Polygonatum cyrtonema lectin induces murine fibrosarcoma L929 cell apoptosis via a caspase-dependent pathway as compared to Ophiopogon japonicus lectin.

摘要

Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA)-related lectin family, a superfamily ofstrictly mannose-binding specific lectins, has been well-known to possess severalbiological functions including apoptosis-inducing activities. However, theprecise mechanisms of GNA-related lectins to induce apoptosis remains to beclarified. In this study, we showed that Polygonatum cyrtonema lectin (PCL) andOphiopogon japonicus lectin (OJL), the two mannose-binding GNA-related lectins,could induce murine fibrosarcoma L929 cell apoptosis. In addition, we found that there was a close link between their sugar-binding and apoptosis-inducingactivities. Interestingly, we further confirmed that the mechanism oflectin-induced apoptosis was a caspase-dependent pathway. Moreover, we found thatthe two lectins could amplify tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-induced apoptosis.Taken together, these findings would open a new perspective for GNA-relatedlectins as potential anti-tumor agents.