SELECTIVE BINDING AND TRANSCYTOSIS OF ULEX-EUROPAEUS-1 LECTIN BY MOUSE PEYERS-PATCH M-CELLS IN-VIVO

The in vivo interaction of the lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin 1 with mouse Peyer's patch follicle-associated epithelial cells was studied in the mouse Peyer's patch gut loop model by immunofluorescence and el ectron microscopy. The lectin targets to mouse Peyer's patch M-cells a nd is rapidly endocytosed and transcytosed. These processes are accomp anied by morphological changes in the M-cell microvilli and by redistr ibution of polymerised actin. The demonstration of selective binding a nd uptake of a lectin by intestinal M-cells in vivo suggests that M-ce ll-specific surface glycoconjugates might act as receptors for the sel ective adhesion/uptake of microorganisms.