Anti-RMA, a murine monoclonal antibody, activates rat macrophages: II. Induction of DNA synthesis and formation of multinucleated giant cells

Anti-RMA is a murine anti-rat monoclonal antibody that binds to a 120-kD surface membrane antigen expressed primarily by alveolar macrophages. Saline-lavaged alveolar macrophages (AM) formed clusters after incubation with anti-RMA. Anti-RMA produced multinucleated giant cells (MGC) in approximately 15% of adherent AM, and the F (ab')2 fragment of anti-RMA yielded MGC in approximately 9% of AM. The Fab fragment of anti-RMA did not promote MGC formation, nor did the murine anti-rat monoclonal antibodies OX41 and W3/25 (anti-CD4). Although anti-RMA produced a tenfold increase in 3H]thymidine incorporation by AM, it yielded a minimal increase in the number of AM. Autoradiography of AM stimulated with anti-RMA showed heterogeneous labeling of nuclei in MGC, suggesting that 3H-labeled AM may fuse with AM that are not actively synthesizing DNA. These findings suggest that binding of anti-RMA to AM may activate DNA synthesis, and promote clustering and fusion of AM, leading to MGC formation.