Adhesion and activation of human neutrophils onto collagen chains separated by electrophoresis

After separation of the various alpha chains of the collagens by SDS-PAGE, the binding of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) to these chains was detected by a double-antibody technique and the activation of PMN by nitro blue tetrazolium. All of the alpha chains tested were able to bind PMNs. The alpha 1 chain of type I collagen activated the PMN when it had not been treated with pepsin. Pepsinized types II and VI collagens did not activate PMN. The pepsinized alpha 1(III) chains and all three alpha chains from pepsinized type V collagen were able to activate PMN.