A ganglioside-dependent cellular binding mechanism in rat macrophages

A rosetting assay was performed with rat alveolar and peritoneal macrophages and sheep red blood cells (SRBC) treated with gangliosides. SRBC incubated with GM2, GD1a, and a mixture of bovine brain gangliosides (BBG) showed binding to rat macrophages. The extent of binding was dependent on the concentration of gangliosides. Binding induced by GM2 was stronger than that induced GD1a and BBG. GM1 and GA2 did not induce rosette formation. Inhibition studies with gangliosides, sialyllactose, lactose, and neuraminic acid suggested that the macrophage binding site recognizes neuraminic acid in conjunction with neighboring carbohydrates showing highest affinity for GM2. Sodium azide, sodium fluoride, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, cytochalasin B, and colchicine did not inhibit rosette formation. The percentage of peritoneal macrophages binding ganglioside-treated SRBC was lower than that of alveolar macrophages. Proteose-peptone-stimulated peritoneal macrophages, however, showed an increase of rosette formation. Around 30% of adherent spleen cells also had binding activity for GM2-treated SRBC. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells did not bind ganglioside-treated SRBC. Phagocytosis of GM2-treated SRBC attached to alveolar macrophages could not be observed. It is suggested that macrophages may express recognition sites for certain gangliosides that might be important in cell-cell interaction.