International Journal of Cell Cloning, Vol 4, 464-471, Copyright © 1986 by AlphaMed Press
Expression of lectin receptors on the surface of granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-gm)
S Aizawa and M Tavassoli
It has been emphasized that specific bindings between membrane
glycoproteins and membrane lectin-like substances are important in cell-
to-cell interactions. We explored the surface of granulocyte-macrophage
precursor cells (CFU-gm) by the differential agglutination technique.
Enrichment of CFU-gm in the agglutinated fraction, containing the cells
which have lectin receptors, from marrow treated with soybean agglutinin
(SBA), peanut agglutinin (PNA) and concanavalin A (Con A), suggests the
presence of reactive galactosyl and mannosyl residues on the surface of
CFU-gm. On the other hand, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), phytohemagglutinin
(PHA) and ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA), which bind to reactive
N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine and fucose, respectively, did
not specifically agglutinate CFU-gm. Thus, reactive groups containing
galactosyl and mannosyl structures on the surface of CFU-gm may possibly
play a role in the process of cell-to-cell interactions between CFU-gm and
marrow stromal cells.
