The role of mannose in the receptor of the monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor produced by Entamoeba histolytica.

The effect of the monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor (MLIF) produced by Entamoeba histolytica is diminished, if not cancelled, when human monocytes are pre-exposed to concanavalin A or sodium periodate, respectively, but not when MLIF is pretreated with sodium periodate. When the MLIF-inhibited monocyte locomotion assays were performed in the presence of 12 different carbohydrates, only the runs containing D-mannose, 4-O-beta-galactosyl-mannoside or mannan revealed a significant reduction in the inhibitory effect. Finally, the MLIF activity was virtually absorbed out with mannan-coupled Sepharose 4B beads. This suggests that D-mannose constitutes an essential part of the receptor for MLIF on the human monocyte membrane.