title: Infection with human H1N1 influenza virus affects the expression of sialic acids of metaplastic mucous cells in the ferret airways.
abstract: Glycans terminating in sialic acids serve as receptors for influenza viruses. In this study ferrets were infected with influenza virus A/New Caledonia/20/99, and the in situ localization of sialic acids linked alpha2-3 and alpha2-6 in the airways was investigated in infected and non-infected animals by use of sialic acid detecting lectins and a monoclonal antibody towards the Sialyl-Tn antigen. The goblet cells in the bronchi from non-infected ferrets expressed Sialyl alpha 2-6Gal glycans, while the seromucinous glands in the submucosa expressed Sialyl alpha 2-3Gal glycans. In the infected animals, the surface epithelial cells in some bronchi showed metaplasia and expressed the Sialyl-Tn antigen: Sialyl alpha 2-6GalNAc-O-Thr/Ser. The submucosal tracheal glands in these animals showed increased expression of both Sialyl alpha 2-3 and Sialyl alpha 2-6 epitopes.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. sk@odont.ku.dk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kirkeby
authors.forename: C J M
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Martel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aasted
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000254:growth & development*; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000473:pathology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D037102:Lectins; D012794:Sialic Acids