Totally synthetic polymer with lectin-like function: Induction of killer cells by the copolymer of 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid with N,N-Dimethylacrylamide
E. Uchimura et al., Totally synthetic polymer with lectin-like function: Induction of killer cells by the copolymer of 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid with N,N-Dimethylacrylamide, BIOTECH BIO, 72(3), 2001, pp. 307-314
Lectin-like function was demonstrated in this study for a novel water-solub
le polymer with phenylboronic acid residues (poly (AAPBA-DMAm)), which indu
ced appreciable proliferation of murine spleen lymphocytes with an increase
d expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor on their surface. Consequentl
y, boosted proliferation of lymphocytes with cytotoxic action to YAC-1 cell
s was achieved by concurrent addition of IL-2 with poly(AAPBA-DMAm) in the
medium, indicating this boronate-containing polymer to be worked as an effe
ctive immuno-adjuvant for the induction of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK
) cells. Flow-cytofluorimetry study revealed that poly(AAPBA-DMAm) competit
ively inhibited the cellular binding of N-acetylneuraminic acid-specific le
ctin (Limax Flavus Agglutinin) in a concentration-dependent manner, suggest
ing that phenylboronate moiety in the polymer may recognize N-acetylneurami
nic acid (sialic acid) residues existing on the plasmamembrane surface of l
ymphocytes to induce their proliferation. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.