Glycosaminoglycans in Human Neutrophils and Leukemic

Chondroitin sulfate is known to be present in normal and leukemic myeloid cells; however. its definitive subcellular location and association with other glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) has not been demonstrated. We have studied the type and distribution of GAGs in neutrophil granule subpopulations of normal and leukemic myeloid cells using ultrastructural. cytochemical. immunologic. and biochemical methods. At the ultrastructural level. high-iron diaminethiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate (HID-TCH-SP) stained sulfated glycoconjugates selectively in immature primary granules of normal promyelocytes and Auer rods and immature granules of leukemic myeloblasts. Staining was weak or absent in mature primary granules. whereas tertiary granules stained moderately. Primary granule staining with HID-TCH-SP was greatly diminished by prior treatment of the specimens with chondroitinase ABC and/ or nitrous acid. indicating the presence of chondroitin sulfate and N-sulfated glycosaminoglycan. Immunostaining of myeloid cells with a rabbit antichondroitin 4-sulfate and