title: Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I binds to developing gastrin cells.
abstract: We have previously reported that antropyloric gastrin (G) and somatostatin (D) cells derive from precursor (G/D) cells that coexpress both hormones. We have now analyzed this endocrine cell pedigree for binding of Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I), which previously has been reported to represent a useful marker for cell differentiation. Subpopulations of G/D, D, and G cells were all found to express UEA-I binding. Labelling with bromodeoxyuridine showed that UEA-I positive G cells possessed a higher labelling index than UEA-I negative G cells. These data suggest that the UEA-I positive G cells represent maturing cells still involved in DNA synthesis and cell division. Electron microscopically, specific UEA-I binding sites were localized to the secretory granules and the apical cell membrane of G cells. We conclude that UEA-I represents a differentiation marker for G cells. Moreover, the presence of UEA-I binding sites in these cells may be relevant for Helicobacter pylori-mediated disturbances of gastric acid secretion and gastrin hypersecretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Fujian Institute of Traditional, Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D019863:Gastrin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D037121:Plant Lectins; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019685:Rosales
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C036850:Ulex europaeus lectins