title: Peanut lectin: a histochemical marker for phaeochromocytomas.
abstract: Fifty-five neuroendocrine tumours and 6 adrenocortical tumours were examined immunohistochemically for the expression of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin and synaptophysin. The results were compared with the staining patterns obtained with peanut lectin (PNA) using a streptavidin-biotin staining technique. In separate experiments, sections were preincubated with neuraminidase for the demonstration of masked PNA binding sites. Two of the 24 phaeochromocytomas, 1 of the 6 medullary carcinomas of the thyroid gland, 5 out of the 7 islet cell tumours of the pancreas and all 4 extra-adrenal paragangliomas were negative with PNA. When the sections were first incubated with neuraminidase all these tumours were positive with PNA. Six adrenocortical tumours and 7 neuroblastomas were examined and found to be negative with PNA with or without neuraminidase pre-treatment. Seven carcinoid tumours were examined and found to be positive with PNA only in tubular areas and negative in solid areas; pre-treatment with neuraminidase did not alter the staining pattern. Immunoreactivity for NSE was absent in only 1 of the neuroendocrine tumours. A higher proportion of neuroendocrine tumours was positive with anti-chromogranin than with anti-synaptophysin.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathology, School of Pathological Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moorghen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carpenter
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D037102:Lectins; D009439:Neuraminidase; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002864:Chromogranins; D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D016708:Synaptophysin; D009439:Neuraminidase; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase