Totally synthetic polymer with lectin-like function: Induction of killer cells by the copolymer of 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid with N,N-Dimethylacrylamide

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.