripheral blood monocytes express MHC-II, but not CD4. In a ll tissues investigated, the same morphological subtypes of macrophage s were detected in chicken at similar localisations as in mammals, ind icating a high degree of conservation between the mononuclear phagocyt e system of the chicken and of mammals. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.