Pokeweed mitogen

Pokeweed mitogen is a mitogen derived from the roots of Phytolacca americana. It functions as a lectin and a mitotic stimulus for the division of lymphocytes.

Biological Functions[]

This lectin specifically induces the proliferation of B cells, plasma cells and T cells.^[1] This lectin contains Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) proteins which signals for the B-cell for a proliferative response. B cells are shown to have no response to pure PMW without the Toll-like receptor suggesting that PMW inducing ability relies on TLR4 protein's presence for the signaling of B-cells and the response.^[2]

Research[]

PWM can contribute to B-cell assay or other lymphocytes for testing. The amplified number of proliferated cells makes it easier to test different lymphocyte functions, biological mechanisms, and response to different stimuli.^[2]

Clinical Significance[]

Pokeweed mitogen has the ability to play a role in immunology. It can test for immunodeficiency by inducing cell proliferation and test for abnormal counts of lymphocytes.^[2] It can also induce proliferation of cells that target tumors, which is useful for the treatment of cancer.^[3] Other studies in mice showed that PMW contributes to weight-loss effects and increased glucose uptake which makes this lectin a subject for implementation in diabetes or obesity in humans.^[4]

References[]

^ Assenmacher, Mario; Avraham, Hava Karsenty; Avraham, Shalom; Bala, Shukal, eds. (2005), "Pokeweed Mitogen", Encyclopedic Reference of Immunotoxicology, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, p. 509, doi:10.1007/3-540-27806-0_1183, ISBN 978-3-540-27806-1, retrieved 2021-11-30
^ ^a ^b ^c Bekeredjian-Ding I, Foermer S, Kirschning CJ, Parcina M, Heeg K (2012-01-04). "Poke weed mitogen requires Toll-like receptor ligands for proliferative activity in human and murine B lymphocytes". PLOS ONE. 7 (1): e29806. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...729806B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029806. PMC 3251602. PMID 22238657.
^ Numa K, Tani T, Kodama M (1990). "Trial of anticancer immunotherapy with immobilized pokeweed mitogen: immunotherapy by extracorporeal circulation". Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy. 32 (2): 125–130. doi:10.1007/BF01754209. PMID 2289204. S2CID 26066215.
^ Lazarus, Dougals D.; Trimble, Linda A.; Moldawer, Lyle L. (1998-01-01). "The metabolic effects of pokeweek mitogen in mice". Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental. 47 (1): 75–82. doi:10.1016/S0026-0495(98)90196-2. ISSN 0026-0495. PMID 9440481.

External links[]

Pokeweed+mitogens at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

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[1] Assenmacher, Mario; Avraham, Hava Karsenty; Avraham, Shalom; Bala, Shukal, eds. (2005), "Pokeweed Mitogen", Encyclopedic Reference of Immunotoxicology, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, p. 509, doi:10.1007/3-540-27806-0_1183, ISBN 978-3-540-27806-1, retrieved 2021-11-30

[:0-2] Bekeredjian-Ding I, Foermer S, Kirschning CJ, Parcina M, Heeg K (2012-01-04). "Poke weed mitogen requires Toll-like receptor ligands for proliferative activity in human and murine B lymphocytes". PLOS ONE. 7 (1): e29806. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...729806B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029806. PMC 3251602. PMID 22238657.

[3] Numa K, Tani T, Kodama M (1990). "Trial of anticancer immunotherapy with immobilized pokeweed mitogen: immunotherapy by extracorporeal circulation". Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy. 32 (2): 125–130. doi:10.1007/BF01754209. PMID 2289204. S2CID 26066215.

[4] Lazarus, Dougals D.; Trimble, Linda A.; Moldawer, Lyle L. (1998-01-01). "The metabolic effects of pokeweek mitogen in mice". Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental. 47 (1): 75–82. doi:10.1016/S0026-0495(98)90196-2. ISSN 0026-0495. PMID 9440481.

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