VARIATIONS IN LECTIN-BINDING PROPERTIES OF INTESTINAL M-CELLS

Glycoconjugate expression in follicle-associated epithelia has been ex amined by application of a panel of lectins to fixed, whole tissue pre parations of mouse and rabbit Peyer's and caecal patches. Of those exa mined, only alpha-L-fucose-specific lectins such as Ulex europaeus agg lutinin I bound selectively to M cells in murine Peyer's patches and t his selectivity did not extend to mouse caecal patch M cells. In commo n with a variety of other lectins (wheat germ agglutinin, peanut agglu tinin and Bandeiraea simplicifolia agglutinin II), Ulex europaeus aggl utinin I exhibited selective binding to M cells in rabbit caecal patch and to enterocytes in rabbit Peyer's patch. The marked regional and s pecies variation in M cell surface characteristics documented here has implications for the normal antigen-sampling function of M cells and to the rational design of particulates for transepithelial delivery vi a the M cell portal.