Antitumor activity of D-mannosamine in vitro: cytotoxic effect produced by mannosamine in combination with free fatty acids on human leukemia T-cell lines.

Cytotoxic effects of mannosamine and free fatty acids on human malignant T-lymphoid cell lines derived from patients with T-cell leukemia were investigated. The combination of mannosamine and an unsaturated fatty acid (oleate or linoleate) produced more striking cytotoxic effects on malignant lymphoid cells than on normal human lymphocytes. The amino sugars glucosamine or mannosamine in the combination caused a synergistic cytotoxic effect, while the other carbohydrates (N-acetylmannosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, or mannose) had little effect. On the other hand, the effect of saturated fatty acids (palmitate or stearate) in the same system was nil. An unsaturated fatty acid (oleate) caused an increase in lipid fluidity of the surface membrane in MOLT-4 lymphoid cells, which possess higher lipid fluidity in combination with mannosamine, while saturated fatty acids had no effect on the fluidity properties of the membrane lipids (even in the presence of mannosamine). The relationship between mannosamine and unsaturated fatty acids in cytolysis was discussed.