Abstract
Llectins are known to be sugar-binding proteins found in plant extracts. Ten types of fluorescence isothiocyanate conjugated binding lectins Concanavalin-A (Con-A), Dolichos Biflorus Agglutinin (DBA), Griffonia Simplicifolia-I Agglutinin-I (GS-I), Griffonia Simplicifolia Agglutinin- II (GS-II), Arachis Hipogaea Agglutinin (PNA), Maclura Pomifera Agglutinin (MPA), Ricinus Communis Agglutinin-I (RCA-I), Glycine Max Agglutinin (SBA), Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin (UEA-I), and Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WCA), have been used for revealing histochemical lectin receptors on the osteoarthritic synovial membrane.
Tissues were fixed with 95% cooled alcohol and, paraffin-embedded methods were used. In the results GS-I, SBA, PNA and MPA, were positively stained in the cytoplasm of the syovial lining cells. In the subliming layer Con-A bound to small lymphocytes and partially to histiocytes, and UEA-I was shown to bind specifically to synovial vascular endotherial cells. Paraffin serial sections were also incubated in a neuraminidase solution overnight in order to create receptors.
After that process significant positive increases of PNA and SBA receptors were seen in rheumatoid arthritic synovial lining cells, but, not a remarkable one in osteoarthritics.
This study suggests that since varied lectin receptor, were seen on the osteoarthritic synovium, this lectin binding analysis will be a useful method of classification of the cell markers.
