Expression of Ia-antigens on guinea pig Kupffer cells

Summary The expression of the Ia-antigen on guinea pig Kupffer cells was studied employing two monoclonal antibodies against two different determinants of the Ia-molecule. The study was performed in situ on liver sections and on isolated highly purified Kupffer cells kept in culture up to 6 days. The influence of guinea pig hepatocyte culture supernatant and of supernatants of phytohemoagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) on the Ia expression was measured. Immunofluorescence staining of cryostat sections revealed that the monoclonal antibodies used are able to detect Ia-antigens on liver macrophages in situ. The in vitro studies strongly suggest that all Kupf…