Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the interaction of lectins with various populations of maturing murine T-lymphocytes, as well as with thymocytes at different stages of apoptosis.
Materials and methods. Thymocyte typing of 80 CBA mice was performed by flow cytometry. The binding of lectins to cells in early and late apoptosis induced by the administration of hydrocortisone was also evaluated.
Results. The suitability of peanut and Helix pomatia lectins for differentiation of mature and immature mouse thymocytes has been established. 11 lectins bound to living cells, during the transition of cells to the state of early apoptosis, thymocytes were stained with 16 lectins, and upon transition to late apoptosis, 20 of 23 lectins bound to the cells.
Conclusion. The use of labeled lectins to assess the stage of murine thymocyte apoptosis does not have obvious advantages over existing methods. The degree of binding of all lectins to thymocytes in apoptosis increases as the charge on the membrane decreases and its permeability increases. For typing thymocytes in the early stages of maturation, peanut and Helix pomatia lectins can be used. Snowdrop and amaryllis lectins are not suitable for differentiation of thymocytes by maturity.