The intracellular and extracellular glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of peripheral leukocytes in normal subjects and leukemic patients were characterised by electrophoresis and enzyme sensitivity. Normal peripheral granulocytes (PMN) are very rich in trypsin removable surface GAGs, while none are present on the surface of leukemic cells in acute myeloid leukemia. The intracellular and extracellular GAGs have also been analysed in the pig and compared to normal pig bone marrow haematopoietic cells. Mesenchymal cells cultured in vitro from marrow matrix and peripheral endothelial cells have also been studied. The results suggest that the exposure of cell surface chondroitin sulphate A is an important step involved in the peripheralisation of PMN.
