Profiles of expression of carbohydrate chain structures during human intrahepatic bile duct development and maturation: a lectin-histochemical and immunohistochemical study.

We investigated expression of carbohydrate chain structures during human intrahepatic bile duct development and maturation. Results of staining for ABH antigens were negative in the ductal plate and biliary cells migrating into the mesenchyma but were positive in newly formed bile ducts in the fetal liver and in maturing bile ducts in the postnatal liver. Staining for Lewis(a), sialyl Lewis(a) and Lewisb antigens was negative in the ductal plate but positive in migrating biliary cells, newly formed ducts and maturing ducts. Staining for sialyl Lewisx antigen was positive in the ductal plate, migrating biliary cells and newly formed ducts but negative in the postnatal liver. Lewis(y) antigen staining was negative in the ductal plate and migrating biliary cells but positive in newly formed ducts and maturing ducts. Staining for T and Tn antigens was negative in the ductal plate, migrating biliary cells and newly formed ducts but positive in maturing ducts. Staining for Lewisx, sialyl Tn and carcinoembryonic antigen was negative in all tissues. Receptors of Ulex europaeus agglutinin I and soybean agglutinin were absent in the ductal plate, migrating biliary cells and newly formed ducts but present in maturing large ducts. Staining for receptors of concanavalin A and Ricnus communis agglutinin I was negative in the ductal plate but positive in migrating biliary cells, newly formed ducts and maturing ducts. Staining for the receptor of succinylated wheat germ agglutinin was always positive. These findings suggest that carbohydrate chain structures change during intrahepatic bile duct development and maturation and that new carbohydrate chain structures gradually emerge as intrahepatic bile ducts develop and mature.