Differential expression of Fc receptors for IgG by monocytes and granulocytes from neonates and adults

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology Vol. 103; no. 2; pp. 343 - 347
• Main Authors: MAEDA, M., VAN SCHIE, R. C. A. A., YÜKSEL, B., GREENOUGH, A., FANGER, M. W., GUYRE, P. M., LYDYARD, P. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford BSL Blackwell Science Ltd 01-02-1996; Blackwell; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Biological and medical sciences; Embryonic and Fetal Development - immunology; Fc receptors; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; granulocytes; Granulocytes - immunology; Humans; Immunobiology; Infant, Newborn; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; monocytes; Monocytes - immunology; neonates; Original; polymorphonuclear leucocytes; Pregnancy; Receptors, IgG - biosynthesis; Regulatory factors and their cellular receptors; Human; Newborn; Fc-Fragment; Monocyte; Immunomodulation; Granulocyte; IgG; Adult; Cell subpopulation; Biological receptor
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1996.d01-615.x

The immature neonatal immune system is thought to result in increased risk of infection. Receptors for the Fc moiety of IgG (FcγR) are important in antibody‐mediated clearance of microbes by granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages. As an approach to understanding their role in neonatal life, we have compared the constitutive expression of the three Fc receptors—FcγRI (CD64), FcγRII (CD32) and FcγRIII (CD16)—by neonatal and adult blood monocytes and granulocytes using quantitative immunofluorescence by flow cytometry. Our results confirm that there is a small subpopulation of FcγRII‐positive monocytes in adult blood, and furthermore show that this is absent or at a low percentage in cord blood samples. However, the main population of cord blood monocytes expresses low, but significantly higher levels of FcγRIII than adult monocytes. No differences were seen in the quantitative expression of FcγRI and FcγRII. Neonatal granulocytes expressed significantly higher levels of both FcγRI and FcγRII but significantly lower levels of FcγRIII. The data are discussed in terms of the possible role of cytokines and susceptibility to infection.