Use of lectin-immunohistochemistry in joint diseases.

The lectin binding pattern of the inflamed synovial tissue of patients with OA (osteoarthritis) and RA (rheumatoid arthritis) were examined with 18 different lectins. The synovial lining cells are heavily stained by PHA-L, WGA, PNA, Con A, MPA and RCA. In the subsynovial layer, WGA, PHA-L and RCA were found to be fairly good monocytic markers. The lectin binding pattern of the lectins under study, however, failed to discriminate between patients with OA and RA.