The in vitro effect of unfractionated heparin and dermatan sulfate, as well as oligo-heparin and oligo-dermatan sulfate, on human PMN function was investigated. Superoxide anion generation in fMLP-stimulated PMN was dose-dependently reduced by heparin and oligo-heparin, while DS and oligo-DS lacked inhibitory activity. FMLP-stimulated PMN adhesion to endothelial cells was reduced to a similar extent by both heparin and oligo-heparin, but not by DS and oligo-DS. On the other hand, none of the compounds affected the adhesion of unstimulated PMN to either IL-1- or PMA-activated endothelial cells. Heparin and oligo-heparin also inhibited the homotypic aggregation of fMLP-stimulated PMN. As reported, coincubation of platelets with fMLP-stimulated PMN resulted in platelet activation, a process mainly mediated by the PMN-derived serine protease cathepsin G. Both heparin and DS, as well as their oligo-derivatives, reduced platelet activation induced by either fMLP-stimulated PMN or purified leukocytic cathepsin G. Finally, besides cathepsin G, also the activity of beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme released by stimulated PMN were reduced by heparin, oligo-heparin and DS. These data support the hypothesis that heparin and other GAGs may exert an antiinflammatory role.