title: Restricted expression of galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-specific macrophage C-type lectin to connective tissue and to metastatic lesions in mouse lung.
abstract: We investigated expression of macrophage galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine-specific C-type lectin (MMGL) in normal mouse lung tissue and in lungs with metastatic nodules produced by OV2944-HM-1 mouse metastatic ovarian tumour cells. Cells expressing MMGL were detected in tissue sections using a rat monoclonal antibody (mAB) specific for MMGL, mAb LOM-14. The regions containing cells immunostained using mAb LOM-14 were restricted to the connective tissue surrounding blood vessels and respiratory epithelia, whereas alveolar regions of lung parenchyma were essentially devoid of these cells. In contrast, a significant number of cells in the alveolar regions was shown to express Mac-1 antigen (CD11b/CD18) and leucocyte common antigen (CD45). Immunoelectron microscopic study revealed the presence of MMGL in the intracellular vesicles of cells residing in connective tissue. In the tumour-bearing mice, MMGL-positive cells were also present within metastatic nodules. Their localization outside of the nodules was restricted to connective tissue. Cells with Mac-1 antigens were seen both in the nodules and in the alveolar regions. These results indicate that MMGL serves as a unique macrophage marker in mouse lung tissue due to its topographical site-dependent pattern of expression. The present results also suggest a possible involvement of macrophages expressing MMGL in the immune response directed against metastatic tumour cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology and Molecular Immunology (Formerly Division of Chemical Toxicology and Immunochemistry), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akimoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizuochi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Irimura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary*; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C064720:Clec10a protein, mouse; C023339:Clec10a protein, rat; D037102:Lectins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface