Ulex europeus type I agglutinin detects carcinoembryonic antigen in extracts of human colorectal carcinoma.
Recent interest has focused on fucosylated epitopes expressed on human neoplasms. The plant lectin Ulex europus agglutinin, Type I (UEA) binds fucosylated oligosaccharides, while UEA-reactive substances have a tissue distribution similar to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). We sought to determine if UEA reacted with CEA in extracts of fresh primary and metastatic colorectal carcinomas and paired normal tissues. The extracts were electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose membranes after the proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE in 10% polyacrylamide gels. The transfer membranes were then stained with peroxidase-conjugated UEA (UEA-P) or antibody to CEA (CEA-P). UEA-P reacted with a 170-190-kDa band in extracts of 22 of 30 primary tumors, 10 of 12 metastases, but only 1 of 5 villous adenomas. UEA-P generally did not react with normal colon or liver extracts. UEA-P also did not bind to 170-190-kDa molecules in Western transfers of a breast carcinoma metastatic to bowel and a focal nodular hyperplasia of liver. CEA-P displayed similar reactivity and detected CEA in a tumor extract negative for UEA. Fucose blocked binding of UEA-P to Western transfers of tumor extracts. CEA-P reacted with a 170-190-kDa substance in tumor extracts eluted with fucose from a column of immobilized UEA. Thus, UEA reacts with fucosylated oligosaccharides on most, but not all, species of CEA and may be a useful adjunct to anti-CEA immunohistochemistry.
Jessup
J M
JM
Department of Surgery, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston 77030.
Qi
K F
KF
Kanellopoulos
K
K
Cleary
K
K
Hickey
C
C
Reading
C L
CL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D037121:Plant Lectins; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D000939:Epitopes; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D014020:Tissue Extracts; C036850:Ulex europaeus lectins