Cell membrane glycoproteins of human mast cells: a biochemical comparison with basophils.

The relationship of mast cells (MCs) to other blood leucocytes, and to basophils in particular, is unclear. The relative distribution and abundance of cell surface glycoproteins of normal and neoplastic blood cells has been established as providing a "fingerprint" allowing assignment to a particular hemopoietic cell lineage. We have examined the major labeled glycoproteins of mast cells, basophils, HL-60 cells (granulocytic), and U937 cells (monocytic), after cell surface tritiation by the periodate-borohydride technique. Mast cells have a characteristic glycoprotein profile, different from that of basophils and other leukocytes; a major feature is the lack of the gp105-115 molecular weight band common to all other white blood cells. The data suggest that the tissue mast cell is more distantly related to other hemopoietic cells than has been previously recognized.