Lectins as differentiation markers of human gliomas

Abstract

The lectins Concanavalin A (Con A). Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA-1), Peanut agglutinin (PNA) and Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) as well as the irnmunomarkers for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and myelin basic protein (MBP) were used in a series of 21 glial turnors (4 pylocytic astrocytornas, 5 grade 11 astrocytornas, 3 anaplastic astrocytornas, 4 glioblastornas and 5 oligodendrogliornas). ConA binds to al1 tumoral astrocytes in low grade astrocytomas, as well as to well differentiated tumoral astrocytes in anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastornas. RCA-1 has a similar behaviour. PNA, and to a lesser degree WGA, binds selectively to the oligodendroglial plasma membrane in well differentiated oligodendrogliomas. The results suggest that these lectins are markers of differentiation in gliomas rather than of malignancy.