Stimulation of erythrophagocytosis in mouse peritoneal macrophages by chondroitin sulfates: correlation with effect of phorbol esters.

Resident macrophages which were harvested from the mouse peritoneal cavity showed the attachment activity to opsonized erythrocytes (OE) without the treatment of chondroitin sulfates (CSA) or phorbol esters. Phorbol ester (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or phorbol 12,13-diacetate) rapidly activated an opsonin-dependent erythrophagocytosis in resident macrophages, whereas CSA slowly activated it in vivo and in vitro. An additive effect of phorbol esters was observed in macrophages which were cultured with CSA in vitro or stimulated by the intraperitoneal injection of CSA for 1 or 2 day(s). In the case of macrophages stimulated by the intraperitoneal injection of CSA for 3 or 4 days the erythrophagocytic activity was at very high level and the additive effect of phorbol esters vanished. These results indicate that CSA plays a role in the induction of opsonin-dependent ingestion activity of resident macrophages.