Scientific article
English

Mistletoe Lectins: Carbohydrate-Specific Apoptosis Inducers and Immunomodulators

Published inCurrent organic chemistry, vol. 12, no. 11, p. 918-925
Publication date2008
Abstract

Mistletoe lectin I (ML-I) is a heterodimeric ribosome-inactivating protein composed of a sialic acid-specific Bchain that binds to cell surfaces, and an A-chain with the capacity to depurinate a critical adenosine in the 28S ribosomal RNA. ML-1, in purified or recombinant form, exerts an immunomodulatory effect on neutrophils and macrophages/ monocytes in the low-dose range, while at high doses, it induces apoptosis in both normal and tumoral cells. While mistletoe extracts are widely used as cancer adjuvant therapy, recombinant ML-I (rAviscumin) is a candidate antineoplastic agent that has successfully passed Phase I clinical trials. In immunodeficient mouse models, the efficacy of recombinant ML-I was demonstrated for ovarian carcinoma, melanoma and various hematological malignant cell lines. The clinical potential of recombinant ML-I as a non-mutagenic and non-genotoxic molecule is high and could be used to potentiate classical anti-neoplastic drugs. Its capacity to induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines lacking p53 allows considering its use against genetically unstable and highly metastatic cancers. The mechanisms of apoptosis induced by ML-I probably involves intracellular pathways akin to those described as the "ribotoxic stress response" that directly target the mitochondrion.

Citation (ISO format)
HOESSLI, Daniel, AHMAD, Ishtiaq. Mistletoe Lectins: Carbohydrate-Specific Apoptosis Inducers and Immunomodulators. In: Current organic chemistry, 2008, vol. 12, n° 11, p. 918–925. doi: 10.2174/138527208784892196
Identifiers
Additional URL for this publicationhttp://www.bentham.org/coc/contabs/coc12-11.htm#4
Journal ISSN1385-2728
659views
0downloads

Technical informations

Creation25/08/2009 17:43:00
First validation25/08/2009 17:43:00
Update time14/03/2023 15:10:48
Status update14/03/2023 15:10:48
Last indexation29/10/2024 11:55:03
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack