Regional differences in glycoconjugates of intestinal M cells in mice: potential targets for mucosal vaccines.
We have used a panel of lectins and antibodies to describe the composition of complex carbohydrates associated with M cells in various regions of the intestinal tract of adult BALB/c mice. The fucose-specific lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin type I (UEA I) is a marker of M cells in the small intestine and recognized M cells at an early stage of differentiation. Subpopulations of M cells in a single follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) could be distinguished by different fucose-specific probes. Certain lectins revealed that M cells have basal processes that extend into the underlying lymphoid tissue. Colonic and rectal M cells display glycosylation patterns distinct from M cells of Peyer's patches and are characterized by terminal galactose. UEA I selectively adhered to Peyer's patch M cells in mucosal explants and in ligated intestinal loops in vivo. The lectin was taken up into endocytic vesicles and transported to the intra-epithelial pocket and other domains of the basolateral membrane. Thus M cell-specific glycoconjugates could serve as "receptors" for targeting of lectin-antigen conjugates to the mucosal immune system.
Giannasca
P J
PJ
Gastrointestinal Cell Biology Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Giannasca
K T
KT
Falk
P
P
Gordon
J I
JI
Neutra
M R
MR
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001665:Binding Sites; D005260:Female; D005643:Fucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000032:analysis*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D037121:Plant Lectins; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006001:Glycoconjugates; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C036850:Ulex europaeus lectins; D014612:Vaccines; D005643:Fucose