Haptoglobin interacts with the human mast cell line HMC-1 and inhibits its spontaneous proliferation.

Haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute phase reactant produced by hepatocytes. There is evidence for an immunomodulatory potential of Hp, though there is no clear evidence yet about the mechanisms of this action. We have previously shown that Hp interacts with the beta2-integrin CD11b/CD18. In addition, other investigators reported the binding of Hp to B lymphocytes through the CD22 receptor, and to neutrophils through two different receptors. In the present study, we investigated the interaction of haptoglobin with the human mast cell line HMC-1. We report that fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled haptoglobin binds to this cell line and that binding is increased by calcium in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Hp binding sites on HMC-1 were upregulated upon stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)/A23187 and after treatment with anti-CD43 and anti-CD44 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). HMC-1 cells do not express either CD11b/CD18 or CD22 receptors, indicating that the haptoglobin-binding receptor on this cell line is different from the known receptors. Assessment of cell function showed that Hp inhibits the spontaneous growth of HMC-1 up till 40% at higher Hp concentrations, but it did not exhibit any effect on the expression of CD54 on the release of either tryptase or IL-1ra. In conclusion, haptoglobin binds specifically to human mast cells via a receptor different from CD11b/CD18 and CD22, and may play a role in the modulation of mast cell functions. Exploration of Hp effects in mast cell-dependent diseases such as allergic rhinitis and urticaria seems warranted.

Identification of haptoglobin as an alternative ligand for CD11b/CD18.

Haptoglobin is an acute phase protein with presumed anti-inflammatory activities. We report that purified fluorescein-labeled haptoglobin 1-1 binds to THP1 and U937 promonocytic cell lines, to monocytes, to granulocytes, and to a subset of CD8+ T cells and to NK cells. Studies with radioiodinated haptoglobin on THP1 cells were consistent with specific binding to one class of receptors with a density of 1.7 x 10(5) binding sites per cell and a low affinity of 6.5 x 10(-6) Kd. Binding was increased by Ca2+ and by Ca2+ and ADP. Binding to THP1 and U937 cells could be inhibited by preincubation with nonfluoresceinated haptoglobin and by fibrinogen, but not by albumin, transferrin, or alpha1-acid glycoprotein. Fibrinogen binds to the CD11b/CD18 integrin. We therefore examined whether haptoglobin has the same receptor. The anti-CD11b mAb44 indeed inhibited the binding of fluoresceinated haptoglobin to THP1 and U937 cell lines, and haptoglobin inhibited the binding of the anti-CD11b mAb anti-Leu15 and mAb44 to both cell lines. An anti-CD18 mAb partly inhibited the binding of fluoresceinated haptoglobin to THP1 and U937, indicating that the beta-chain of MAC-1 is also involved in haptoglobin binding. There was no interference between the binding of anti-CD4, anti-CD11a, or anti-CD11c mAb and haptoglobin binding to THP1 cells. Binding of haptoglobin to purified CD11b/CD18 indicates that it binds directly to the receptor. Haptoglobin is an alternative low affinity ligand for the CD11b/CD18 integrin, suggesting that this acute phase protein might regulate MAC-1-dependent cell function in vivo.