The characteristics of binding of Corynebacterium parvum to glass-adherent mouse peritoneal exudate cells.

Corynebacterium parvum, strain 10390, whole organisms were shown to bind to the surface of glass-adherent mouse peritoneal exudate cells in vitro. An HCl extract and a lipid extract of the organism were both capable of inhibiting this binding. The attachment of organisms was not affected by trypsin treatment of the cells, indicating that the plasma membrane receptor is not cell-bound antibody in nature. The binding was inhibited by various sugars, most of which are major components of the cell wall of C. parvum. Removal of divalent cations prevented binding. At room temperature some binding occurred in the presence of magnesium ions alone, whereas both calcium and magnesium ions were required at 4 degrees C. The possibility is discussed that the attachment of C. parvum to the plasma membrane of macrophages may lead directly to their activation.