Homing receptors for hemopoietic stem cells are lectins with galactosyl and mannosyl specificities.

Binding of hemopoietic stem cells to stroma in vitro is inhibited in the presence of galactosyl and mannosyl neoglycoproteins. This indicates that an interaction between membrane lectins and sugar-bearing membrane molecules is responsible for the binding (homing) of stem cells to stroma. Agglutination studies locate these lectins, designated as homing receptors, to the membrane of CFU-S. Thus, homing receptors for hemopoietic stem cells are lectins with galactosyl and mannosyl specificities.