Immunomodulatory response of Cramoll 1,4 lectin on experimental lymphocytes

Cramoll 1,4 is a lectin extracted from Cratylia mollis Mart. seeds that has shown antitumor and lymphocyte mitogenic activities in other studies. The aim of this work was to investigate, in vitro, the immunomodulatory activity of Cramoll 1,4 on experimental cultures of mice lymphocytes through cytotoxic assays, nitric oxide (NO) concentrations and IL-10 and IFN-γ production. Cramoll 1,4 did not show cytotoxic activity at 1-25 μg/mL concentrations, similar results were observed with concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) lectins. The minimum production of IL-10 was observed in splenocytes cultivated with Con A, PHA and Cramoll 1,4 lectins. However, splenocytes treated with Cramoll 1,4 showed higher IFN-γ production in comparison with PHA and Con A (p < 0.05 for both). Production of NO was effectively suppressed in murine cells stimulated with the lectins and was only detected after 72 h for PHA in relation to non-stimulated lymphocytes (p < 0.05). Cramoll 1,4 was not toxic to murine lymphocytes, induced Th1 response through IFN-γ production and showed antiinflammatory activity through NO suppression. Therefore, Cramoll 1,4 can be considered a lectin with immunomodulatory activity.