Effect of concanavalin A (Con-A) on the hormone production of the unicellular Tetrahymena and the immune cells of the rat. A comparative study.
Tetrahymena populations were treated with 10(-15) g ml(-1) or 10(-6) g ml(-1) concanavalin-A (Con-A) in tryptone-yeast medium for 1 h. Rat peritoneal immune cells (mast cells, lymphocytes, monocyte-granulocyte group) were also treated with 10(-6) g ml(-1) Con-A, for 1 h. The cells' hormone (ACTH, histamine, serotonin, endorphin, triiodothyronine (T(3))) content was measured by using immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. The extremely low dose of Con-A universally and significantly elevated the hormone contents, while the result of higher dose was uncertain. In the immune cells, Con-A significantly decreased the ACTH level in each cell type and histamine level in mast cells. The results demonstrate the very high sensitivity of Tetrahymena receptors for a non-hormone (lectin) molecule, which can bind to the insulin receptors and mimics the effect of insulin. The results also show that Tetrahymena receptors are more sensitive to lower concentrations of molecules than to higher ones. The universal hormone-production stimulating effect of Con-A-which is observed in Tetrahymena-is specified in rat.
Csaba
György
G
Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. csagyor@dgci.sote.hu
Pállinger
Eva
E
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006632:Histamine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006728:Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013769:Tetrahymena pyriformis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D006728:Hormones; D008934:Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A; D006632:Histamine; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone