Effects of suramin on phagocytes in vitro

In the therapeutically important range (100-200 micrograms/ml), suramin was found to increase the phagocytic activity of human monocytes (measured by the uptake of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and sensitized sheep red blood cells) in vitro. Suramin itself was a chemotactic signal for monocytes and increased the chemiluminescence of neutrophil granulocytes. Suramin seems to act via the ATP-binding P2 receptors of human phagocytes.