title: Detection of sugar chain expression in hydatidiform mole using lectin histochemistry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydatidiform moles carry a significant risk for developing persistent gestational trophoblastic disease. Lectins are useful tools to identify cellular glycosylation pattern and changes in glycosylation that occur during growth, development, differentiation and also, during disease states.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Considering the changes in glycosylation that occur during cell proliferation, differentiation and transformation, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the sugar chain expression in hydatidiform mole by using HRP-conjugated lectins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lectin histochemistry with a panel of HRP-conjugated lectins comprising SBA, PNA, VVA, UEA-1, LTA, GS-І (B4) and WGA were performed in 20 molar (partial & complete moles) formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The partial and complete moles generally showed similar reactivity with all used lectins. None of lectins reacted with villous cytotrophoblasts, whereas 4 of 7 lectins comprising WGA, LTA, UEA-І and PNA (after pretreatment with neuraminidase) showed a moderate to strong reactivity with villous syncytiotrophoblasts in both partial and complete hydatidiform moles. The villous stroma reacted with all used lectins except VVA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our histochemical findings showed a relatively heavy glycosylation of syncytiotrophoblasts of both partial and complete molar tissues, which was prominent in apical portion. This may play a role in their capacity to increase trophoblastic proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atabaki Pasdar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khooei
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fazel
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Center, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tavassoli
keywords: Carbohydrates; Histochemistry; Hydatidiform Mole; Lectins