Effect of lectins on migration of the corneal epithelium

Rat corneas with 3 mm central corneal abrasions were organ-cultured in the presence of four plant lectins, concanavalin A (ConA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), lotus lectin, and soybean agglutinin (SBA), ConA at 20 and 50 micrograms/ml of culture medium slowed epithelial migration. WGA at 20 and 50 micrograms/ml of medium completely inhibited migration. The effects of the ConA at both 20 and 50 micrograms concentrations and of WGA at 20 micrograms were reversible. Lotus lectin and SBA did not effect motility at concentrations up to and including 50 micrograms/ml of medium. The specific sugar to which SBA binds, N-acetyl-galactosamine, did however, slow epithelial migrations. This study demonstrates that blocking glucose, mannose, and glucosamine sugar moities of glycoproteins on the cell surface and/or basement membrane inhibits epithelial cell migration during healing of corneal abrasions.