PNA-binding glycans are expressed at high levels on horse mature and immature T lymphocytes and a subpopulation of B lymphocytes.

In mammals, the binding of peanut agglutinin (PNA) on the plasma membrane defines subpopulations among lymphocytes from peripheral blood and lymphoid organs. PNA binds Galbeta 1,3GalNAc residues provided that they are not sialylated. Here, we studied the expression of PNA-binding glycans on healthy horse peripheral blood, thymus, lymph node and spleen lymphocytes. We first demonstrated the binding specificity of PNA for galactose residues by competition experiments and the inhibitory role of sialic acids in PNA binding by sialidase digestion. Unlike human and murine lymphocytes, all equine lymphocytes were found positive by flow cytometry analysis. Double-staining analyses showed that lymphocytes expressing high levels of PNA-binding glycans (PNA(high) lymphocytes) were made up of the great majority of CD5(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells, and of 30 and 50% of sIg-bearing lymphocytes in peripheral blood and in lymph nodes or spleen, respectively. Lectin histochemistry suggested that lymph node germinal centres contained PNA(high) B cells. Contrary to what is found in humans and mice, PNA staining intensity on CD5(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells did not differentiate immature from mature T lymphocytes in the equine thymus. The functional consequences of these differences are discussed.