Quantitative analysis of LacCer-CDw17 in human myelogenous leukaemic cells

LacCer/CDw17 is the most abundant GSL in neutrophils. The cell-surface and intracellular presence of LacCer was determined quantitatively using anti-CDw17 mAbs in a flow cytometry assay. The quantified alterations in the level of CDw17 antigen expression are consistent with alterations in LacCer content, determined chemically. Our results show that CDw17 antigen expression defines successive stages in the maturation of the myeloid cell. The assessment of cell-surface and intracellular CDw17 expression may be useful in evaluating neutrophil physiological status.