Description
Concanavalin A is a lectin found in Canavelia that exhibits immunostimulatory, pro-fibrotic, and anticancer chemotherapeutic activities. Concanavalin A is a plant mitogen that activates T cells; it binds α-D-mannosyl and α-D-glucosyl residues on sugars, glycoproteins, and glycolipids. Concanavalin A is used in research to study cell adhesion. In vivo, concanavalin A induces fibrosis. In animal models of hepatoma, concanavalin A induces autophagy and cell death and decreases tumor nodule formation.
References
Wan Y, Tang MH, Chen XC, et al. Inhibitory effect of liposomal quercetin on acute hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis induced by concanavalin A. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2014 Aug;47(8):655-61. PMID: 25098714.
Lei HY, Chang CP. Lectin of Concanavalin A as an anti-hepatoma therapeutic agent. J Biomed Sci. 2009 Jan 19;16:10. PMID: 19272170.
Dwyer JM, Johnson C. The use of concanavalin A to study the immunoregulation of human T cells. Clin Exp Immunol. 1981 Nov;46(2):237-49. PMID: 6461456.
Noonan KD, Burger MM. The relationship of concanavalin A binding to lectin-initiated cell agglutination. J Cell Biol. 1973 Oct;59(1):134-42. PMID: 4201706.
