concanavalin-a and Papilloma

The immune competence of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) with fibropapillomatosis was assessed using in vitro techniques to measure lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogens. In comparison with captive, healthy green sea turtles, those afflicted with fibropapillomas demonstrated diminished proliferation with Concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin (T-cell mitogens), and lipopolysaccharide (B-cell mitogen). Also, markedly decreased proliferative responses to the lymphocyte polyclonal stimulator combination of ionomycin and phorbol myristate acetate were observed. Total circulating white blood cell counts were not statistically different between the two groups, although an overall decrease in lymphocyte number was observed in the papilloma group. The albumin/globulin ratio was decreased in the papilloma group because of decreased albumin and increased gamma globulins.

Topics: Animals; Concanavalin A; Immunity, Cellular; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Mitogens; Papilloma; Phytohemagglutinins; Skin Neoplasms; Turtles

Cell-mediated and humoral immune status of free-ranging green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Hawaii (USA) with and without fibropapillornatosis (FP) were assessed. Tumored and non-tumored turtles from Kaneohe Bay (KB) on the island of Oahu and from FP-free areas on the west (Kona/Kohala) coast of the island of Hawaii were sampled from April 1998 through February 1999. Turtles on Oahu were grouped (0-3) for severity of tumors with 0 for absence of tumors, 1 for light, 2 for moderate, and 3 for most severe. Turtles were weighed, straight carapace length measured and the regression slope of weight to straight carapace length compared between groups (KB0, KB1, KB2, KB3, Kona). Blood was assayed for differential white blood cell count, hematocrit, in vitro peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation in the presence of concanavalin A (ConA) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), and protein electrophoresis. On Oahu, heterophil/lymphocyte ratio increased while eosinophil/monocyte ratio decreased with increasing tumors score. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation indices for ConA and PHA were significantly lower for turtles with tumor scores 2 and 3. Tumor score 3 turtles (KB3) had significantly lower hematocrit, total protein, alpha 1, alpha 2, and gamma globulins than the other four groups. No significant differences in immune status were seen between non-tumored (or KB1) turtles from Oahu and Hawaii. There was no significant difference between groups in regression slopes of body condition to carapace length. We conclude that turtles with severe FP are imunosuppressed. Furthermore, the lack of significant difference in immune status between non-tumored (and KB1) turtles from Oahu and Kona/Kohala indicates that immunosuppression may not be a prerequisite for development of FP.

Topics: Animals; Antibody Formation; Concanavalin A; Hawaii; Hematocrit; Immunity, Cellular; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocyte Count; Lymphocyte Subsets; Papilloma; Phytohemagglutinins; Severity of Illness Index; Turtles

A group of spontaneously occurring animal papillomas which were negative or positive for papillomavirus group-specific antigen were examined with a battery of biotinylated lectins including Con A, WGA, succinylated-WGA, PNA and UEA-I. Canine papillomas, equine papillomas, white-tailed deer fibromas, mule deer fibromas, and bovine fibropapillomas were examined. Each lectin had a specific staining pattern. No obvious differences in staining patterns between normal skin, viral antigen-positive and -negative neoplasms were identified. This may be due to the well-differentiated and organized nature of these tumours.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Viral; Cattle; Concanavalin A; Deer; Dogs; Horse Diseases; Horses; Lectins; Oligosaccharides; Papilloma; Papillomaviridae; Peanut Agglutinin; Plant Lectins; Skin Neoplasms; Wheat Germ Agglutinins

Binding sites for lectins of peanuts, soya-beans and concanavalin A were identified in the tissues of normal human urinary bladder and its transitional cell tumors (31 patients) using the lectin-peroxidase technique. No binding sites for any of the lectins were found in normal urothelium. Receptors for peanut and soya-bean lectins were observed on the plasma membranes of 20% of tumor cells in transitional cell papillomas. A diffuse distribution of those lectins in tumor cell cytoplasm was interpreted as a tendency to malignant transformation of tumor. There were no concanavalin A receptors in tumor cells.

Topics: Acetylgalactosamine; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell; Concanavalin A; Galactose; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Lectins; Male; Mannose; Middle Aged; Papilloma; Peanut Agglutinin; Plant Lectins; Receptors, Mitogen; Soybean Proteins; Urinary Bladder; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Using a lectin-peroxidase method, Concanavalin A binding was examined on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens (n = 143) of the most frequent central nervous system tumours. The brain tumours included oligodendrogliomas, astrocytomas, glioblastomas, ependymomas, neurinomas, meningiomas, medulloblastomas and plexus papillomas. In oligodendroglioma cells, only a weak granular intracytoplasmic staining was observed. The astrocytomas showed a strong reaction in fibrillary astrocytes and in tumour areas undergoing small cystic degeneration. Staining of protoplasmic astrocytes was weaker; pilocytic astrocytes demonstrated poor perinuclear staining. Intracytoplasmic Con A binding in gemistocytic astrocytes was distinct but inconstant and rather diffuse. In the glioblastomas the lymphocyte-like small astrocytes were negative. Giant multinucleated astrocytes stained strongly. In ependymomas no or at most a weak perinuclear reaction was observed, whereas the acceptor density was as high as in the normal ependymocytes in areas where the tumour was capable of producing organotypical structures. Plexus papillomas showed a strong intracytoplasmic staining comparable to the normal plexus epithelial cell. This feature was preserved in the malignant variants. In general, meningiomas and neurinomas were negative. Xanthomatous-degenerated meningioma cells, however, showed a distinct to strong intracytoplasmic staining. This feature was characteristic for the xanthomatous subtype of meningiomas. Granular cells with strong intracytoplasmic Con A staining often occurred at the border of fibrillary to reticular differentiated areas of neurinomas. Medulloblastomas were completely negative. Our results indicate that Con A binding to human brain tumours is specific and rather cytotypical than histotypical . The Con A acceptor density is probably related to the grade of differentiation. Lectin mapping of tumours leads to cytotypical binding patterns which may contribute to the differential diagnosis of neoplasias.

Topics: Astrocytoma; Brain; Brain Neoplasms; Cerebellar Neoplasms; Concanavalin A; Ependymoma; Glioma; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Medulloblastoma; Meningeal Neoplasms; Meningioma; Neurilemmoma; Oligodendroglioma; Papilloma; Receptors, Concanavalin A