title: Peanut lectin binding as a marker for activated T-lineage lymphocytes.
abstract: A series of experiments was undertaken to ascertain the reliability of peanut agglutinin (PNA) binding as a means of distinguishing mouse pre-T cells from other cell types. Normal bone marrow, thymus and spleen cells were stained with graded doses of fluoresceinated lectin (FITC-PNA) and subsequently examined by fluorescence microscopy to determine the number of lectin-binding cells. In addition, the PNA binding properties of mitogenically activated lymphocytes were examined in a similar manner. The results of this study show that PNA binding does not define a fixed population of cells, as the percentage of PNA+ cells detected in normal mouse tissues varied directly with the concentration of PNS used for staining. Nor is PNA able to distinguish between pre-T cells and mature T cells after mitogenic stimulation, both of which are shown to bind PNA. This lectin may , however, have value as a general marker of lymphoid precursors and activated lymphocytes of the T lineage.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000494:pharmacology; D037102:Lectins; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000276:immunology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D013861:Thiocyanates; D003208:Concanavalin A; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate