Magnificent expression of asialo GM1 on thymus cells and spleen T cells of the musk shrew, Suncus murinus.

The expression of asialo GM1 (GA1) was observed on almost all thymocytes from young musk shrew, at the age of 4 weeks by flow cytometric analysis. In adult shrew aged 10 months, the ratio of GA1-negative thymocytes was increased. Among several anti-glycolipid antibodies used, anti-GM1 and anti-Forssman also reacted with the thymocytes. Protein fraction of the thymocytes was analyzed by SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting. Anti-GA1 and anti-GM1 showed two bands and one band, respectively, however, their mobilities were different from each other. Anti-Forssman did not stain any protein. The GA1-positive population in spleen T cell fraction was not detected in young shrew but most of the T cells were changed to GA1-positive cells in adult shrew. When mixed lymphocyte culture was performed, the GA1-negative spleen T cells in young shrew were changed to express GA1 marker on their cell surface by differentiation. Abbreviations used were as follows: GA1, Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc-Cer; GM1, Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-4(NeuAc alpha 2-3)Gal beta 1-4Glc-Cer; Forssman, GalNAc alpha 1-3GalNAc beta 1-3Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc-Cer.