Engagement of CD33 surface molecules prevents the generation of dendritic cells from both monocytes and CD34+ myeloid precursors.

Although CD33 represents an important marker of myeloid cell differentiation, its function remains poorly defined. In view of its homology with p75/AIRM1, a recently identified surface molecule which exerts a potent inhibition on NK cell function, we re-evaluated the effect of CD33 engagement in defined myeloid cell functions. Addition of anti-CD33 mAb to cultures of CD14+ monocytes supplemented with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-4 and TNF-alpha, prevented the generation of dendritic cells. In these cultured cells, engagement of CD33 resulted in an increased surface binding of annexin-V, followed by cell death. Mature dendritic cells were resistant to the CD33-mediated effect. Also in CD34+ precursors, cultured in the presence of flt3-ligand, c-Kit-ligand, GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-alpha, addition of anti-CD33 mAb prevented the recovery of mature dendritic cells. These data suggest a regulatory role of CD33 in the myeloid cell maturation and may offer a tool to interfere with the monocyte/macrophage cell function as well as with the development of dendritic cells.