Chemotactic activity of lectins in vitro.
The effects of concanavalin A (Con A) and leucoagglutinin (LA) on the locomotor response of phagocytes have been studied in vitro. At concentrations of 1 to 4 microgram/mol, Con A and LA induced maximal chemokinesis and chemotaxis of monocytes, macrophages and, to a lesser degree, also of neutrophils. The lectin-induced locomotion was accompanied by membrane alterations and metabolic changes, as shown by an increase of the 3H-uridine uptake and a rise of the hexose monophosphate shunt activity. The chemotactic activity of Con A was inhibited by alpha-methyl mannoside (50 mM) or by pretreatment of the cells with trypsin. These data indicate that lectins such as Con A induce chemotaxis by a specific binding to receptors of the cell membrane. It is suggested that bivalent ligand binding is required as a signal to elicit chemotactic locomotion.
D000373:Agglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002633:Chemotaxis; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D037102:Lectins; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D008766:Methylmannosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology
D000373:Agglutinins; D037102:Lectins; D008766:Methylmannosides; D003208:Concanavalin A; D014357:Trypsin