Immunomodulatory Effects of Jacalin, a Dietary Plant Lectin on the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs).

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment that refers to the tumor's surroundings is a key modulator of tumor growth and invasion. The tumor-derived signals are known to downregulate the anti-tumor effects of the effector cells present in the TME. Thus, the cross-talk between the tumor cells with the surrounding immune cells helps in evading the tumor surveillance as well as aiding in tumor growth and proliferation. Hence, knowledge regarding the effects of drugs/compound on the tumor-stromal interactions is gaining importance. In the present study, the effects of jacalin, a dietary lectin on the proliferation and cytokine production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), are investigated. Jacalin was shown to act as a mitogen of PBMCs, the key cytokine secreting immune cells. Also, jacalin initially induced increased mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ; however, prolonged stimulation of PBMCs resulted in increased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine, mainly TGF-β. Furthermore, 6 h jacalin prestimulated PBMCs (Jac-PBMCs) were shown to inhibit HeLa cell proliferation while 24 h Jac-PBMCs were found to favor tumor growth. Thus, it may be postulated that while jacalin initially polarizes the PBMCs to hinder the tumor growth, after a stipulated time point, interaction of jacalin with PBMCs can lead to an immunosuppressive TME that may probably assist in tumor growth and progression.

• Authors: V Lavanya, Anil Kumar Bommanabonia, Neesar Ahmed, Shazia Jamal
• Journal: Applied biochemistry and biotechnology (Appl Biochem Biotechnol) Vol. 194 Issue 1 Pg. 587-599 (Jan 2022) ISSN: 1559-0291 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34709568 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Chemical References

• IFNG protein, human
• Immunomodulating Agents
• Plant Lectins
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• jacalin
• Interferon-gamma

Topics

• Artocarpus (chemistry)
• HeLa Cells
• Humans
• Immunomodulating Agents (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Interferon-gamma (immunology)
• K562 Cells
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear (immunology)
• Plant Lectins (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (immunology)