RESUMO
OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: To study the neutrophil migration and aggregation induced by euphorbin, a D-galactose binding lectin from Euphorbia milii var. milli latex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Euphorbin-induced neutrophil migration was evaluated in vivo and in vitro, in the absence or presence of soluble D-galactose. Neutrophil aggregation induced in vitro by euphorbin was determined by light microscopy. RESULTS: The neutrophil migration inducing activity of euphorbin was dose-dependent and inhibited by soluble D-galactose. Neutrophil aggregation was rapidly reversed when provoked by 0.1 mg/ml euphorbin. In higher concentrations, euphorbin caused persistent and more extensive neutrophil aggregation. CONCLUSIONS: Euphorbin induced neutrophil migration through its sugar recognition property. The transitory neutrophil aggregation, induced by a euphorbin quantity similar to that able to cause maximal chemotactic response, is characteristic of homotypic neutrophil adhesion, whereas persistent aggregation, provoked by higher euphorbin quantities, corresponds to cell agglutination by a multivalent lectin.