Correlation of Interferon Gamma Inducing Ability to Sugar Binding Specificities of Various Lectins

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Abstract
Various lectins were examined to determine possible induction of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in human leukocytes. Among the seven positive lectins (Concanavalin A, pea lectin, lentil lectin, rice bran agglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, wheat germ agglutinin, phytohemagglutinin-P), six except rice bran agglutinin belonged to those which recognize carbohydrate chains connected to polypeptide through a glycosylamine linkage between N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and asparagine residues. The specificity of carbohydrate chain recognition of rice bran agglutinin, residual one positive lectin, has not been reported. Induction of IFN-γ by wheat germ agglutinin, one of the positive lectins, was inhibited by the addition of GlcNAc during the induction, but not by the addition of glucose, galactose, α-methylmannose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylmannosamine, and lactose.