Cationic polyelectrolytes, liquoid and leukocyte extract modulate the binding of IgG to group A streptococcal Fc-receptors.

Various polyelectrolytes were investigated regarding their capacity to inhibit the binding of human IgG to Fc-receptors on group A streptococci, type M1. Of cationic substances, protamine and arginine-rich histone inhibited significantly, while lysine-rich histone, concanavalin A, lysozyme, polymyxin B, ribonuclease and tuftsin did not. Of anionic materials, liquoid was inhibitory, in contrast to chondroitin sulphate, dextran sulphate, DNA and heparin. Washing experiments showed that the inhibition was caused by binding of the polyelectrolytes to the streptococci. The finding that heated IgG inhibited the binding of histone to the streptococci also indicated a close relation between the binding sites for these compounds. Diffusion-in-gel experiments with alkaline extract of M1 demonstrated that the substances blocking the IgG Fc-receptor were bound to polyglycerophosphate, suggesting that the inhibition of the IgG uptake was due to interaction with lipoteichoic acid. Leukocyte and platelet extracts could modify the binding of IgG, probably by an enzymatic digestion of the receptors. The arginine-rich histone was also capable of inhibiting the binding of IgG to type M15 group A streptococci and to one group G strain. However, the polyelectrolytes had no effect on the binding of IgG to Staphylococcus aureus or of IgA to type 4 group A streptococci.