The human leucocyte-common antigen: differential expression of framework and restricted antigenic determinants on early haemopoietic progenitors.

Monoclonal antibodies have been raised against human LC determinants. One, F10.89.4, recognizes a 'framework' epitope on all LC molecules; the other, F8.11.13, recognizes a 'restricted' epitope present on only a subset of these molecules which are found mainly on B and a subpopulation of T cells. A previous study of leukaemias showed that some early lymphoid and myeloid leukaemic cells totally lack LC (35% of ALLs and AMLs are F10.89.4-, F8.11.13-). In contrast, a proportion of myeloid leukaemias carried both 'framework' and 'restricted' epitopes (30% AMLs and AMMLs are F10.89.4+, F8.11.13+). To determine whether comparable heterogeneity exists in normal bone marrow we have analysed LC expression during haemopoiesis, using FACS separated populations and in vitro progenitor assays. Our data show that the great majority of haemopoietic progenitors express the LC 'framework' epitope. These can be separated by size into myeloid (large) and lymphoid (small) progenitor populations. However, very few myeloid progenitors (11% CFU-GM, 6% CFU-GEMM) express the additional 'restricted' LC F8.11.13 epitope. Most F8.11.13+ progenitors are CFU-lymphoid; these generate both T and B lymphocytes, but show a preference for the B lineage. Thus there is some molecular heterogeneity of LC during normal haemopoiesis, but this is far less extensive than that found in leukaemias.