Modulation of lipopolysaccharide binding to human granulocytes

Using flow cytometry and fluorescein-labelled lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Salmonella minnesota R595 (FITC-ReLPS), we studied the role of membrane proteins in the recognition of LPS by human polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) in the absence of serum. Treatment of PMN with trypsin, pronase E or proteinase K reduced both the binding of FITC-ReLPS to PMN at 4° and the response of PMN to LPS at 37°, as measured by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. Neuraminidase treatment enhanced both activities. Trypsin treatment of PMN after the binding of FITC-ReLPS effectively reduced fluorescence when cells were kept at 4°, while further incubation of FITC-ReLPS-Iabelled PMN at 37° rendered fluorescence insensible to trypsin. These results indicate a protein structure of the LPS binding site, association of FITC-ReLPS with the cell membrane at 4° and subsequent internalization at 37°. The binding of FITC-ReLPS was not inhibited by the anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3C10, which recognizes a functional epitope of CD14. Furthermore, binding of FITC-ReLPS was observed to PMN obtained from a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria who lacked membrane-bound CD14. Stimulation of PMN with tumour necrosis factor (TNF) or LPS enhanced the binding of FITC-ReLPS at 4°. This was not observed after activation of PMN devoid of granules (cytoplasts), indicating that the binding of LPS at the cell surface is enhanced by mobilization of LPS-binding proteins from intracellular granules. These studies provide evidence that LPS binding and activation of PMN involves protein structures at the cell surface different from CD14, and that granules constitute a pool of LPS-binding proteins that can be translocated to the cell surface upon stimulation.