Amino-sugars enhance recognition and phagocytosis of particles by human neutrophils

Neutrophils were examined for their ability to recognize and ingest beads coated with amino-derivatives of glucose, mannose, and galactose. Radioactive or fluorescent beads coated with any of the three sugars were ingested to an extent three times that observed with albumin-coated beads. Enhancement of ingestion of sugar-coated beads was much more evident when examined by electron micrographic studies. Inclusion of glucose or mannose in the medium with glucose- or mannose-coated beads caused a dose-dependent reduction of ingestion to control levels, but ingestion of galactose-coated beads was poorly inhibited. Similarly, galactose or fucose (6-deoxy-galactose) markedly inhibited ingestion of galactose-coated beads, but caused only a slight decrease in ingestion of glucose- or mannose-coated beads. Thus, neutrophils possess carbohydrate-binding membrane structures that can mediate recognition and ingestion of sugar-coated beads. Such carbohydrate recognition systems may underlie certain interactions of neutrophils and other surfaces.