Fucosylation of GA1 in murine intestinal epithelia occurs through transcriptional induction of α1,2-fucosyltransferase along with bacterial infection, but the mechanism has not been clearly characterized as to whether it is induced as a result of an immune response to bacteria or of genetic manipulation of the host by bacteria. Accordingly, we analysed the expression of fucosyl GA1 (FGA1) and fucosyltransferase activity in the digestive tracts of immune-deficient scid, nude and pIgR(-/-) mice. In comparison with those in control mice bred under the same SPF circumstances, the amount of FGA1 and the α1,2-fucosyltransferase activity were significantly increased in the immune-deficient mice, indicating that the immune system is not involved in induction of the α1,2-fucosyltransferase gene. Reflecting the enhanced synthesis of FGA1, the total amounts of FGA1 in the intestinal contents of immune-deficient mice were higher than those in control mice. Also, the major faecal bacteria grown on a MRS agar plate were different in immune-deficient and control mice as follows, Lactobacillus murinus for scid and pIgR(-/-) mice, and Lactobacillus johnsonii for their control, and Enterococcus faecalis for nude mice and Lactococcus garvieae for the control, indicating that an alteration in the intestinal lactobacilli is partly involved in the induction of α1,2-fucosyltransferase.
Keywords: carbohydrate-specific antibodies; digestive tract; faecal bacteria; fucosyltransferase; glycolipid.