Abstract
Mistletoe lectin I (ML-I) is a heterodimeric ribosome-inactivating protein composed of a sialic acid-specific Bchain that binds to cell surfaces, and an A-chain with the capacity to depurinate a critical adenosine in the 28S ribosomal RNA. ML-1, in purified or recombinant form, exerts an immunomodulatory effect on neutrophils and macrophages/ monocytes in the low-dose range, while at high doses, it induces apoptosis in both normal and tumoral cells. While mistletoe extracts are widely used as cancer adjuvant therapy, recombinant ML-I (rAviscumin) is a candidate antineoplastic agent that has successfully passed Phase I clinical trials. In immunodeficient mouse models, the efficacy of recombinant ML-I was demonstrated for ovarian carcinoma, melanoma and various hematological malignant cell lines. The clinical potential of recombinant ML-I as a non-mutagenic and non-genotoxic molecule is high and could be used to potentiate classical anti-neoplastic drugs. Its capacity to induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines lacking p53 allows considering its use against genetically unstable and highly metastatic cancers. The mechanisms of apoptosis induced by ML-I probably involves intracellular pathways akin to those described as the “ribotoxic stress response” that directly target the mitochondrion.
Current Organic Chemistry
Title: Mistletoe Lectins: Carbohydrate-Specific Apoptosis Inducers and Immunomodulators
Volume: 12 Issue: 11
Author(s): Daniel C. Hoessli and Ishtiaq Ahmad
Affiliation:
Abstract: Mistletoe lectin I (ML-I) is a heterodimeric ribosome-inactivating protein composed of a sialic acid-specific Bchain that binds to cell surfaces, and an A-chain with the capacity to depurinate a critical adenosine in the 28S ribosomal RNA. ML-1, in purified or recombinant form, exerts an immunomodulatory effect on neutrophils and macrophages/ monocytes in the low-dose range, while at high doses, it induces apoptosis in both normal and tumoral cells. While mistletoe extracts are widely used as cancer adjuvant therapy, recombinant ML-I (rAviscumin) is a candidate antineoplastic agent that has successfully passed Phase I clinical trials. In immunodeficient mouse models, the efficacy of recombinant ML-I was demonstrated for ovarian carcinoma, melanoma and various hematological malignant cell lines. The clinical potential of recombinant ML-I as a non-mutagenic and non-genotoxic molecule is high and could be used to potentiate classical anti-neoplastic drugs. Its capacity to induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines lacking p53 allows considering its use against genetically unstable and highly metastatic cancers. The mechanisms of apoptosis induced by ML-I probably involves intracellular pathways akin to those described as the “ribotoxic stress response” that directly target the mitochondrion.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Hoessli C. Daniel and Ahmad Ishtiaq, Mistletoe Lectins: Carbohydrate-Specific Apoptosis Inducers and Immunomodulators, Current Organic Chemistry 2008; 12 (11) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138527208784892196
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138527208784892196 |
Print ISSN 1385-2728 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5348 |

- Author Guidelines
- Bentham Author Support Services (BASS)
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Editorial [ Hot Topic: Highlights on Important Signaling Pathways as Drug Targets in Hematological Malignancies (Guest Editors: H. Serve and H.C. Hasselbalch) ]
Current Drug Targets Immunotherapy in Invasive Fungal Infection - Focus on Invasive Aspergillosis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Immunotoxins in the Treatment of Hematologic Malignancies
Current Drug Targets Novel Pharmacodynamic Approach to Assess Obatoclax (GX15-070) and Bortezomib (BTZ) Synergism in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Clinical Cancer Drugs Target Driven Preclinical Screening for New Antimitotic Chemotherapy Agents
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Progestins for Symptomatic Endometriosis: Results of Clinical Studies
Current Drug Therapy Gene Selection from Microarray Data Using Binary Grey Wolf Algorithm for Classifying Acute Leukemia
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Purine Nucleoside Analogs as Immunosuppressive and Antineoplastic Agents: Mechanism of Action and Clinical Activity
Current Medicinal Chemistry Significance of Prion and Prion-Like Proteins in Cancer Development, Progression and Multi-Drug Resistance
Current Cancer Drug Targets Modifying Radiation Damage
Current Drug Targets c-Myc: Linking Transformation and Genomic Instability
Current Molecular Medicine Targeting Tyrosine Kinase Receptors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Current Cancer Drug Targets Current Management of Fetal and Neonatal Renal Tumors
Current Pediatric Reviews HLA Peptide-mediated Strategies for Modulation of Cellular and Humoral Immune Response in Transplantation
Current Pharmacogenomics Experimental Animal Models of Myocardial Damage in Regenerative Medicine Studies Involving Adult Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cells: Ethical and Methodological Implications
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Editorial (Thematic Issue: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology: from Basic Research to Clinical Applications)
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Biomimetic Drug Delivery Systems Oriented by Biological Function in Tumor Targeting
Current Drug Targets Invasive Aspergillosis: New Insights into Disease, Diagnostic and Treatment
Current Pharmaceutical Design Targeting the IL-6 Pathway in Multiple Myeloma and its Implications in Cancer-Associated Gene Hypermethylation
Medicinal Chemistry Recent Advances in Treatment Approaches to Gaucher Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology