Distribution of polylactosamines and vinculin in macrophages and foreign body giant cells colonizing the cellophane implant surface

Abstract

The membrane poly-N-acetyllactosamines participate in the control of the adhesivity of macrophages and/or monocytes. They have been visualized by FITC labelled tomato lectin in macrophages and multinucleate foreign body giant cells colonizing a cellophane implant in this study. The maximal positivity was found in the periphery of poorly spread macrophages. The multinucleate cells exhibited positivity also in the dorsal surface. The cytoskeletal protein vinculin represents a part of adhesive plaques and participates in anchoring actin fibres to the integrin receptor. The immunohistochemical detection of this protein in the same model indicated poor accumulation of vinculin in the ventral membrane of mononuclear macrophages and multinucleate cells. The increased incidence of this protein was observed in the area of mutual contact between some macrophages.