title: Effects of alpha-galactosidase digestion on lectin staining in human pancreas.
abstract: Effects of alpha-galactosidase (from green coffee beans) digestion on lectin staining were examined in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human pancreatic tissues from individuals of blood-group B and AB. Digestion with the enzyme resulted in almost complete loss of Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin I-B4 (GSAI-B4) staining in the acinar cells with concomitant appearance of Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I(UEA-I) staining in the corresponding cells. In addition, reactivity with soybean agglutinin(SBA) was also imparted by the enzyme digestion in GSAI-B4 positive acinar cells. beta-Galactosidase digestion following alpha-galactosidase digestion neither reduced the reactivity with SBA nor induced the reactivity with Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-II(GSA-II) in GSAI-B4 positive cells, while in UEA-I positive cells, both reduction of SBA reactivity and appearance of GSA-II reactivity occurred after simple beta-galactosidase digestion as well as sequential digestion with alpha- and beta-galactosidase. However, when alpha-L-fucosidase digestion procedure was inserted between alpha- and beta-galactosidase digestion, UEA-I staining imparted by alpha-galactosidase digestion was markedly decreased in intensity and GSA-II reactivity was appeared in GSAI-B4 positive acinar cells. Furthermore, after sequential digestion with alpha-galactosidase and fucosidase, reactivity with peanut agglutinin(PNA) was revealed in GSAI-B4 positive acinar cells as well as UEA-I positive cells in secretors. In non-secretors, strong PNA staining was usually observed in the acinar cells throughout the glands without enzyme digestion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors: Department of Legal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Japan.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Ito
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Nishi
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Nakajima
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Okamura
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Hirota
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D001665:Binding Sites; D005696:Galactosidases; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D037121:Plant Lectins; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D000519:alpha-Galactosidase; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D005696:Galactosidases; D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D037121:Plant Lectins; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D000519:alpha-Galactosidase; C045475:Griffonia simplicifolia lectins; C028824:soybean lectin; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins