Putative Effects of Mitogenic Lectin Therapy Corroborated by Alloactivation Data

Abstract

A firm theoretical case for PHA and other plant mitogens as superior immunomodulators has previously been presented, but direct confirmatory evidences have been compromised by experimental studies involving excessive dosages of erythroagglutinating PHA that often compromised the circulation in smaller animals, while inadequate amounts were applied in humans because this mitogen's availability in nonagglutinating form was restricted. The resulting underestimation of efficacy has failed to inspire the production of industrial quantities of mitogens required for reliable clinical trials. As a means of circumventing this dilemma, past favorable results from the immuno-stimulating activities of alloactivation have been extrapolated to forecast the effects to be anticipated from mitogenic modulation. Such an extrapolation would underrate the latter's impact, which would neither be confined to stimulation nor dependent on the uncertainties of engraftment. This review cites clear examples showing that all recognized immune system pathways have been stimulated by alloactivation except perhaps the ADCC, and an example of this pathway's activation has been shown to have occurred with PHA therapy itself. Of the mitogenic lectins currently available, PHA, Con A, and PWM have each shown rare instances of hypersensitization that hopefully might be eliminated by exclusion of contaminants with recombinant DNA methods of production.