Studies on the Mechanism of Phagocytosis. I. Effect of Electric Surface Charge on Phagocytic Activity of Macrophages for Fixed Red Cells

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Abstract
The relationship was examined between in vitro peritoneal macrophage [rat] phagocytosis of glutaraldehyde-treated sheep red cells (GRC) and the electric surface charge density of the cells. A low ionic strength produced a significant increase in the negative charge of the macrophage and GRC surfaces, and this was accompanied with a reduction in macrophage phagocytic activity. Treatment of cells with protamine sulfate reduced the negative surface charge of both macrophages and GRC. This protamine sulfate treatment resulted in an increase of macrophage phagocytic activity. The macrophage phagocytic activity decreased linearly with an increase in the product of the negative charge density on the surfaces of both macrophages and GRC. The magnitude of the electrostatic repulsion force between the surfaces of the macrophage and GRC is probably an important factor in the control mechanism of the attachment to macrophages that preceded ingestion.