title: Effects of dietary lectins on ion transport in epithelia.
abstract: Phytohemagglutinins are widely distributed in common food items. They constitute a heterogeneous group of proteins, which are often resistant to proteolysis in the gastrointestinal tract. Upon binding to the luminal membrane of intestinal cells, they can interfere with digestive, protective or secretory functions of the intestine. Phytohemagglutinins present in red kidney beans and jackbeans have been shown to induce diarrhea and hypersecretion in human airways, but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. We examined how agglutinins from wheat germ (WGA), soy bean (SBA), red kidney beans (Pha-E, Pha-L), and jackbeans (Con-A) affect ion transport in mouse airways and large intestine using Ussing chamber techniques. We found that Pha-E, Pha-L, and Con-A but not WGA and SBA inhibit electrogenic Na(+) absorption dose dependently in both colon and trachea. The inhibitory effects of Con-A on Na(+) absorption were suppressed by the sugar mannose, by inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC) and protein kinase C (PKC). Thus, nutritional phytohemagglutinins block salt absorption in a PLC- and PKC-dependent manner, probably by inhibition of the epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC). This effect may be therapeutically useful in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologie, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany. uqkkunze@mailbox.uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kunzelmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: König
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D015222:Sodium Channels