Lectins and antibodies to blood group antigens as markers for the basal cells of the human respiratory epithelium.

We used a pattern of 30 lectins and antibodies against antigens of the ABO-blood group system to find specific and sensitive markers for the basal cells of the human respiratory surface epithelium. Three lectins always stained the basal cells: Aaptos papillata agglutinin I (APA I), peanut agglutinin (PNA), and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA): Other lectins and the antibodies gave positive results only in tissue of secretors (blood group antigens in secretions) and these were dependent on the ABO-blood group. Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin (GSA I B4) bound to basal cells of humans with blood group B and AB, Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA), Soy bean agglutinin (SBA), and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) bound to blood group A and AB, Lens tetragonolobus agglutinin (LTA) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA) bound to secretors in every case, and strongly to blood group O. The antibodies bound to basal cells only in the tissue of secretors, dependent on the ABO-blood group. The results show that lectins and antibodies may be used as markers for the detection of basal cells in the human respiratory epithelium. Furthermore they suggest that the glycosylation of some glycocomponents of the basal cells is under the control of the genes of the secretor- and ABO-blood group system.