Alterations of the glycocalyx of Fc receptor-bearing cell lines during Fc receptor-ligand interactions.
The binding of IgG-coated erythrocytes to Fc receptors on both a lymphoblastoid and a macrophage-like cell line resulted in a decrease in thickness of the polyanionic, extracellular glycocalyx (cell coat) as determined by electron microscopic histochemistry. This decrease showed no correlation with ligand-binding sites and was considered to be a generalized extramembrane effect. Pretreatment of the cells with trypsin or neuraminidase produced decreases in thickness similar to those observed following ligand binding. The results suggest a possible role for enzymatic cleavage of extracellular constituents by morphologically and functionally different cell types and may represent an event common to cell-surface recognition.
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012430:Ruthenium Red
D011961:Receptors, Fc; D012430:Ruthenium Red