Figure 5.

Competitive sugars GlcNAc and mannan and a blocking anti-MR antibody inhibit the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. As determined by competitive inhibition assays, the preincubation of phagocytic cells with mannan and GlcNAc significantly reduced the degree of phagocytosis, expressed as the percent of cells with engulfed apoptotic bodies (a) or the percent inhibition of the phagocytosis (b). Preincubation with 5 and 10 µg of anti-MR antibody significantly reduced the percent of phagocytic cells (c). The percent inhibition of the phagocytosis is shown. The results of three independent experiments are presented. The isotype control had no inhibitory effects on the phagocytosis. Gaussian Student's t-test was used to assess statistical significance (^∗ p < 0.05; ^∗∗ p < 0.05).