Effect of antibodies directed against complement receptors on phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes: Use of iodination as a convenient measure of phagocytosis

Two monoclonal antibodies (Mab), designated 60.3 and 60.1, markedly inhibited the phagocytosis of serum-opsonized zymosan by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) as measured by the iodination reaction and by microscopic visualization. These antibodies also inhibited rosette formation with EC3bi without decreasing EC3b rosetting, suggesting that Mab 60.3 and 60.1 inhibit the phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan through reaction with the C3bi receptor (CR3) on the leukocyte surface. In support of this concept is the finding that the PMN of two patients with recurrent infections do not ingest opsonized zymosan, lack C3bi receptor function, and react weakly or not at all with Mab 60.3 and 60.1. At concentrations which completely inhibited ingestion of opsonized zymosan, both Mab partially inhibited iodination with Staphylococcus aureus 502A as the particle, and did not affect iodination when Staphylococcus epidermidis was used. This presumably reflects a variable need among the opsonized particles for CR3 for ingestion. Mab 60.3 also inhibited the phagocytosis of certain unopsonized particles as measured by iodination, indicating that the antigens recognized by the Mab do not influence phagocytosis solely by functioning as a C3bi receptor. Mab 60.3 increased the phagocytosis of unopsonized, heat-killed S. aureus by reaction with the PMN via its antibody-combining site, and with the staphylococcal protein A via its Fc region (reverse opsonization). This process required protein A-containing organisms (S. aureus 502A or Cowan 1 but not S. aureus Wood 46 or S. epidermidis), was inhibited by purified protein A, and was not seen either when the F(ab')₂ or Fab fragments of the antibody, or when PMN which lack or have low levels of the antigen were employed. Thus, these studies, using iodination as a convenient method for the measurement of phagocytosis, demonstrated two effects of antibodies directed against PMN cell surface components: inhibition of phagocytosis by reaction with the C3bi receptor, and stimulation of phagocytosis by reverse opsonization.