title: Effects of Lens culinaris agglutinin on gene expression of gluconeogenic enzymes in the mouse intestine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lectins are proteins that bind specifically to the carbohydrate moiety of glyco-conjugates. Japanese mistletoe lectin given intragastrically affected cytokine gene expression in the mouse intestine. This study examines the actions of Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) on the gene expression of gluconeogenic enzymes in the intestine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction indicated that LCA caused an up-regulation of the gene expression of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). This change was correlated with an increase in the expression of two transcription factors, HNF1α and HNF4α. Experiments using human colonic cancer Caco-2 cells demonstrated that LCA up-regulated the gene expression of G6Pase and PEPCK whereas insulin had the opposite effect. In addition, the observed up-regulation of HNF4α gene expression in the duodenum raises the possibility that the lectin promotes the colorectal cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lentil beans should be cooked well to avoid unfavourable effects of LCA.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Nutritional and Environmental Sciences and Global COE, University of Shizuoka, Yada, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Monira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pervin
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paeng
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Shinjiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isemura
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokogoshi
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D004386:Duodenum / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D005943:Gluconeogenesis; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D027806:Lens Plant / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019764:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: C496592:HNF4A protein, human; D051538:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha; D051557:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4; C496593:Hnf4a protein, mouse; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase; D019764:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP)