Dosimetric
response in HA generation was observed with both pronase and SDS, wherein, pronase was most efficient to generate HA at a low concentration of 100 μg/ml, because it is a mixture of several proteases and non-specific in action [38]. Most of the naturally occurring serum lectins were cation dependent and sensitive to EDTA, but in our study all the observed HA were cation independent and insensitive to EDTA suggesting that new type of molecules has been detected and it warrants more investigation in detail. However, trypsin-treated serum showed once again a variation, wherein, the HA against sheep RBC was cation dependent and EDTA sensitive. This result further confirms the presence FK228 of two types of HA molecules in trypsin-treated serum. HA of untreated serum was inhibitable by wide range of carbohydrates such as glycoside derivatives with p-nitrophenyl or methyl group, di- or oligo-saccharides containing terminal glucose or galactose with varying
glycosidic linkages and this profile was not overlapping with any of the specificities reported for the naturally occurring serum lectins. Furthermore, it was not comparable too as to whether the HA observed was due to reported lectins or some new molecules since some carbohydrates were not tested in previous reports. Thus, it is likely that the lectins reported previously in serum or some new type of molecules yet to Cilengitide be explored may be responsible for the HA. Interestingly, HA of pronase-treated serum was inhibited only by the three hexosamines indicating generation of anew type of lectin molecules, termed neo-lectin with distinct specificity varying from that of natural lectins reported by other investigators and us. In
trypsin-treated LY294002 serum, different inhibitors could inhibit HA against hen and sheep RBC implicating generation of two kinds of neo-lectin molecules that differ in ligand binding specificities. Overall, to conclude, the findings of this study clearly demonstrate, for the very first time, a complete HA profile for untreated serum against various vertebrate RBC types and the possibility for generation of lectin molecules in human serum by exogenous elicitors. Besides, these neo-lectin molecules generated by proteases implicated restriction in their self-reactivity (with human RBC types) and thus it is envisaged that they might potentiate immuno-defense process in vivo against foreign invaders. Beulaja Manikandan is grateful to the Lady Tata Memorial Trust, Mumbai, for award of Senior Research Fellowship (LTMT/AD/75/2008-09; 242/2009-10). I thank Prof. P. Mullainadhan and Prof. M. Arumugam for their constant support, suggestions during my research work and providing all facilities required for it. “
“Aplastic anemia (AA) is mostly considered an immune-mediated bone marrow failure syndrome, characterized by hypoplasia and pancytopenia with fatty bone marrow and reduced angiogenesis.