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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Generation and Identification of GM-CSF Derived Alveolar-like Macrophages and Dendritic Cells From Mouse Bone Marrow
Published on: June 25, 2016
Preparation of Gc protein-derived macrophage activating factor (GcMAF) and its structural characterization and
Saharuddin Bin Mohamad1, Hideko Nagasawa, Yoshihiro Uto
1Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokushima, Minamijyosanjimacho-2, Tokushima, 770-8506 Japan.
Background:
Gc protein has been reported to be a precursor of Gc protein-derived macrophage activation factor (GcMAF) in the inflammation-primed macrophage activation cascade. An inducible beta-galactosidase of B cells and neuraminidase of T cells convert Gc protein to GcMAF.
Materials And Methods:
Gc protein from human serum was purified using 25(OH)D3 affinity column chromatography and modified to GcMAF using immobilized glycosidases (beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase) The sugar moiety structure of GcMAF was characterized by lectin blotting by Helix pomatia agglutinin. The biological activities of GcMAF were evaluated by a superoxide generation assay and a phagocytosis assay.
Results:
We successfully purified Gc protein from human serum. GcMAF was detected by lectin blotting and showed a high biological activity.
Conclusion:
Our results support the importance of the terminal N-acetylgalactosamine moiety in the GcMAF-mediated macrophage activation cascade, and the existence of constitutive GcMAF in human serum. These preliminary data are important for designing small molecular GcMAF mimics.
