Selective binding of peanut lectin by T lineage lymphocytes in paraffin sections.

On sections of formalin fixed paraffin embedded lymph nodes, thymuses and spleens, binding of the lectin from peanut (Arachis hypogaea) was detected on some histiocytes, while the lymphoid cells were negative. After treatment of the sections with neuraminidase, sialic acid covered beta-D-galactosyl (1-3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine residues were revealed in a more extensive number of histiocytic cells and on a sub-population of lymphoid cells with the typical distribution of T lineage lymphocytes. The technique here described allowing the identification of subclasses of lymphocytes on paraffin sections might provide new data for the study and the diagnosis of lymph node diseases.