Rhizoctonia bataticola lectin (RBL) induces phenotypic and functional characteristics of macrophages in THP-1 cells and human monocytes

•RBL induced macrophage differentiation in human monocytes and THP-1 cell line.•RBL enhanced activation markers, cytokine secretion and phagocytic activity.•RBL stimulation mimics the combined effect of PMA and LPS in THP-1 cells.•RBL induces MMP-9 activity in THP-1 cells.•NF-κB pathway plays an important role in RBL-induced differentiation.