Qualitative and quantitative alterations of cell surface carbohydrate residues during epidermal morphogenesis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the carbohydrate residue composition of cell surface in the developing epidermis and to define the chronological sequence of its alterations in human fetuses from the 10th to the 20th weeks of gestation and at the 23rd week of gestation, using a panel of six biotinylated lectins: Concanavalin A, Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I, Ricinus communis agglutinin-I, Peanut agglutinin, Wheat germ agglutinin, and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin. Distinct qualitative and quantitative alterations in the expression of cell surface carbohydrate residues were found during epidermal morphogenesis prior to keratinization (10th to 20th weeks). At the 23rd week of gestation, the already keratinized fetal human epidermis revealed a pattern of cell surface glycosylation very similar to that of the adult human epidermis. Further studies are now warranted to answer the question regarding whether the glycosylation pattern in the developing human epidermis is disturbed in fetuses with genodermatoses and whether these disturbances might be important for prenatally diagnosing the latter.