New lymphocyte stimulating monocot lectins from family Araceae

Three monocot lectins from underground tubers of plants belonging to the family Araceae were investigated for their mitogenic potential towards human peripheral blood lymphocytes. All the three lectins turned out to be potent mitogens in the [3H]-thymidine uptake assay. Gonatanthus pumilus lectin was mitogenic at an optimum concentration of 25 micrograms/ml while Alocasia indica and Sauromatum guttatum lectins were most effective at a concentration of 50 micrograms/ml. [3H]-thymidine incorporation studies further revealed that the lectins were T-cell mitogens and did not induce any appreciable DNA synthesis in B-enriched lymphocytes. The proliferation kinetic studies detected maximum incorporation on day 3 and the mitogenic response was shown to be inhibited by asialofetuin in a concentration-dependent manner.