Effect of phagocytosis of pHEMA particles and of heat-killed Candida albicans on expression of carbohydrate-binding sites such as endogenous lectins in phagocytes
Abstrakt
Phagocytosis of particles is an integral part of the defence system. Besides clearing the environment of foreign material this mechanism may affect the expression of physiologically relevant epitopes such as carbohydrate-binding sites, e.g. lectins.
To determine the effect of particle design on the expression of such determinants in human monocytes and peritoneal macrophages either in suspension or after adherence, the binding of labelled (neo)glycoproteins was comparatively studied after exposure to poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) particles and heat-inactivated Candida albicans cells. A stimulatory effect of phagocytosis on extent of expression of binding sites for (neo)glycoproteins in phagocytic cells was observed.
The levels of responsiveness varied according to the type of particle, adherence of the cell adding a further regulatory parameter. These results support the notion of a potential influence of the chemical structure and/or the form of an engulfed particle on phagocyte differentiation.