Lectin-bearing liposomes: differential binding to normal and to transformed mouse fibroblasts

The binding of covalent conjugates of concanavalin A (Con A) or wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and liposomes (lectin-liposomes) to the surface of normal and transformed mouse fibroblasts was studied. Quantitation of the binding was performed by means of microfluorometry and radioactive lipid label counting using both sparse and dense cell cultures. It was found that 2.5-3 times more lectin-conjugated liposomes are bound to L or SV3T3 cells than to the mouse embryo fibroblasts and 3T3 cells in a broad concentration range. The binding of Con A- and WGA-liposomes was inhibited up to 70% in the presence of the corresponding carbohydrate inhibitors. A decreased binding of lectin-liposomes to cells was also observed when cells were pretreated with the free lectin. Trypsinization of the cells resulted in an increase in the Con A-liposomes binding to normal fibroblasts. When free fluorescent Con A or WGA was used in binding studies no profound differences in the binding of lectin to normal or transformed cells were detected. The relation of the lectin-liposome/cell to cell/cell interactions is discussed.