Jc. Gomes et al., HISTAMINE-RELEASE INDUCED BY GLUCOSE (MANNOSE)-SPECIFIC LECTINS ISOLATED FROM BRAZILIAN BEANS - COMPARISON WITH CONCANAVALIN-A, Agents and actions, 41(3-4), 1994, pp. 132-135
The histamine releasing properties of glucose (mannose)-specific lecti
ns isolated from Brazilian beans was examined. The Canavalia brasilien
sis, Dioclea rostrata, and Dioclea virgata lectins induced histamine r
elease in rat peritoneal mast cells similar to concanavalin A. Less po
tency and efficacy was observed for Canavalia maritima, Dioclea guiane
nsis, and Dioclea violacea while very low activities were seen for the
lectins from Dioclea grandiflora, Canavalia bonariensis, and Cratylia
floribunda. The histamine releasing effect was quenched by higher dos
es of D. virgata lectin similar to what was reported for concanavalin
A. This effect was abrogated by increasing the concentration of calciu
m in the incubating medium. As these above proteins have sites that bi
nd calcium, higher doses of the lectins might withdraw the calcium whi
ch is essential for the mast cell secretion.