The influence of dietary lectins on the cell proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines in vitro.
BACKGROUND
Lectins, carbohydrate proteins, bind non-covalently to glycoconjugate of normal and malignant cells. If used in cell culture, they can influence cellular proliferation. In this study the in vitro effects of six dietary lectins on the cell proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines were investigated.


METHODS
Cell proliferation was assessed by a colorimetric XTT-based assay kit. Lectin binding was characterized by lectin histochemistry.


RESULTS
WGA considerably influenced the cell growth of all tested cell lines (MCF-7, T 47D, HBL 100, BT 20), whereas the effects of PHA-L, SBA and HPA were smaller, began at higher concentrations and were restricted to three cell lines (MCF-7, T 47D and HBL 100 for PHA-L; MCF-7, T 47D and BT 20 for SBA, respectively) and to one cell line (HBL 100 for HPA). STA and PNA had no effect at all.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data suggested that some dietary lectins can inhibit cell growth of human breast cancer cells in vitro. These findings would argue for a protective effect of these plant lectins for breast cancer.
Valentiner
Ursula
U
Institute for Anatomy II: Experimental Morphology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. valentin@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Fabian
Stefanie
S
Schumacher
Udo
U
Leathem
Anthony J
AJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D004032:Diet; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D030262:Soybean Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology
C038095:Helix lectin; D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; C041202:potato lectin; C028824:soybean lectin