Lectins induce resistance to proteases and/or mechanical stimulus in all examined cells - including bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells - on various scaffolds

Transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), chondrocytes, osteoblasts, or muscle cells promotes regeneration. However, these cells adhere poorly to some scaffolds-depending upon the scaffold material-and are often damaged by proteases or mechanical stimuli at site of transplantation. We found, however, that MSC, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts-along with some other cells-that were exposed to phaseolus vulgaris erythroagglutinin (PHA-E) or concanavalin A (ConA) increased their adhesion capacity on plastic tissue culture dishes and on plates of hydroxyapatite, titanium and poly-DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), and that these cells, moreover, built up resistance to proteases and/or mechanical stimuli. Thus, lectins may have great potential in tissue engineering and cell therapy. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.