The role of extra-hepatic tissues in the receptor-mediated plasma clearance of glycoproteins terminated by mannose or N-acetylglucosamine

The mannose- and N-acetylglucosamine-specific pathway for the clearance of mammalian glycoproteins has been characterized by using ¹²⁵I-labelled neoglycoproteins, glycosidase-treated orosomucoid and lysosomal glycosidases (β-glucuronidase and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase) as probes. There are two components to this pathway in vivo; one liver-dependent and the other extrahepatic or liver-independent. Cells that mediate clearance by the latter component of the pathway are present in spleen, bone and in elements of the reticuloendothelial system, but not in the kidney. Glycoproteins that possess terminal mannose, glucose or N-acetylglucosamine residues, including various lysosomal enzymes, are rapidly cleared from plasma via this pathway. Glucose-terminated glycoproteins are recognized by two pathways in the intact animal; the hepatic galatose-specific pathway and the mannose/N-acetylglycosamine-specific pathway, which is present in liver and in peripheral tissues. Following removal of the liver by surgical evisceration, glucose-terminated glycoproteins are cleared whereas glycoproteins bearing galactose are not cleared. Uptake of ¹²⁵I-labelled neoglycoproteins and agalacto-orosomucoid by isolated alveolar macrophages closely mimics clearance in vivo by the mannose/N-acetylglucosamine pathway. Neoglycoproteins terminated by mannose, glucose or N-acetylgucosamine all compete with ¹²⁵I-labelled agalacto-orosomucoid for uptake by receptor-mediated pinocytosis. The extent of substitution of the neoglycoproteins is a critical determinant of their inhibitory potency. It is proposed that mononuclear phagocytes are an important component of the clearance pathway in vivo. The mannose/N-acetylglucosamine pathway may be important in the regulation of extracellular levels of various glycosylated macromolecules, including lysosomal hydrolases.