LECTINS AND ANTIBODIES TO BLOOD-GROUP ANTIGENS AS MARKERS FOR THE BASAL CELLS OF THE HUMAN RESPIRATORY EPITHELIUM

We used a pattern of 30 lectins and antibodies against antigens of the ABO-blood group system to find specific and sensitive markers for the basal cells of the human respiratory surface epithelium. Three lectin s always stained the basal cells: Aaptos papillata agglutinin I (APA I ), peanut agglutinin (PNA), and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA): Other lec tins and the antibodies gave positive results only in tissue of secret ors (blood group antigens in secretions) and these were dependent on t he ABO-blood group. Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin (GSA I B4) boun d to basal cells of humans with blood group B and AB, Helix pomatia ag glutinin (HPA), Soy bean agglutinin (SBA), and Dolichos biflorus agglu tinin (DBA) bound to blood group A and AB, Lens tetragonolobus aggluti nin (LTA) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA) bound to secretors in every case, and strongly to blood group O. The antibodies bound to bas al cells only in the tissue of secretors, dependent on the ABO-blood g roup. The results show that lectins and antibodies may be used as mark ers for the detection of basal cells in the human respiratory epitheli um. Furthermore they suggest that the glycosylation of some glycocompo nents of the basal cells is under the control of the genes of the secr etor- and ABO-blood group system. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.