[Role of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans in erythrocyte aggregation and adhesion]

The action of hyaluronate potassium (HUK) and of protein chondroitin-4-sulphate potassium (PCHSK) on the aggregation and adhesion of rabbit erythrocytes suspended in physiological saline was studied. It was found that the capacity of HUK and PCHSK to produce an unspecific and reversible aggregation of erythrocytes was connected with the formation by these biopolymeres (in solutions) of complex structures of osmotic cell type and molecular sieves, displacing cells from the space occupied by them and concentrating them in a maximally limited volume. Different heparin fractions producing no such structures in solutions did not induce formation of such individual clear-cut erythrocyte-aggregations, but inhibited the aggregating action of HUK and PCHSK when the concentration of these biopolymeres were inadequate for the complete erythrocyte aggregation. Probably, the aggregating action of HUK and PCHSK necessary for adhesion served as one of the universal biological functions expressed not only towards the erythrocytes, but also towards the other cells and different tissue structural elements.