Open AccessEffect of gamma irradiation on mistletoe ( Viscum album ) lectin‐mediated toxicity and immunomodulatory activity
Author(s) -
Sung Nak-Yun,
Byun Eui-Baek,
Song Du-Sup,
Jin Yeung-Bae,
Kim Jae-Kyung,
Park Jong-Heum,
Song Beom-Seok,
Jung Pil-Mun,
Byun Myung-Woo,
Lee Ju-Woon,
Park Sang-Hyun,
Kim Jae-Hun
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
febs open bio
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.718
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 2211-5463
DOI - 10.1016/j.fob.2013.01.003
Subject(s) - lectin , viscum album , cytotoxicity , toxicity , in vivo , hemagglutination , chemistry , transaminase , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , immunology , in vitro , antigen , enzyme , ecology , organic chemistry
This study evaluated the effect of gamma irradiation on the reduction of the toxicity of mistletoe lectin using both in vitro and in vivo models. To extract the lectin from mistletoe, an (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 precipitation method was employed and the precipitant purified using a Sepharose 4B column to obtain the pure lectin fraction. Purified lectin was then gamma‐irradiated at doses of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 kGy, or heated at 100 °C for 30 min. Toxic effects of non‐irradiated, irradiated, and heat‐treated lectins were tested using hemagglutination assays, cytotoxicity assays, hepatotoxicity, and a mouse survival test and immunological response was tested using cytokine production activity. Hemagglutination of lectin was remarkably decreased ( P < 0.05) by irradiation at doses exceeding 10 kGy and with heat treatment. However, lectin irradiated with 5 kGy maintained its hemagglutination activity. The cytotoxicity of lectin was decreased by irradiation at doses over 5 kGy and with heat treatment. In experiments using mouse model, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels were decreased in the group treated with the 5 kGy irradiated and heat‐treated lectins as compared to the intact lectin, and it was also shown that 5 kGy irradiated and heat‐treated lectins did not cause damage in liver tissue or mortality. In the result of immunological response, tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) and interleukin (IL‐6) levels were significantly ( P < 0.05) increased in the 5 kGy gamma‐irradiated lectin treated group. These results indicate that 5 kGy irradiated lectin still maintained the immunological response with reduction of toxicity. Therefore, gamma‐irradiation may be an effective method for reducing the toxicity of lectin maintaining the immune response.