Lectin-binding properties of oligodendrocyte lineage cells aid in defining functionally important surface proteins

Oligodendrocytes are the myelin-forming cells of the central nervous system. They develop from migratory and proliferative precursor cells, which differentiate to mature myelinating cells. As a first step toward investigating the expression of cell surface glycoproteins by oligodendrocyte lineage cells, we tested 14 different lectins for their binding to oligodendrocyte lineage cells. Peanut agglutinin (PNA) was the only lectin used that showed a differentiation stage-dependent binding to oligodendrocytes. PNA-binding molecules are specifically expressed by oligodendrocyte precursor cells, downregulated with differentiation, and reexpressed by mature oligodendrocytes. It was additionally observed that PNA stimulates the proliferation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells. PNA may therefore be a useful tool for isolating and characterizing important cell surface glycoproteins expressed by oligodendrocyte lineage cells.