Abstract
The distribution of binding sites for three lectins labeled with rhodamine was studied by using immunofluorescence microscopy in the colonic mucosa in ulcerative colitis.
Binding sites for Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), a lectin specific to terminal α-N-acetylgalactosamine residue, and soy bean agglutinin (SBA), specific to teminal α or β-N-acetylgalactosamine residue of surface glycoprotein in the endoscopically uninvolved mucosa in ulcerative colitis were almost equal in distribution to those of normal human colon. These two lectins were markedly decreased in distribution in the endoscopically involved mucosa, whereas they were also decreased in the boundary zone which was considered as locating between the involved and the uninvolved portion. On the other hand, there was no definite difference in binding sites for concanavalin A (Con A), a lectin specific to terminal α-mannopyranoside, α-glucopyranoside, between normal colon and ulcerative colitis.
These results suggest that a quantitative and/or qualitative alteration in the colonic mucin has an important role in the colonic mucosa in ulcerative colitis. And lectins may be developed into a powerful probe for the detection of biochemical change in the colonic mucosa in ulcerative colitis.
