Inflammation Research

, Volume 59, Issue 2, pp 89–95 | Cite as

Sialic acid residues play a pivotal role in α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP)-induced generation of reactive oxygen species in chemotactic peptide pre-activated neutrophil granulocytes

  • Peter Gunnarsson
  • Louise Fornander
  • Peter Påhlsson
  • Magnus Grenegård
Original Research Paper
First Online:
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

Objective

We have recently shown that terminal sialic acid residues are essential for α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP)-induced Ca2+ mobilization in neutrophils. The aim of the present study was to establish the importance of sialic acid residues on AGP in modulating human neutrophil functions, with emphasis on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Materials and methods

ROS were measured by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence in isolated human neutrophils.

Results

We found that AGP did not provoke ROS generation in resting or L-selectin presensitized neutrophils. Moreover, AGP did not affect the N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced ROS generation, but it slightly suppressed opsonized zymosan-induced responses. However, when the neutrophils were prestimulated with fMLP, the subsequent addition of AGP provoked a marked ROS response. Dose–response studies and time studies revealed that the ROS generating capacity of AGP was highest at a concentration of 0.05 mg/ml and when given 3–10 min after addition of fMLP. A desialylated form of AGP or pretreatment of neutrophils with 3′- and 6′-sialyllactose caused a substantially lower ROS response in neutrophils prestimulated with fMLP.

Conclusions

Our data show that AGP can stimulate a second ROS response in fMLP preactivated neutrophils and that terminal sialic acid residues on AGP play a crucial role in this regard.

Keywords

α1-Acid glycoprotein Neutrophils Reactive oxygen species Sialic acid 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

Financial support was provided by the Östergötland County Council (LIO-5509), the Health Research Council of Southeast Sweden (F 2001-305), and the Cardiovascular Inflammation Research Centre (CIRC) in Linköping, Sweden.

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Copyright information

© Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel/Switzerland 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  • Peter Gunnarsson
    • 1
  • Louise Fornander
    • 1
  • Peter Påhlsson
    • 2
  • Magnus Grenegård
    • 1
  1. 1.Division of Drug Research, Department of Medical and Health SciencesLinköping UniversityLinköpingSweden
  2. 2.Division of Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical MedicineLinköping UniversityLinköpingSweden

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