title: Macrophage recognition of cells undergoing programmed cell death (apoptosis).
abstract: As a model for the recognition of effete cells by their viable neighbours. BALB/c mouse thymocytes were coincubated with isologous peritoneal macrophages. The macrophages bound preferentially to thymocytes undergoing apoptosis, a mode of death induced in these cells by treatment with the glucocorticoid hormone methyl-prednisolone. Binding occurred in the absence of serum and was inhibited by N,N'-diacetyl chitobiose, N-acetyl glucosamine and, to a lesser extent, by N-acetyl galactosamine and D-galactose. L-fucose, D-mannose and N-acetyl neuraminic acid had no effect. The results suggest the presence of lectin-like molecules on the surface of the macrophage that recognize changes in the cell-surface carbohydrate of the apoptotic cell. The pattern of inhibition of binding by monosaccharides differs from that of previously described endogenous mammalian lectins.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival; D006358:Hot Temperature; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009005:Monosaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D009005:Monosaccharides; D008775:Methylprednisolone