An immunohistochemical analysis was employed to determine the expression of carbohydrate antigens associated to mucins in normal epithelia. Tissue samples were obtained as biopsies from normal breast (18), colon (35) and oral cavity mucosa (8). The following carbohydrate epitopes were studied: sialyl-Lewis x, Lewis x, Lewis y, Tn hapten, sialyl-Tn and Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen. Mucins were also studied employing antibodies against MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC, MUC6 and also normal colonic glycolipid. Statistical analysis was performed and Kendall correlations were obtained. Lewis x showed an apical pattern mainly at plasma membrane, although cytoplasmic staining was also found in most samples. TF, Tn and sTn haptens were detected in few specimens, while sLewis x was found in oral mucosa and breast tissue. Also, normal breast expressed MUC1 at a high percentage, whereas MUC4 was observed in a small number of samples. Colon specimens mainly expressed MUC2 and MUC1, while most oral mucosa samples expressed MUC4 and MUC1. A positive correlation between MUC1VNTR and TF epitope (r=0.396) was found in breast samples, while in colon specimens MUC2 and colonic glycolipid versus Lewis x were statistically significantly correlated (r=0.28 and r=0.29, respectively). As a conclusion, a defined carbohydrate epitope expression is not exclusive of normal tissue or a determined localization, and it is possible to assume that different glycoproteins and glycolipids may be carriers of carbohydrate antigens depending on the tissue localization considered.

Background: In cancer patients, MUC1 glycoprotein may carry Lewis y which could be involved in immune response. Purposes: 1-to evaluate the presence of Lewis y and MUC1 in circulating immune complexes (Lewis y/CIC and MUC1/CIC, respectively) and their correlation; 2-to analyze the possible presence of Lewis y in carbohydrate chains of tumoral MUC1 glycoprotein and 3-to correlate serum and tissue parameters considered.

Eyelid edema as an oligosymptomatic expression of infectious mononucleosis La mononucleosis infecciosa es una enfermedad frecuente en la edad pediátrica, cuya máxima incidencia se encuentra en la primera infancia y en la adolescencia o inicio de la edad adulta. El edema palpebral bilateral puede ser un hallazgo clínico sutil en el curso de dicha entidad, y aunque no forma parte de los síntomas característicos, puede estar presente al inicio del cuadro hasta en un tercio de los pacientes. Presentamos cuatro casos clínicos, en los cuales el edema palpebral bilateral es el síntoma guía que orienta el diagnóstico, reflexionando así sobre la necesidad de incluir la mononucleosis infecciosa dentro del diagnóstico diferencial planteado frente al edema palpebral.