Mobilization of circulating neutrophils toward an inflamed area involves adherence of the cells to the vascular endothelium and subsequent penetration through the endothelial cell layer without causing significant damage. To investigate the nature of a possible protective mechanism, granulocytes were incubated with the extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by cultured endothelial cells and tested for release of enzymes, chemoattractants, and free oxygen radicals. In the absence of exogenously added stimuli, the neutrophils adhered to the ECM but there was no detectable release of lysozyme, chemotactic activity, or production of O2-. In contrast, the cells readily released a heparan sulfate-degrading endoglycosidase (heparanase) to an extent comparable with that released in contact with polystyrene surfaces. Neutrophils treated with the calcium ionophore A23187 or with the peptide FMLP produced O2- to a much lesser degree when incubated in contact with ECM-coated surfaces than did those incubated in contact with uncoated polystyrene culture dishes. The ECM itself was devoid of superoxide dismutase activity. Stimulation with opsonized zymosan was not inhibited by the ECM. Experiments with isolated constituents of the ECM revealed that fibronectin but not collagen type IV or laminin could partially inhibit O2- production by Ca2+ ionophore-stimulated neutrophils. Treatment of the ECM with proteolytic enzymes, but not with heparanase, abolished its inhibitory effect on neutrophil activation. These results indicate that the subendothelial basement membrane has the capacity to inhibit release of potentially noxious agents excluding heparanase, suggesting a preferential involvement of this enzyme in neutrophil diapedesis.