INHIBITORY EFFECT OF HEPARIN ON LEUKOCYTE CHEMOTACTIC FACTORS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (2) , 526-531
Abstract
Heparin inhibits attraction of leukocytes to chemotactic factors in human skin windows in a dose-dependent fashion. These findings can be reproduced by in vitro chemotaxis studies with zymosan-activated serum, bacterial factor or eosinophil chemotactic factor as chemoattractants. Evidence was presented that the mechanism of this inhibition is an interaction of heparin with the chemotactic factors themselves and not with the migrating leukocytes. Two other mucopolysaccharides, chondroitin sulfate A and hyaluronic acid, are also potent inhibitors of chemotactic factors. A physiological mechanism was suggested whereby inflammatory processes can be modulated at tissue sites and within the peripheral circulation.