Lectins as differentiation markers of human gliomas.
The lectins Concanavalin A (Con A), Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA-I), Peanut agglutinin (PNA) and Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) as well as the immunomarkers for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and myelin basic protein (MBP) were used in a series of 21 glial tumors (4 pylocytic astrocytomas, 5 grade II astrocytomas, 3 anaplastic astrocytomas, 4 glioblastomas and 5 oligodendrogliomas). ConA binds to all tumoral astrocytes in low grade astrocytomas, as well as to well differentiated tumoral astrocytes in anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas. RCA-I has a similar behaviour. PNA, and to a lesser degree WGA, binds selectively to the oligodendroglial plasma membrane in well differentiated oligodendrogliomas. The results suggest that these lectins are markers of differentiation in gliomas rather than of malignancy.
Figols
J
J
Institute of Neuropathology, Free University Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.
Madrid
J F
JF
Cervós-Navarro
J
J
D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003208:Concanavalin A; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D012276:Ricin; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins
D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D012276:Ricin