Lectin binding defines and differentiates M-cells in mouse small intestine and caecum.
M-cell surface glycoconjugate expression was investigated by applying a panel of lectins to whole fixed mouse Peyer's and caecal patches. While the majority of lectins failed to identify mouse M-cells, the lectin Euonymus europaeus differentially stained the surface of M-cells in both mouse Peyer's and caecal patches, and the lectins Ulex europaeus II and Bandeiraea simplicifolia I isolectin B4 identified M-cells in the Peyer's and caecal patch follicle associated epithelium, respectively. These three mouse M-cell markers failed to identify rat and rabbit Peyer's patch M-cells, although both Euonymus europaeus and Ulex europaeus II differentially stained M-cells in the periphery of rabbit caecal patch domes. These site and species related variations in M-cell surface glycoconjugate expression may reflect the local microorganism populations and will have important implications if orally delivered vaccines and drugs are to be targeted to M-cells via their surface glycoconjugates.
Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Medical School, UK.
M A
MA
Clark
M A
MA
Jepson
B H
BH
Hirst
D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000166:cytology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013045:Species Specificity
D037102:Lectins