title: Lectins influence chondrogenesis and osteogenesis in limb bud mesenchymal cells.
abstract: The role of cell surface glycoproteins in cell behavior can be characterized by their interactions with plant lectins. This study was designed to identify the effects of lectins on chondrogenesis and osteogenesis in limb bud mesenchymal cells in vitro. Limb bud mesenchymal cells from mouse embryos were cultured in high-density micromass culture. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), concanavalin A (ConA), peanut agglutinin (PNA), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) and Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA) were added separately to the culture media. Cells were cultured for 5 or 9 days, and cell viability was assayed by neutral red on day 5. The micromasses were stained with alcian blue, alizarin red S and Von Kossa stains, and alkaline phosphatase assays were also done. Dolichos biflorus agglutinin induced an increase in chondrogenesis, calcium precipitation and proteoglycan production. ConA and PNA did not affect chondrocyte differentiation but induced chondrocytes to produce more proteoglycan. Wheat germ agglutinin reduced chondrification and ossification but induced mesenchymal cells to store lipid droplets. Ricinus communis agglutinin 1 was toxic and significantly reduced cell survival. In conclusion, DBA was the most effective inducer of ossification and chondrification. Wheat germ agglutinin induced adipogenesis instead. These assays showed that lectins play important roles in limb bud development.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Research Center, Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Talaeit@sums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Talaei-Khozani
authors.forename: Malihezaman
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monsefi
authors.forename: Mansoureh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghasemi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018878:Limb Buds / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D037121:Plant Lectins; C017707:Ricinus communis agglutinin-1; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; C036554:dolichos biflorus agglutinin; D003208:Concanavalin A