Specific binding of lipopolysaccharides to mouse macrophages—I. Characteristics of the interaction and inefficiency of the polysaccharide region (original) (raw)

Tritium-labeled lipopolysaccharide interacted specifically and reversibly with mouse peritoneal macrophages. The binding was higher at 22'C than at 4"C, but was no longer observable at 37'C. The specificity of the interaction (inhibition with unlabeled LPS) was strictly dependent on the presence of serum, and required divalent cations. The binding was saturable. The specific binding sites of peritoneal macrophages were saturated with 6-9 x IO6 LPS molecules/cell, and those of macrophage-like cell lines with 2-3 x 10" molecules/cell.