Expression of membrane glycoconjugates on sheep lung endothelium.

BACKGROUND

Carbohydrates play an important role in both the regulation and expression of endothelial cell surface molecules.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

To investigate the molecular phenotype of endothelial cells in the sheep lung, we used a panel of 39 lectins and carefully titrated lectin histochemistry to identify small vessel glycoconjugates. Expression of glycoconjugates on isolated cells was studied by flow cytometry and lectin Western blotting.

RESULTS

Eight lectins stained small vessel endothelium with minimal background staining. To confirm cell surface binding, endothelial cells from the peripheral lung were isolated and tested for lectin recognition by flow cytometry. Three lectins (Datura stramonium, Griffonia simplicifolia-1, Lycopersicon esculentum) also stained isolated lung cells by flow cytometry. A lectin Western transfer technique demonstrated common binding to a high molecular weight (100 to 130 kD) band.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of lectins as probes of cell surface carbohydrate expression supports the possibility of selective glycoconjugate expression on sheep endothelium.