Similarities in enhanced glucosamine incorporation by macrophages stimulated with migration inhibitory factor and the fucolectin from Lotus tetragonolobus

Fucose-binding protein (FBP), the fucolectin from Lotus tetragonolobus, was compared with migration inhibitory factor (MIF) for its ability to stimulate [ 14C]glucosamine incorporation into trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-insoluble material of guinea pig peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) using a microtiter assay. Both MIF and FBP inhibit macrophage migration and were shown to stimulate glucosamine incorporation in a similar dose response fashion over time. Both unpurified PEC and PEC depleted of nonadherent cells displayed significant levels of glucosamine incorporation when stimulated by MIF or FBP. Tunicamycin and 2-deoxy- d-glucose, known inhibitors of glycosylation, inhibited glucosamine incorporation by control and MIF- or FBP-stimulated PEC. These results confirm the similarities between MIF and FBP in their biological activity for macrophages using a second in vitro correlate of cell-mediated immunity and suggest involvement of enhanced glycoprotein or glycolipid biosynthesis by FBP and lymphokine-activated macrophages.