Lectin histochemistry of the lymphoid organs of the chicken

TY - JOUR

T1 - Lectin histochemistry of the lymphoid organs of the chicken

AU - Jörns, Julia

AU - Mangold, Ulrich

AU - Neumann, Ulrich

AU - Van Damme, Els J M

AU - Peumans, Willy J

AU - Pfüller, Uwe

AU - Schumacher, Udo

PY - 2003/7

Y1 - 2003/7

N2 - Cellular interactions within the immune system are in part mediated via the carbohydrate-rich coat of the cell membrane, the glycocalyx, of which the terminal carbohydrate residues are of particular functional importance. Thus, these carbohydrate residues from thymus, bursa of Fabricius, spleen and bone marrow of 2- and 30-day-old chickens were investigated by lectin histochemistry. In the thymus, mannose as well as N-acetyl-glucosamine (glcNAc)-specific lectins labelled macrophages, epithelial reticulum cells and lymphocytes within the cortex. In the bursa of Fabricius, the brush border of the lining epithelium, the macrophages and the endothelium were labelled by mannose-specific lectins. The follicle-associated epithelium was labelled by a broad spectrum of lectins. Epithelial cells that separated the cortex from the medulla and large mononuclear cells in the cortex were only being labelled by N-acetyl-galactosamine (galNAc)-specific and glcNAc-specific lectins, respectively. In the spleen, lymphocytes of the peri-ellipsoid lymphocyte sheaths and macrophages of the red pulp were labelled by lectins of nearly all sugar specificities. In general, glycotopes of these organs were more intensively labelled in the 2-day-old chicken than in the 30-day-old chicken, indicating changes in glycotope expression during post-hatching development. Thus, cells of the avian immune system are as rich and diverse in their lectin binding sites as their mammalian counterparts, indicating that similar carbohydrate lectin interactions between cells and matrices take place in birds as well.

AB - Cellular interactions within the immune system are in part mediated via the carbohydrate-rich coat of the cell membrane, the glycocalyx, of which the terminal carbohydrate residues are of particular functional importance. Thus, these carbohydrate residues from thymus, bursa of Fabricius, spleen and bone marrow of 2- and 30-day-old chickens were investigated by lectin histochemistry. In the thymus, mannose as well as N-acetyl-glucosamine (glcNAc)-specific lectins labelled macrophages, epithelial reticulum cells and lymphocytes within the cortex. In the bursa of Fabricius, the brush border of the lining epithelium, the macrophages and the endothelium were labelled by mannose-specific lectins. The follicle-associated epithelium was labelled by a broad spectrum of lectins. Epithelial cells that separated the cortex from the medulla and large mononuclear cells in the cortex were only being labelled by N-acetyl-galactosamine (galNAc)-specific and glcNAc-specific lectins, respectively. In the spleen, lymphocytes of the peri-ellipsoid lymphocyte sheaths and macrophages of the red pulp were labelled by lectins of nearly all sugar specificities. In general, glycotopes of these organs were more intensively labelled in the 2-day-old chicken than in the 30-day-old chicken, indicating changes in glycotope expression during post-hatching development. Thus, cells of the avian immune system are as rich and diverse in their lectin binding sites as their mammalian counterparts, indicating that similar carbohydrate lectin interactions between cells and matrices take place in birds as well.

KW - Acetylglucosamine

KW - Animals

KW - Binding Sites

KW - Bone Marrow

KW - Bursa of Fabricius

KW - Carbohydrate Metabolism

KW - Cell Membrane

KW - Chick Embryo

KW - Chickens

KW - Epithelial Cells

KW - Glycocalyx

KW - Immunohistochemistry

KW - Lectins

KW - Lymphatic System

KW - Lymphocytes

KW - Macrophages

KW - Mannose

KW - Membrane Glycoproteins

KW - Spleen

KW - Thymus Gland

U2 - 10.1007/s00429-003-0331-8

DO - 10.1007/s00429-003-0331-8

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 12802690

VL - 207

SP - 85

EP - 94

IS - 1

ER -