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H J Gabius

Publications and source records attributed to H J Gabius.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Regulation of expression of galectin-7 in human nasal polyps by budesonide.

BACKGROUND: Nasal polyposis is a model for the study of inflammatory processes. We analyzed the expression of galectin-7, a growth regulator, in surface epithelium, glandular epithelium, and connective tissue in human nasal polyps, and examined the effect of the glucocorticoid budesonide on its expression in human nasal polyps ex vivo. METHODS: Using quantitative, computer-assisted microscopy and immunohistochemistry, we measured galectin-7 expression in nine nasal polyps obtained by surgical resection. Five polyps came from allergic patients and four came from non-allergic patients. RESULTS: Galectin-7 was expressed in all three polyp tissues analyzed. Treatment of polyps from allergic and non-allergic patients with 50 ng/ml budesonide increased the extent of galectin-7 expression in the connective tissue (p = 0.01). Conversely, budesonide at this concentration did not apparently affect galectin-7 expression in glandular epithelium; only a slight decrease in the percentage of the galectin-7-immunopositive cells was observed. In the surface epithelium of nasal polyps from non-allergic patients, the percentage of galectin-7-immunopositive cells was decreased (p = 0.03) by treatment with 250 ng/ml budesonide. In nasal polyps from allergic patients, this percentage was increased by treatment with 50 ng/ml budesonide (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These data are consistent with a role for galectin-7 in the regulation of cell growth through a pro-apoptotic effect. Galectin-7 expression coincides with the degree of epithelial stratification, and is subject to upregulation in the connective tissue in response to treatment with 50 ng/ml budesonide. Budesonide modulates galectin-7 expression differently in the surface epithelia of polyps from allergic and non-allergic patients.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed2005

Detection of new diagnostic markers in pathology by focus on growth-regulatory endogenous lectins. The case study of galectin-7 in squamous epithelia.

Lectins represent one of pivotal regulators of the cell proliferation The potential of galectin-7 as a new prognostic marker was studied in normal and transformed squamous epithelia of both ectodermal (epidermis, cornea vs. trichoepithelioma, basal and squamous cell carcinoma) and endodermal (vocal fold epithelium vs. carcinoma) origin. Studies on the cultured cells were also performed. Expression of galectin-7 seems to be connected to the process of stratification, no matter of origin of epithelium. Its expression is significantly reduced in malignant cells, thus galectin-7 might be a differentiation marker of epithelial malignancies.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2001

NMR investigations of protein-carbohydrate interactions: insights into the topology of the bound conformation of a lactose isomer and beta-galactosyl xyloses to mistletoe lectin and galectin-1.

A hallmark of oligosaccharides is their often limited spatial flexibility, allowing them to access a distinct set of conformers in solution. Viewing each individual or even the complete ensemble of conformations as potential binding partner(s) for lectins in protein-carbohydrate interactions, it is pertinent to address the question on the characteristics of bound state conformation(s) in solution. Also, it is possible that entering the lectin's binding site distorts the low-energy topology of a glycosidic linkage. As a step to delineate the strategy of ligand selection for galactosides, a common physiological docking point, we have performed a NMR study on two non-homologous lectins showing identical monosaccharide specificity. Thus, the conformation of lactose analogues bound to bovine heart galectin-1 and to mistletoe lectin in solution has been determined by transferred nuclear Overhauser effect measurements. It is demonstrated that the lectins select the syn conformation of lactose and various structural analogues (Galbeta(1-->4)Xyl, Galbeta(1-->3)Xyl, Galbeta(1-->2)Xyl, and Galbeta(1-->3)Glc) from the ensemble of presented conformations. No evidence for conformational distortion was obtained. Docking of the analogues to the modeled binding sites furnishes explanations, in structural terms, for exclusive recognition of the syn conformer despite the non-homologous design of the binding sites.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2001

Wedgelike glycodendrimers as inhibitors of binding of mammalian galectins to glycoproteins, lactose maxiclusters, and cell surface glycoconjugates.

Galectins are mammalian carbohydrate-binding proteins that are involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion, cell migration, and growth regulation with relevance to inflammation and tumor spread. These important functions account for the interest to design suitable low molecular weight inhibitors that match the distinct modes of presentation of the carbohydrate recognition domains of the different galectin subfamilies. Using 3,5-di-(2-aminoethoxy)benzoic acid as the branching unit, wedgelike glycodendrimers with two, four, and eight lactose moieties (G1-G3) were synthesized. They were tested in solid-phase competition assays with lactose maxiclusters and various N-glycan branching profiles (miniclusters) as the matrix and also in cell assays. Prototype galectins-1 and -7, chimera-type galectin-3, a plant (AB)(2) toxin, and a lactose-binding immunoglobulin G fraction from human serum were the carbohydrate-binding targets. Potent inhibition and remarkable cluster effects were seen for the homodimeric galectin-1, especially in combination with biantennary N-glycans as the matrix. Remarkably, for the tetravalent G2 glycodendrimer, the inhibitory potency of each lactose unit reached a maximum value of 1667 relative to free lactose. In haemagglutination experiments as a model for cell adhesion, galectin-3 was markedly sensitive to increased sugar valency and a relative potency per lactose of 150 was reached. The spatial orientation of the carbohydrate recognition domains of the endogenous lectins and the branching pattern of the carbohydrates of the glycoprotein matrices used are both important factors in the design and synthesis of glycodendrimers with galectin-selective properties.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Carbohydrate specificity of a galectin from chicken liver (CG-16).

Owing to the expression of more than one type of galectin in animal tissues, the delineation of the functions of individual members of this lectin family requires the precise definition of their carbohydrate specificities. Thus, the binding properties of chicken liver galectin (CG-16) to glycoproteins (gps) and Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14 polysaccharide were studied by the biotin/avidin-mediated microtitre-plate lectin-binding assay and by the inhibition of lectin-glycan interactions with sugar ligands. Among 33 glycans tested for lectin binding, CG-16 reacted best with human blood group ABO (H) precursor gps and their equivalent gps, which contain a high density of D-galactopyranose(beta1-4)2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose [Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc] and Gal(beta1-3)GlcNAc residues at the non-reducing end, but this lectin reacted weakly or not at all with A-,H-type and sialylated gps. Among the oligosaccharides tested by the inhibition assay, the tri-antennary Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc (Tri-II) was the best. It was 2.1x10(3) nM and 3.0 times more potent than Gal and Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc (II)/Gal(beta1-3)GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc (lacto-N-tetraose) respectively. CG-16 has a preference for the beta-anomer of Gal at the non-reducing end of oligosaccharides with a Gal(beta1-4) linkage >Gal(beta1-3)> or =Gal(beta1-6). From the results, it can be concluded that the combining site of this agglutinin should be a cavity type, and that a hydrophobic interaction in the vicinity of the binding site for sugar accommodation increases the affinity. The binding site of CG-16 is as large as a tetrasaccharide of the beta-anomer of Gal, and is most complementary to lacto-N-tetraose and Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc related sequences.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Negative regulation of neuroblastoma cell growth by carbohydrate-dependent surface binding of galectin-1 and functional divergence from galectin-3.

The cell density-dependent growth inhibition of human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells is initiated by increased ganglioside sialidase activity leading to elevated cell surface presentation of ganglioside GM1, a ligand of galectin-1. We herein show that the extent of the cell surface expression of the galectin coincides with marked increases of the sialidase activity. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis excludes a regulation at the transcriptional level. Exposure of cells to purified galectin-1 reveals its carbohydrate-dependent activity to reduce cell proliferation. Assays to detect DNA fragmentation biochemically and cytometrically and to block caspases render it unlikely that galectin-1 acts as a classical proapoptotic factor on these cells. Because the chimeric galectin-3 shares binding sites and binding parameters with galectin-1 for these cells, we tested whether this galectin will elicit the same response as the homodimeric cross-linking galectin-1. Evidently, galectin-3 fails to affect cell growth by itself but interferes with galectin-1 upon coincubation. Its proteolytically truncated variant, the C-terminal lectin domain with impaired capacity to form aggregates when surface bound, has only weak binding properties. Thus, the way in which the galectin-1 interacts topologically with an apparently common set of ligands relative to galectin-3 is crucial for eliciting post-binding events. We conclude that galectin-1 is a probable effector in the sialidase-dependent growth control in this system. Moreover, the experiments with galectin-3 reveal functional divergence, most probably based on different topologies of presentation of homologous carbohydrate-binding sites.

Antigens, Differentiation↗
PubMed2001

Galectin-1 is highly expressed in human gliomas with relevance for modulation of invasion of tumor astrocytes into the brain parenchyma.

Protein (lectin)-carbohydrate interaction is supposed to be relevant for tumor cell behavior. The aims of the present work are to investigate whether galectin-1 modulates migration/invasion features in human gliomas in vitro, whether it can be detected in human gliomas immunohistochemically, and whether its expression is attributable to certain glioma subgroups with respect to invasion and prognosis. For this purpose, we quantitatively determined (by computer-assisted microscopy) the immunohistochemical expression of galectin-1 in 220 gliomas, including 151 astrocytic, 38 oligodendroglial, and 31 ependymal tumors obtained from surgical resection. We also xenografted three human glioblastoma cell lines (the H4, U87, and U373 models) into the brains of nude mice in order to characterize the in vivo galectin-1 expression pattern in relation to tumor invasion of the normal brain parenchyma. In addition, we characterized the role in vitro of galectin-1 in U373 tumor astrocyte migration and kinetics. Our data reveal expression of galectin-1 in all human glioma types with no striking differences between astrocytic, oligodendroglial, and ependymal tumors. The level of galectin-1 expression correlated with the grade in the group of astrocytic tumors only. Furthermore, immunopositivity of high-grade astrocytic tumors from patients with short-term survival periods was stronger than that of tumors from patients with long-term survivals. In human glioblastoma xenografts, galectin-1 was preferentially expressed in the more invasive parts of these xenografts. In vitro experiments revealed that galectin-1 stimulates migration of U373 astrocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Glyco- and immunohistochemical refinement of the differential diagnosis between mesothelioma and metastatic carcinoma and survival analysis of patients.

The aim of this study was to analyse the diagnostic value of selected glyco- and immunohistochemical probes for discrimination between mesotheliomas and metastatic carcinomas within the pleura, and to evaluate prognostic indicators in the tested panel. A panel of nine markers (five antibodies, two neoglycoproteins, and labelled hyaluronic acid) was applied to a total of 264 specimens with mesotheliomas (118 cases) and metastatic carcinomas in the pleura (146 cases); the material consisted exclusively of surgical specimens. The diagnosis obtained by standard procedures was further substantiated through a detailed follow-up and clear-cut descriptions of primary sites. The metastatic tumours originated from the lung (82 cases), breast (47 cases), colon (three cases), and kidney (two cases); in 12 cases, however, the tumour origin could not be ascertained. In detail, the probes tested included antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), vimentin, calretinin, mesothelial cells (HBME-1), calcyclin and keratin-5; and also biotinylated neoglycoproteins with ganglioside GM1 and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) as the ligand part, and hyaluronic acid. Carrier-immobilized ganglioside GM1 and hyaluronic acid displayed the highest specificity and sensitivity for mesotheliomas, followed by calretinin and HBME-1, whereas keratin-5 and vimentin were of low specificity (43% and 52%, respectively). Metastatic carcinomas could be discerned by CEA detection and application of GlcNAc-bearing neoglycoprotein with similar sensitivity (76% and 72%, respectively) and specificity (91% and 86%, respectively). In cases of breast carcinoma, the maximum specificity (59%) and sensitivity (67%) were low for all markers. Patients with mesothelioma survived longer than those with metastatic carcinoma, especially those with detectable binding sites for hyaluronic acid. No association of tumour type and binding properties of the other applied probes with survival of the patients could be found at a statistically significant level. It is concluded that in routine practice, the application of carrier-immobilized GM1, hyaluronic acid, and antibodies against calretinin and HBME-1 is useful for confirmation of mesothelioma, whereas the detection of CEA and GlcNAc-specific binding sites is useful for distinguishing metastatic carcinoma from mesothelioma. Despite the rather infrequent occurrence of mesotheliomas in women, particular attention should be given to exclude or confirm metastatic breast carcinoma in cases of unknown history or long metastatic interval.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed2001

Animal lectins: from initial description to elaborated structural and functional classification.

The genetic code connects the two biochemical dimensions of nucleic acids and proteins. Theoretical calculations on coding capacity reveal that oligosaccharides as hardware surpass peptides by more than seven orders of magnitude based on hexamer synthesis. Thus, the sugar code establishes the third dimension of biological information transfer. Using carbohydrate-binding proteins (lectins, enzymes and antibodies) the information content of such epitopes is decoded. Currently, five families of animal lectins are defined in structural terms. i.e. the C-type, I-type and P-type groups, the galectins and the pentraxins. They are involved in intra- and intercellular glycan routing using oligosaccharides as postal-code equivalents and acting as defense molecules homing in on foreign or aberrant glycosignatures, as crosslinking agent in biosignaling and as coordinator of transient or firm cell-cell/cell-matrix contacts. By delineating the driving forces toward complex formation, knowledge about the causes for specificity can be turned into design of custom-made high-affinity ligands for clinical application, e.g. in anti-adhesion therapy, drug targeting or diagnostic histopathology.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Endobronchial juvenile hemangioma--a case report of a neonate including immunohistochemical monitoring and nuclear, cellular, and vascular morphometry.

A 3-month-old female child suffered from tachypnea and dyspnea with abnormal blood gas values. Chest X-rays revealed an increased transparency of the left lung and a mediastinal shift to the right side. High resolution computed tomography (CT) documented a narrowing of the left upper stem bronchus. Ensuing endoscopy detected an occlusive endobronchial tumor mass that did not infiltrate the bronchial cartilage as confirmed with endobronchial ultrasonic monitoring. Based on gross histological examination of the surgical specimen obtained using sleeve resection, the highly vascularized tumor exhibited an adenomatoid growth pattern with a rather homogeneous population of nuclei. The light microscopical presentation was consistent with a juvenile (infantile) hemangioma, which was confirmed using immunohistochemical examinations despite the display of neuroendocrine features. Although endobronchial juvenile hemangiomas are an extremely rare event in early childhood, this case underscores the necessity to not neglect its occurrence in differential diagnosis.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2001

Comprehensive galectin fingerprinting in a panel of 61 human tumor cell lines by RT-PCR and its implications for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

PURPOSE: Knowledge about galectin expression by human tumor cells is mainly restricted to galectins-1 and -3. This study was conducted to define the gene expression pattern of all presently known human galectins in tumor cell lines of various histogenetic origin (galectinomics). METHODS: The presence of mRNAs for human galectins-1, -2, -3, -4, -7, -8, and -9 was monitored by RT-PCR analyses in a panel of 61 human tumor cell lines of different origin (breast, colon, lung, brain, skin, kidney, urogenital system, hematopoietic system). RESULTS: The validity of the technique was first confirmed by comparison of RT-PCR data with those obtained by Western blotting and cytofluorometry for galectins-1 and -3 in 18 cell lines. The following detection of a complex pattern of gene expression beyond commonly studied galectins-1 and -3 underscored the need for this fingerprinting. The most abundantly expressed message for a member of this lectin family was galectin-8 with 59 positive cell lines. With the exception of the tested lung tumors, galectin-1 and -3 transcripts were frequently expressed in the cell line panel with differences between individual cases. Positivity for galectins-2 and -4 was confined to a significant fraction of colorectal and neural tumors. Signals for galectin-9, the third known human tandem-repeat-type galectin besides -4 and -8, appeared in colorectal carcinoma cell lines with a frequency similar to that of galectin-4 but with inter-line differences. Its expression was restricted to lines of this tumor type, of the tested ovarian carcinoma, and hematopoietic malignancies. CONCLUSIONS: The results clearly demonstrate that human tumor cells express more mRNA species for galectins than those for galectins-1 and -3. To derive unequivocal diagnostic and prognostic information by immunohistochemistry on galectins with antagonistic impact on growth control and significant influence on cell adhesion, additional monitoring of these so far insufficiently studied family members is essential.

Antigens, Differentiation↗
PubMed2001

Probing the cons and pros of lectin-induced immunomodulation: case studies for the mistletoe lectin and galectin-1.

When imagining to monitor animal cells through a microscope with resolution at the molecular level, a salient attribute of their surfaces will be the abundance of glycan chains. They present galactosides at their termini widely extending like tentacles into the extracellular space. Their spatial accessibility and their potential for structural variability endow especially these glycan parts with capacity to act as docking points for molecular sensors (sugar receptors such as lectins). Binding and ligand clustering account for transmission of post-binding signals into the cell interior. The range of triggered activities has turned plant lectins into popular tools in cell biology and immunology. Potential for clinical application has been investigated rigorously only in recent years. As documented in vitro and in vivo for the galactoside-specific mistletoe lectin, its apparent immunomodulatory capacity reflected in upregulation of production of proinflammatory cytokines will not necessarily be clinically favorable but a double-edged sword. In fact, lectin application has been shown to stimulate tumor growth in cell lines, histocultures of human tumors and in two animal models using chemical carcinogenesis or tumor transplantation. When testing immunological effects of the endogenous lectin galectin-1, protection against disorders mediated by activated T cells came up for consideration. Elimination of these cells via CD7-dependent induction of apoptosis, and a shift to the Th2 response by the galectin, are factors to ameliorate disease states. This result encourages further efforts with other galectins. Functional redundancy, synergism, diversity or antagonism among galectins are being explored to understand the actual role of this class of endogenous lectins in inflammation. Regardless of the results of further preclinical testing for galectin-1, these two case studies break new ground in our understanding how glycans as ligands for lectins convey reactivity to immune cells, with impact on the course of a tumor or autoimmune disease.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2001

The levels of retinoid RARbeta receptors correlate with galectin-1, -3 and -8 expression in human cholesteatomas.

Cholesteatoma is a benign disease characterized by the presence of an unrestrained growth and the accumulation of keratin debris in the middle ear cavity. This often recurs, even when surgical resection is thought to be complete. In a previous study we showed that cholesteatomas with the highest apoptotic indices recurred more rapidly and also exhibited a high level of p53 immunopositive cells. In view of their relevance to the characterization of the cell differentiation status, the present study focuses on the expression of retinoid acid receptors (RARs) and galectins in human cholesteatomas. Retinoids control the differentiation processes in keratinocytes while galectins play strikingly modulatory roles at apoptosis and cell adhesion levels in a wide variety of tissue (embryonic, normal and neoplastic). To clarify the expression of these two protein families in human cholesteatomas we examined and quantified the levels of immunohistochemical expression of RARalpha, beta and gamma, and also galectin-1, -3 and -8 in a series of 70 human cholesteatomas. Our data show clearly that predominantly RARbeta and galectin-1 were expressed. The RARgamma concentration was significantly lower than that of the RARalpha; this was also observed for the galectin-8 concentration in comparison with the galectin-3 one. Furthermore, the level of RARbeta expression correlated highly (P=0.00001) with the level of galectin-8 expression, which also correlated significantly with the level of RARalpha and RARgamma expression. In addition, this parameter also correlated with the level of galectin-1 and galectin-3 expression. These data suggest that cholesteatomas may originate in an undifferentiated population of keratinocytes, and that a relation may exist between retinoid activity and galectins.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Immunotherapy of C3H/HeJ mammary adenocarcinoma with interleukin-2, mistletoe lectin or their combination. effects on tumour growth, capillary leakage and nitric oxide (NO) production.

Clinical application of interleukin (IL)-2-based immunotherapy of cancer has been limited by a major side-effect known as 'capillary leak syndrome', resulting from nitric oxide (NO) overproduction. A galactoside-specific lectin from Viscum album L. (VAA) has been reported to induce certain lymphokines and upregulate IL-2 receptors on lymphocytes. Present study was, therefore, designed to compare the effects of combination therapy with IL-2 (10(4) Cetus units/mouse, intraperitoneal (i.p). every 8 h, given as 5 day rounds per week, for one or two rounds) and VAA (1 ng/kg subcutaneous (s.c.), biweekly) with those of IL-2 or VAA therapy alone in C3H/HeJ female mice bearing s.c. transplants of a highly metastatic C3L5 mammary adenocarcinoma. IL-2 therapy alone reduced tumour growth and metastasis, but caused significant water retention indicative of capillary leakage in the kidneys after both rounds of therapy, whereas pleural effusion was only evident after the first round and not the second round. A sharp rise in the systemic NO levels after the first round, followed by a decline after the second round of IL-2 therapy suggested a causal relationship of increased NO levels to pleural effusion. A strong immunostaining for nitrotyrosine (a marker for the production of peroxynitrite) was noted in the renal tubules at the end of both rounds of therapy suggestive of a causal association of this toxic NO-metabolite with capillary leakage in the kidneys. Addition of VAA to IL-2 therapy had no effect on any of the above parameters. Unexpectedly, however, VAA therapy alone stimulated tumour growth as well as lung metastases. NO induction in the C3L5 cells by VAA was excluded as a possible reason for this stimulation. Present results suggest the need for exercising caution in the use of VAA as an immunoadjuvant in human cancer therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2001

Survival, disease-free interval, and associated tumor features in patients with colon/rectal carcinomas and their resected intra-pulmonary metastases.

OBJECTIVE: Colon/rectum cancer often presents with intrapulmonary metastases. Surgical resection can be performed in a selected group of patients. In this study, the search for possible prognostic factors of patients with primary colon/rectum cancer and lung metastases was performed. METHODS: Medical records of 110 patients operated on pulmonary metastases of primary colon/rectum cancer were reviewed. The clinical parameters include age, sex, pTNM/UICC stage, grading, localization, surgical and adjuvant therapy of the primary cancer. The number, maximum diameter and total intra-thoracic resected tumor-mass ('load'), the pre-thoracotomy serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, localization of the metastases (uni- vs. bilateral), the presence of hilar/mediastinal tumor-infiltrated lymph nodes, the surgical procedure and performed therapy schemes of lung metastases were recorded. RESULTS: The cumulated 5- and 10-year total survival after diagnosis of the primary carcinomas was estimated to 71 and 33.7%, respectively. After resection of the pulmonary metastases, the 3- and 5-year post-thoracotomy survival measured 57 and 32.6%, respectively. The median time interval between diagnosis of the primary cancer and thoracotomy (disease free interval (DFI)) was found to be 35 months. A non-negligible percentage of patients (15.4%) displayed limited tumor stages of the primary cancer (pT1/2, pN0). The median diameter of the largest metastasis measured 28 mm, and the median resected intrathoracic tumor-load was calculated to 11.4 cm(3). In only 8 patients hilar or mediastinal tumor-involved lymph nodes were found. A potentially curative resection of lung metastases was recorded in 96 patients. The overall survival was significantly correlated with the DFI and the number of intrapulmonary metastases. The DFI correlated significantly with the tumor load and the number of metastases; the post-thoracotomy survival with the number of metastases, tumor-load and pre-thoracotomy serum CEA level. Treatment, stage and grade of the primary cancer, occurrence of liver metastases and local recurrences, mode of treatment of metastases and postoperative residual stage had no significant correlation with either total nor post-thoracotomy survival. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary metastases occur even in patients with limited tumor-stages of primary colon/rectum cancer. DFI is the major parameter to estimate the total survival of patients with lung metastases. The survival after thoracotomy depends on the number of metastases, the intrapulmonary tumor load and the presence of elevated serum CEA level prior to thoracotomy.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Low-dose intragastric administration of Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin (PHA) does not induce immunoglobulin E (IgE) production in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Native Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin (PHA) poses a potential health threat, when ingested with improperly cooked red kidney beans. Since PHA triggers human basophilic granulocytes in culture to rapidly release considerable amounts of interleukin-(IL-)4 and IL-13, key cytokines for inducing immunoglobulin E (IgE) production, the question was addressed whether this lectin can evoke in vivo IgE production. IgE-low-responder (Sprague-Dawley) rats received PHA (6 mg/rat/day) intragastrically by gavage over a period of 10 days. Up to day 35, there was no IgE induction regardless of whether the animals were boostered subcutaneously with PHA or not, indicating that PHA cannot be regarded as a general IgE inducer in rats.

Animals↗