Induction of apoptosis by the mistletoe lectins: A review on the mechanisms of cytotoxicity mediated by Viscum album L.

This review focuses on the cytotoxic properties of Viscum album L. (VAL). Apart from well-established results of protein synthesis inhibition by the mistletoe lectins (MLs), namely their catalytic A chain, there is now convincing evidence that the VAL-mediated cytotoxicity is mainly due to an induction of apoptosis. Among the more than 1,000 proteins detected in VAL, the MLs and the viscotoxins (VTs) are the predominant toxic proteins. Using purified components, such as the D-galactose-specific ML I, the N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-specific ML II and ML III, crude VTs and oligosaccharides, only the MLs induced apoptosis. The in vitro studies suggest that interaction of lectin B chains with appropriate receptors on the cell surface activates distinct signalling pathways that ultimately leads to apoptosis in a large fraction of cells, while others survive, however, with a conservation of their DNA. Inhibition of protein synthesis by the A chain of the hololectin probably accelerates the B chain-induced course of events.