Attachment of Modified Erythrocytes to Phagocytic Cells in Absence of Serum.

Abstract

Homologous or heterologous red cells subjected to a number of treatments attached to mouse peritoneal macrophages in a saline, protein free medium in contrast to the lack of attachment of untreated red cells. Effective treatments included heat, glutaralde-hyde, tannic arid, periodate, polylysine and colloidal silica. Under the same conditions, the modified erythrocytes showed little or no attachment to polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Trypsin or n-ethylmaleimide treatment of erythrocytes did not promote attachment to either cell type. Attachment of treated red cells was temperature dependent, and was abolished or reduced by premcubation of the macrophages with trypsin.