Aim: To explore the morphologic and phenotypic changes of monocytess in response to the stimulation of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha.
Methods: Newly isolated monocytes from human PBMCs were treated with IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha or IFN-alpha. The phenotypic growth of monocytes with or without stimulation was observed by microscope. The surface expression of CD1a, CD14, CD80, CD83, CD86, and HLA-DR on the monocytes was assayed by flow cytometry.
Results: After IFN-gamma stimulation, monocytes displayed the shape of fusiform or polygon and were more likely to adhere and cluster to form the distinct structure as "cell islet". IFN-gamma; also induced or up-regulated the surface expression of CD80, CD83, CD86, and HLA-DR on the monocytes and down-regulated the CD14 expression. IFN-gamma even induced the CD1a expression and changed the monocytes phenotype from CD14(+)CD1a(-)CD83(-) to CD14(+)CD1a(+)CD83(+) after stimulated for 5 days. Cytokines TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha; have the different impacts on monocytes from IFN-gamma.
Conclusion: IFN-gamma have the immunoregulatory function of making monocytes differentiate to untypical mature dendritic cells (DC).