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Mitogenic activity of snake venom lectins
Cell and Tissue Kinetics
|September 1, 1986
Summary
Snake venom lectins stimulate lymphocyte DNA synthesis, with three showing significant mitogenic activity comparable to concanavalin A (Con A). This T cell response requires accessory cells or can be substituted by TPA.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
- Toxicology
Background:
- Five distinct lactose-inhibitable lectins have been isolated from snake venoms.
- These lectins share biochemical similarities but are not identical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mitogenic potential of isolated snake venom lectins on lymphocytes.
- To characterize the role of T cells and accessory cells in the lectin-induced immune response.
Main Methods:
- Testing the ability of five snake venom lectins to stimulate lymphocyte DNA synthesis.
- Assessing the effect of lactose and 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on lectin-induced mitogenesis.
- Investigating the requirement for accessory cells, including macrophages, in the immune response.
Main Results:
- Three of the five snake venom lectins exhibited mitogenic activity comparable to concanavalin A (Con A).
- Lactose effectively blocked both the mitogenic and haemagglutination activities of these lectins.
- The mitogenic response, primarily involving T cells, was dependent on accessory cells, a requirement that could be substituted by TPA.
Conclusions:
- Certain snake venom lectins possess potent T cell mitogenic properties.
- Lactose is a key inhibitor of both lectin haemagglutination and T cell activation.
- Macrophage-derived signals or TPA can substitute for accessory cells in T cell activation by these lectins.
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