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.