INHIBITION OF PHAGOCYTOSIS BY HIGH MOLECULAR-WEIGHT HYALURONATE

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (3) , 435-446
Abstract
The effect of sodium hyaluronate on phagocytosis was studied using a sensitive polystyrene latex sphere assay in mouse peritoneal macrophage monolayers. Viscous solutions of high MW hyaluronate (4.6 .times. 105-2.8 .times. 106) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of phagocytosis; low MW hyaluronate (9.0 .times. 104) was not inhibitory at equivalent viscosity. The inhibitory effect of high MW hyaluronate did not appear to be mediated by the polyanionic charge of the molecule since sulfated glycosaminoglycans with greater charge density (heparin and chondroitin sulfate) were ineffective. Competitive inhibition studies indicated that a direct effect on possible cell surface membrane receptors was unlikely. Physical factors such as steric hindrance by the continuous polymeric network were considerd of more importance. The hydrophilic polysaccharide may hae inhibited phagocytosis by providing an unsuitable surface for adhesive contact between the latex beads and the cell surface.