The CMRF-35 mAb recognizes a second leukocyte membrane molecule with a domain similar to the poly Ig receptor

Abstract

The CMRF-35 mAb recognizes an antigen found on most leukocytes including monocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, and subpopulations of lymphocytes and bone marrow cells. A cDNA expressing the CMRF-35 epitope was isolated by expression cloning and this predicts for a type I cell surface glycoprotein belonging to the Ig superfamily. Here we demonstrate that the CMRF-35 mAb recognizes an epitope more widely distributed on hemopoietic cells and cell lines than suggested by expression analysis of the CMRF-35 mRNA. Furthermore, we have isolated a novel cDNA (CMRF-35-H9) that encodes a protein product also recognized by the CMRF-35 mAb. This cDNA product is a type I cell surface glycoprotein with a single Ig V-like domain. Although the sequences of the extracellular V-like domains of the two molecules are very similar, there is little similarity between the remainder of their sequences. The two transcripts are expressed independently of each other, and their presence accounts for the discrepancy between CMRF-35 mAb binding and mRNA analysis. The cytoplasmic tail of CMRF-35-H9 contains motifs similar to the inhibitory motifs found in some leukocyte surface receptors. Their expression in hemopoietic cells suggests that these two molecules may play distinct but related roles in the regulation of leukocyte function.