title: Lectin binding pattern in human retinal pigment epithelium.
abstract: A comparative lectin histochemical study of human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) was performed to investigate the lectin binding pattern of normal, reactive and proliferating RPE. Normal RPE with attached sensory retina was found to bind the lectins Con A, WGA, PNA and RCA I. Reactive and proliferating RPE in retinal detachment and in photocoagulation scars revealed the same lectin binding pattern although its cellular topography changed. RPE-macrophages showed an additional reaction with SBA. In periretinal membranes of human PVR the typical lectin binding pattern of Con A, WGA, PNA and RCA I was found in pigmented and in a subpopulation of non-pigmented cells, suggesting that these lectin-positive elements were of RPE-origin. Additionally, single pigmented cells positive for SBA were found indicating macrophage differentiation. Thus lectin histochemistry provides a tool for cytochemical identification of RPE and its morphologic variants by revealing a specific combination of sugar-binding sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bopp
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: el-Hifnawi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Laqua
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D037102:Lectins; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins