Premium
Role of carbohydrates in rat leukemia cell‐liver macrophage cell contacts
Author(s) -
SchlepperSchäfer J.,
Holl N.,
KolbBachofen V.,
Friedrich E.,
Kolb H.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1111/j.1768-322x.1985.tb00344.x
Subject(s) - biology , macrophage , leukemia , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer research , immunology , biochemistry , in vitro
The mechanism by which macrophages recognize tumor cells is still unknown. We have studied interactions between rat liver macrophages and rat L 5222 leukemia cells. These tumor cells, but not normal leukocytes or erythrocytes, adhere to freshly isolated macrophages in vitro. Binding of tumor cells by macrophages can be inhibited by N‐acetyl‐D‐galactosamine, D‐galactose and more potently by glycoproteins with terminal N‐acetyl‐D‐galactosamine or D‐galactose residues. Tumor cell adhesion is calcium‐dependent. The relevant leukemia cell membrane structures which bear terminal beta‐D‐galactosyl or related residues have been determined as trypsin‐ and pronase‐sensitive, and hence may presumably be glycoproteins. The tumor cell receptor on liver macrophages appears to be a lectin with the carbohydrate specificity N‐acetyl‐D‐galactosamine greater than D‐galactose greater than L‐fucose.