Concanavalin A, a protein extracted from jack bean, can form a precipitate with polysaccharides and glycoproteins that contain terminal α-D-glucose, α-D-mannose, or β-D-fructose residues. Based on this fact, recently we could demonstrate that nephritogenic glycoprotein in GBM and other related tissues has terminal α-D-glucose. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the in vitro and in vivo interaction between nephritogenic glycoprotein in kidney tissues and Concanavalin A using FITC labeled Concanavalin A. This fluorescent technique revealed that Con, canavalin A reacts specifically with GBM, TBM, blood vessel walls and cytoplasms of proximal tubules in vitro and GBM as well as TBM in vivo. These findings are strikingly similar to the in vitro, and in vivo reaction of FITC labeled anti-GBM antibody except for the positive reaction of proximal tubules. Localization of Concanavalin A in pathologic kidney and experimental demonstration of glomerular injury of Concanavalin A itself are now in progress. Our results indicate that Concanavalin A reacts specificaly with nephritogenic glycoprotein in kidney tissues.
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