Adherence and migration of guinea pig granulocytes after enzyme treatment of the cell surface

Glycogen-induced polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) from the peritoneal cavity of guinea pigs were examined (1) for their adherence to nylon fibers in the absence and presence of the adherence-enhancing chemotactic peptide formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (f-MLP), (2) for their random migration through the filter of a Boyden chamber and (3) for their chemotactic migration towards f-MLP. The cells were analyzed before and after treatment with the enzymes neuraminidase, papain and trypsin. PMN adhesiveness was increased by neuraminidase digestion but reduced by treatment with the proteolytic enzymes. Neuraminidase and trypsin had no effect on cell migration, while papain reduced random migration without affecting f-MLP-induced chemotaxis. The data suggest that the type of adherence measured by the nylon fiber method differs from the temporary attachment of cells migrating through a chemotaxis filter towards an attracting substance.