Lectin-binding pattern in human non-Hodgkin lymphoma xenografts

The glycan profile of cell surface proteins has been studied on three human non-Hodgkin lymphoma xenografts of B-cell origin using a panel of biotinylated lectins. All three lines showed a more heterogeneous lectin-binding pattern than normal peripherial blood lymphocytes (PBLs) involving both the inner core and antenna part of the glycans. The conservative inner core (N-N-acetylchitobiose and oligomannose) was similar but fucosylated to various extents in the different lymphomas. The structure of the antennae of PBLs was characterized by glcNac-gal and galNac-gal-Sa sequences, while in lymphomas additional asialo as well as sialylated galNac containing antennae have been identified. This study suggests that NHLs sharing many immunophenotypic features show intertumoral differences in their lectin-binding pattern.