Histochemical reactivity of the Geodia cydonium agglutinin (GCA) in human tissues

We applied a peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique to study the distribution pattern and binding characteristics of the lectin from the marine sponge Geodia cydonium (Geodia cydonium agglutinin; GCA) in various human tissues. This lectin has been shown to possess a broad reactivity, but there was a distinct distribution of binding sites within the different organs. In the histochemical system GCA displayed no blood group specificity and labeled red blood cells, the vascular endothelium, and epithelial cells showing blood group antigen expression independent of the ABH blood group status. However, inhibition of GCA reactivity by simple sugars and complex carbohydrates demonstrated tissue-specific differences of lectin binding related to the ABH blood group status of the tissue and revealed information on the structural requirements of the histological lectin binding site. Tissues that totally lacked blood group antigens or that expressed only the H-antigen disclosed a GCA reactivity which was completely inhibited by lactose. In contrast, tissues that expressed blood group A- or blood group B-antigen exhibited a lactose-resistant lectin binding which was inhibited only by water-soluble blood group substance A from peptone A and by bovine glycophorin but not by other complex carbohydrates, including human glycophorin and human asialoglycophorin. Competitive inhibition studies in situ revealed that GCA binding was not inhibited by blood group type I/II carbohydrate sequence-specific lectins or by lectins with other sugar specificities. Inhibition by lactose of GCA binding to some histological sites indicates that the binding site consists of a beta-linked galactose-containing disaccharide. However, periodate oxidation of tissue sections had no effect on lectin binding, pointing to a subterminal location of the relevant sequence. The results obtained from inhibition studies with simple saccharides and complex carbohydrates in relation to the expression of ABH blood group antigens suggest a complex lectin combining site(s) in histological specimens. The lectin may possess either one binding site with a range of affinities for different carbohydrates (besides beta-linked disaccharides the GCA binding site accommodates to carbohydrate determinants carrying the blood group A or blood group B determinant), or may possess two different binding sites. Besides an acceptor site for beta-linked disaccharides, an additional binding site may exist accommodating to extended carbohydrate sequences related to A or B blood group structures. In conclusion, GCA represents a blood group-nonspecific lectin whose binding affinities are determined by the ABH blood group status of the tissue.