Characteristics of PHA-L4, the mitogenic isolectin of phytohemagglutinin, as an ideal biologic response modifier.
Phytohemagglutinin retains the properties of a theoretically ideal biologic response modifier in that it is available in a purely mitogenic L4 isolectin form that is stable; previously studied extensively; applicable as a simple skin test to assess immune competence and guide therapy; broadly immunostimulating with respect to both activation and proliferation of effector cell pathways; amenable to targeting maneuvers; stimulative of endogenous cytokine production; conveniently administrable by multiple routes; applicable to both active and adoptive immunotherapies; rapidly interacting irreversibly with lymphocytes; readily applied as a vaccine adjuvant; apparently nonsensitizing; relatively nontoxic, with maximum effective levels well below those for major toxicity; free from stress induction; nononcogenic; noninfectious; related to other mitogenic lectins that have augmenting therapeutic potential; compatible with other therapeutic modalities and conductive to collaborative use of other BRMs; well-suited to application as a surgical adjuvant and for prophylaxis against malignancies or infections in susceptible individuals; applicative to debilitated, immunosuppressed, and myelosuppressed patients; probably compatible with pregnancy; and potentially cost-effective.
Department of Medicine, Texas Tech University School of Medicine, Lubbock.
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Wimer
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D037102:Lectins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C064103:phytohemagglutinin L4