IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES OF HUMAN PLACENTAE LECTIN BINDING TO VILLOUS STROMA AND TO TROPHOBLASTIC BASEMENT-MEMBRANE

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 24  (3) , 435-440
Abstract
It was demonstrated immunohistologically using cryostat sections that the lectins PHA [phytohemagglutinin] and Con A [concanavalin A] bind to human placentae. Both lectins stain trophoblastic basement membrane (TMB), perivascular tissue and stroma. No staining of trophoblasts was observed. Blocking experiments showed that the lectin binding sites on placental TMB are glycoproteins; experiments involving pretreatment of placental sections with [rabbit] anti-collagen antisera or highly purified bacterial collagenase indicated that lectin binding to stromal and perivascular structures is collagen-associated. The possible relation of TBM lectin-binding sites to immune response gene products is briefly discussed.