Korean mistletoe
lectin (KML) is one of the major active components in Viscum album var. (coloratum), displaying various biological effects such as anti-
tumor and anti-metastatic activities. Even though it has been shown to boost host immune defense mechanisms, the immunomodulatory effects of KML on specific immune responses mediated by macrophages have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to demonstrate KML's regulatory roles on macrophage-mediated immune responses. KML clearly blocked
lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced events [expression of
interleukin (IL)-10,
nitric oxide (NO) production and phagocytic uptake], and suppressed the normal expression levels of
IL-10 (at 2 ng/ml) and
tumor necrosis factor (
TNF)-alpha (
at 10 ng/ml). In contrast, (1) the expression of
cytokine (
TNF-alpha) and (2) the generation of
reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by LPS were significantly up-regulated with KML co-treatment. In addition, KML itself increased the
mRNA levels of
IL-3 and IL-23; phagocytic uptake; the surface levels of co-stimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86),
pattern recognition receptors (
PRRs) [such as
dectin-1 and
toll like receptor (TLR)-2] and adhesion molecules [beta1-
integrins (CD29) and CD43]; and CD29-mediated cell adhesion events. Finally, according to co-treatment of
D-galactose with KML under LPS-induced NO production conditions, KML inhibition seems to be mediated by binding to
proteins with
D-galactose. Therefore, these data suggest that KML may participate in regulating various macrophage-mediated innate and adaptive responses via binding to
surface protein with
D-galactose and that some of these may deserve in KML's therapeutic activities such as anti-
tumor and anti-microbial effects.