Complement-receptor-3 and scavenger-receptor-AI/II mediated myelin phagocytosis in microglia and macrophages

Abstract

Microglia and macrophages express the αM/β2 integrin complement-receptor-3 (CR3/MAC-1; CD11b/CD18) and scavenger-receptor-AI/II (SRAI/II). Both can mediate myelin phagocytosis. We document that CR3/MAC-1 mediated myelin phagocytosis in microglia is modulated by complement and anti-CR3/MAC-1 mAbs. Complement augmented phagocytosis twofold. Anti-αM mAbs M1/70 and 5C6 inhibited and anti-β2 mAb M18/2 augmented myelin phagocytosis in the presence and absence of active complement. Active complement modulated phagocytosis inhibition by M1/70 and 5C6 and phagocytosis augmentation by M18/2. CR3/MAC-1 mediated myelin phagocytosis may thus be, at least partially, independent of but modulated by complement. Anti-β2 mAb Game-46 did not affect phagocytosis. However, combining M18/2 with Game-46 resulted in phagocytosis augmentation that was larger in magnitude than that induced by M18/2 alone. Thus, phagocytosis augmentation induced by one anti-β2 mAb was potentiated by another anti-β2 mAb. Combining M1/70 or 5C6 with M18/2 inhibited M18/2-induced augmentation. Overall, mAbs-induced phagocytosis modulation ranged three- to sevenfold from inhibition to augmentation. Anti-CR3/MAC-1 mAbs may reveal a mechanism by which native extracellular molecules bind to and modulate CR3/MAC-1 mediated myelin phagocytosis in microglia and macrophages. We further document SRAI/II mediated myelin phagocytosis in microglia and CR3/MAC-1 contributing to myelin phagocytosis two- to threefold more than SRAI/II when the two receptors function together.