Non-specific binding of lysine-glucose-derived Maillard products to macrophages outweighs specific receptor-mediated interactions

Studies on the binding of lysine-glucose-derived Maillard products to siliconised assay tubes indicate that caution must be exercised when interpreting binding parameters, owing to the saturable binding kinetics observed (Bmax = 490 pmol, Kd = 22.2/nM). When these are taken into account, kinetic studies on the binding of such late-stage Maillard products to macrophages show that any specific receptor binding is swamped by non-specific binding to both cell lines and native macrophages, as neither binding saturation nor cross-competition (homologous or heterologous) was detected. as implications for the role of macrophages in the recognition of Maillard products, and suggests that non-specific binding may be quantitatively more important than specific receptor binding in the cellular recognition of such food products.