Lectins, Interconnecting Proteins with Biotechnological/Pharmacological and Therapeutic Applications

Abstract

Lectins are proteins extensively used in biomedical applications with property to recognize carbohydrates through carbohydrate-binding sites, which identify glycans attached to cell surfaces, glycoconjugates, or free sugars, detecting abnormal cells and biomarkers related to diseases. These lectin abilities promoted interesting results in experimental treatments of immunological diseases, wounds, and cancer. Lectins obtained from virus, microorganisms, algae, animals, and plants were reported as modulators and tool markers in vivo and in vitro; these molecules also play a role in the induction of mitosis and immune responses, contributing for resolution of infections and inflammations. Lectins revealed healing effect through induction of reepithelialization and cicatrization of wounds. Some lectins have been efficient agents against virus, fungi, bacteria, and helminths at low concentrations. Lectin-mediated bioadhesion has been an interesting characteristic for development of drug delivery systems. Lectin histochemistry and lectin-based biosensors are useful to detect transformed tissues and biomarkers related to disease occurrence; antitumor lectins reported are promising for cancer therapy. Here, we address lectins from distinct sources with some biological effect and biotechnological potential in the diagnosis and therapeutic of diseases, highlighting many advances in this growing field.

Structure-function and application of plant lectins in disease biology and immunity

“…Further, lectins isolated from seeds of Abrus precaterius when used in alloxan monohydrate induced diabetic rats, decreased the serum glucose level as well as increased the body weight and food consumption (Sawant et al, 2017). Besides above reports, Leong et al has reported that insulin packed microparticle when functionalized with lectins exhibited prolong hypoglycemic effect up to 12-14 h in diabetic rats (Leong et al, 2011;Coelho et al, 2017). WGA connected alginate microparticles also displayed enhanced oral delivery of insulin in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats (Kim et al, 2005).…”

“…Among the natural compounds, plant lectins are known to have immuno-modulatory activity. They are capable of modulating cytokine secretion and production of other immune mediators like reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) to improve the host defences against microbial infections (Coelho et al, 2017;Souza et al, 2013;Da Silva and Correia, 2014). Plant lectins possess the property to bind to specific carbohydrate residues present in the membrane of both bacterial cells as well as immune cells of the host.…”

Roles of glycoprotein glycosylation in the pathogenesis of an endemic osteoarthritis, Kashin–Beck disease, and effectiveness evaluation of sodium hyaluronate treatment

“…More importantly, shifts in the glycosylation patterns have been identified in diseases, such as in IgG of the serum of rheumatoid arthritis patients [13], which was later found to be responsible for the activation of the complement system [14]. Lectins can be valuable tools in the diagnosis of diseases, and even in discrimination of their stages [15], although the actual protein with altered glycosylation and/or its function would not be known.…”

In-vitro Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potential of Mannose/Glucose-binding Pterocarpus osun Craib. Seeds Lectin

“…Lectin can also agglutinate other cells apart from red blood cells. These distinguish lectin from other carbohydrate-binding proteins and make them valuable tools in biotechnological, pharmacological and therapeutic applications [5,9].…”