Abstract

PROBIOTIC LECTINS AND GLYCOCONJUGATES RECOGNIZED BY LECTINS: SIMILARITY TO CYTOKINES, CYTOKINE INDUCERS AND IMMUNOMODULATORS

Vladimir M. Lakhtin*, Mikhail V. Lakhtin, Ivan V. Kapustin, Irina M. Fedorova, Mariya S. Blyakher and Vladimir A. Aleshkin

.

Abstract

Probiotic lectins and their recognized glycoconjugates were studied as factors that enhance innate immunity. Lectins manifested themselves as cytokines, cytokine inducers and immunomodulators. Lectins were characterized by the potential of functioning with synthetic glycoconjugates. A partial similarity of the action of probiotic lectins with such classical cytokines as phytohemagglutinin from bean seeds and Pyrogenal was noted. Lactobacillar lectins and, to a lesser extent, bifidobacterial lectins induced the moderate production of the tumor necrosis α-factor by human blood cell cultures. The results confirm the broad prospects imitators of multi-strain probiotics (Acilact, others) – symbiotic/probiotic lectins that recognize and bind glycoconjugates. Among the tested synthetic glycoconjugates, the α-L-fucan analogue had the maximal effect on macrophage migration. The latter result indicates the prospects of using α-L-Fuc-containing glycoconjugates together with PL in the management of antitumor and antifungal activities of macrophages and macrophage-like monocytes.

Keywords: probiotic lectins; cytokines; cytokine inducers; glycoconjugates; macrophages; monocytes; tumor necrosis factors; antimicrobials; communications.