Lectin-mediated induction of human neutrophil chemotaxis, chemokinesis, and cap formation

Six lectins, including concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin P, castor bean I, wheat germ agglutinin, peanut agglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen, were studied for their ability to stimulate human neutrophil locomotion and cap formation. Five of these lectins with known monosaccharide specificities, including concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, P, castor bean I, wheat germ agglutinin, and peanut agglutinin, were found to stimulate human neutrophil migration in a modified Boyden assay. Pokeweed mitogen showed negligible activity in the locomotion assay as compared with other lectins. Tests were performed to determine if the observed neutrophil migration in response to lectins was directional, and it was found that concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin P, and peanut agglutinin were both chemokinetic and chemotactic, whereas castor bean I was only chemokinetic. Wheat germ agglutinin could not be declared chemotactic or chemokinetic due to its tendency to agglutinate neutrophils. Studies with fluoresceinated lectins demonstrated that lectins which stimulate neutrophil migration also bind to neutrophil surfaces. Preincubation with specific monosaccharide ligands blocked both stimulated locomotion and fluorescence, suggesting that an available lectin-binding site was required both for lectin binding and the stimulation of migration. Additional experiments indicated that fluoresceinated concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin P, castor bean I, wheat germ agglutinin, and peanut agglutinin all induce cap formation on the neutrophil.