Changes in the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans in polymorphonuclear leukocytes in relation to their induction into the peritoneal cavity.

The synthesis and function of dermatan sulfate in peritoneal polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes were studied. The peritoneal PMN leukocytes were obtained at 4,8, and 16 h after guinea pigs were injected intraperitoneally with caseinate solution, and were incubated with [35S] sulfate or [3H] glucosamine on plastic. The total glycosaminoglycan synthesis and the proportion of dermatan sulfate to total glycosaminoglycans linearly increased with time. In order to clarify the function of the increased dermatan sulfate, peritoneal PMN leukocytes were cultured with [35S] sulfate on plastic or collagen gel. The total glycosaminoglycan synthesis on the collagen gel culture increased 1.5 times compared with that on the plastic culture, and especially, dermatan sulfate synthesis increased twofold. In addition, 65% of dermatan sulfate on the collagen gel culture was found in the cell and the collagenase-soluble fractions. These results indicate that proteodermatan sulfate synthesized by PMN leukocytes interacts with collagen in vitro, and suggest that PMN leukocytes, which migrated to the inflammatory locus, lastly adhere to the injured tissue through the interaction of proteodermatan sulfate synthesized by themselves with collagen fibers exposed in the inflammatory locus.