Role of sialic acid in the macrophage glycolipid receptor for MIF.

Acidic glycolipids from guinea pig macrophages enhance the response of macrophages to migration inhibitory factor (MIF), suggesting a role of glycolipid receptors for this lymphocyte mediator. Neuraminidase treatment of these glycolipids results in the loss of their biologic activity. This activity remains intact after incubation of the glycolipids with beta-galactosidase. In order to investigate whether sialic acid is essential for the macrophage's response to MIF, macrophages were incubated with neuraminidase. Neuraminidase treatment of peritoneal exudate cells results in the abrogation of macrophage responsiveness to MIF. Other exoglycosidases such as beta-galactosidase and beta-glucosidase had no effect upon the macrophage response. The effect of neuraminidase was found to be reversible within 18 hr. These experiments suggest that macrophage glycolipids containing sialic acid are components of the macrophage receptor for MIF.