A C-type lectin from Bothrops leucurus snake venom forms amyloid-like aggregates in RPMI medium and are efficiently phagocytosed by peritoneal macrophages

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that play important roles in the immune system. Under specific conditions, lectins can form amyloids, proteinaceous aggregates rich in cross beta-strand structures. A Ca++ dependent lectin, isolated from Bothrops leucurus snake venom (BLL) has demonstrated relevant biological activities such as antibacterial and antitumor activity. In this work, we aimed to study the interaction of BLL with macrophages. The formation of amyloid structures by BLL in a cell culture medium, the effects of the lectin on macrophage morphology and cytokine production were investigated. BLL amyloid-like fibrils in RMPI medium, pH 7.2, at 37 degrees C was confirmed by binding of Congo Red, Thioflavin T and electron microscopy. Neither binding of amyloid markers nor fibrillar structures were found when the lectin was incubated in RPMI plus galactose, the specific BLL-binding carbohydrate. Several phagocytic compartments containing fibrillar structures were observed in BLL-treated macrophages in RPMI medium for 24 h; these compartments showed an apple-green birefringence after Congo Red staining and were positive for thioflavin S and anti-amyloid antibody, indicating the presence of amyloid-like fibrils. No fibrillar material and no labeling were observed when the macrophages were treated with BLL plus galactose or cytochalasin B, an inhibitor of phagocytosis. BLL did not affect the viability of the cells. A significant release of proinflammatory (TNF-alpha, IL-6, INF-gamma and IL-1 beta) and regulatory (IL-10) cytokines was observed in BLL-treated macrophages. Taken together, our results shed light on the structural organization of BLL, improving knowledge about the interaction of lectin with macrophages. The phagocytosis of amyloid-like aggregates together with the proinflammatory response induced by BLL may open new perspectives for the use of this lectin as an interesting model to study cytokines and the production of other mediators as well as understand the mechanisms occurring in human immune cells during amyloid protein deposition.