Mitogenic activity of snake venom lectins

• Published in: Cell and tissue kinetics Vol. 19; no. 5; p. 557
• Main Authors: Mastro, A M, Hurley, D J, Winning, R K, Filipowski, R, Ogilvie, M L, Gartner, T K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-09-1986
• Subjects: Animals; Cattle; Drug Synergism; In Vitro Techniques; Lactose - pharmacology; Lectins - antagonists & inhibitors; Lectins - pharmacology; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Lymphocytes - cytology; Macrophages - physiology; Mitogens - antagonists & inhibitors; Snake Venoms - analysis; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0008-8730
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2184.1986.tb00756.x

Five lactose-inhibitable lectins have been isolated from snake venoms. These five share certain biochemical properties but are not identical (Gartner, Stocker & Williams, 1980; Gartner & Ogilvie, 1984). In this study the lectins were tested for their ability to stimulate lymphocytes to undergo DNA synthesis. We found that three of the lectins were comparable in mitogenic activity to the T cell lectin, concanavalin A (Con A). The mitogenic activity was blocked by lactose, a sugar which also blocks the haemagglutination activity of these lectins. Although mitogenic response appeared to be due to T cells, it depended on the presence of accessory cells in the culture. This requirement for macrophages could be replaced by the phorbol ester tumour promoter, 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA).