Fucoidan aus Braunalgen

ZusammenfassungFucoidan ist ein Polysaccharid, das in Meeresbraunalgen, vor allem der Wakame-Alge, vorkommt. Es ist in vielen Ländern Asiens Bestandteil der täglichen Ernährung mit Algen, darüber hinaus wird es in der traditionellen asiatischen Medizin zur komplementären Behandlung von Tumorerkrankungen eingesetzt. Seit Kurzem ist Fucoidan auch in der EU als „Novel Food“-Lebensmittel bzw. Nahrungsergänzung zugelassen. Fucoidane besitzen eine Vielzahl an antikanzerogenen Wirkungen, was in vitro, in vivo und in klinischen Pilotstudien nachgewiesen werden konnte: Sie reduzieren proinflammatorische Prozesse, können die Proliferation von Krebszellen unterdrücken, aktivieren die Apoptose-Signale von Krebszellen und hemmen die Bildung von vaskulären Wachstumsfaktoren (VEGF), wodurch Angiogenese und Metastasierung unterdrückt werden können. Fucoidan besitzt sowohl systemische Wirkungen – erstmalig nachgewiesen mit Hilfe der microRNA Biomarker-Diagnostik – als auch lokale Wirkungen. Als Biological Response Modifier aktiviert und verbessert Fucoidan die Immunantwort im Darm als First-Line-Abwehr von Tumorzellen und Schlüsselfaktor der Tumorbekämpfung, es wirkt zusätzlich als Booster der natürlichen Killerzellaktivität. Fucoidan kann die Nebenwirkungen von Chemo- und Strahlentherapien reduzieren und es kann die therapeutischen Effekte konventioneller Tumortherapien verbessern. Der Beitrag stellt klinische Ergebnisse zu Fucoidan beim metastasierten Kolonkarzinom sowie bei Brustkrebs vor.

Beta-Glucans from Fungi: Biological and Health-Promoting Potential in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era

Beta-glucans comprise a group of polysaccharides of natural origin found in bacteria, algae, and plants, e.g., cereal seeds, as well as microfungi and macrofungi (mushrooms), which are characterized by diverse structures and functions. They are known for their metabolic and immunomodulatory properties, including anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral. Recent reports suggest a potential of beta-glucans in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. In contrast to β-glucans from other sources, β-glucans from mushrooms are characterized by β-1,3-glucans with short β-1,6-side chains. This structure is recognized by receptors located on the surface of immune cells; thus, mushroom β-glucans have specific immunomodulatory properties and gained BRM (biological response modifier) status. Moreover, mushroom beta-glucans also owe their properties to the formation of triple helix conformation, which is one of the key factors influencing the bioactivity of mushroom beta-glucans. This review summarizes the latest findings on biological and health-promoting potential of mushroom beta-glucans for the treatment of civilization and viral diseases, with particular emphasis on COVID-19.

C-Reactive Protein and Cancer: Interpreting the Differential Bioactivities of Its Pentameric and Monomeric, Modified Isoforms

C-reactive protein (CRP) was first recognized in the 1940s as a protein that appeared in blood during acute episodes of infectious disease. Its presence and pharmacodynamics were found in essentially all diseases that involved tissue damage and inflammation. Identified as a major component of the innate, unlearned immunity, it became a useful diagnostic marker for the extent of inflammation during disease exacerbation or remission. Efforts to define its true biological role has eluded clear definition for over a half-century. Herein, a unifying concept is presented that explains both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory activities of CRP. This concept involves the recognition and understanding that CRP can be induced to undergo a pronounced, non-proteolytic reorganization of its higher-level protein structures into conformationally distinct isomers with distinctive functional activities. This process occurs when the non-covalently associated globular subunits of the pentameric isoform (“pCRP”) are induced to dissociate into a monomeric isoform (“mCRP”). mCRP consistently and potently provides pro-inflammatory activation and amplification activities. pCRP provides weak anti-inflammatory activities consistent with low-level chronic inflammation. mCRP can spontaneously form in purified pCRP reagents in ways that are not immediately recognized during purification and certification analyses. By now understanding the factors that influence pCRP dissociate into mCRP, many published reports investigating CRP as a biological response modifier of host defense can be reevaluated to include a discussion of how each CRP isoform may have affected the generated results. Specific attention is given to in vitro and in vivo studies of CRP as an anti-cancer agent.

Probiotics as Adjuvants in Vaccine Strategy: Is There More Room for Improvement?

Background. It has been recognized that microbiota plays a key role in shaping immune system maturation and activity. Since probiotic administration influences the microbiota composition and acts as a biological response modifier, the efficacy of an adjuvant for boosting vaccine-specific immunity is investigated. Methods. A review of the literature was performed, starting from the mechanisms to laboratory and clinical evidence. Results. The mechanisms, and in vitro and animal models provide biological plausibility for microbiota use. Probiotics have been investigated as adjuvants in farm conditions and as models to understand their potential in human vaccinations with promising results. In human studies, although probiotics were effective in ameliorating seroconversion to vaccines for influenza, rotavirus and other micro-organisms, the results for clinical use are still controversial, especially in particular settings, such as during the last trimester of pregnancy. Conclusion. Although this topic remains controversial, the use of probiotics as adjuvant factors in vaccination represents a strategic key for different applications. The available data are deeply influenced by heterogeneity among studies in terms of strains, timing and duration of administration, and patients. Although these do not allow us to draw definitive conclusions, probiotics as adjuvants in vaccination should be considered in future studies, especially in the elderly and in children, where vaccine effectiveness and duration of immunization really matter.

Biological response modifier glucan through balancing of blood glucose may have a prophylactic potential in COVID-19 patients

With the COVID-19 pandemic causing huge threat to public health and definite treatment modalities and preventive vaccines yet to be arrived at, some of the key indicators of relevance to its prognosis have started emerging. One such independent predictor of outcome has been fasting plasma glucose (FPG) at the time of admission. Earlier, co-morbidities such as diabetes also have been reported to have a risk of relatively increased mortality due to COVID-19. In this background, we herein report on the beneficial effects of Biological response modifier glucan (BRMG) secreted by the black yeast Aureobasidium pullulans AFO-202 which has been proven to bring under control blood sugar levels in human subjects and also has potential in enhancing & regulating the immune parameters in relevance to COVID-19. We further recommend that this BRMG be tried in clinical studies of COVID-19 to provide a prophylactic effect for validation.

Coagulopathy associated with COVID-19 – Perspectives & Preventive strategies using a biological response modifier Glucan

Direct endothelial injury by viruses and dysregulation of clotting mechanisms due to cytokine storm are the major precipitating factors of mortality in COVID-19; both are attributed to a fundamental dysregulation of the immune system. While immune dysregulation can be attributed to several factors, the risk of associated thrombogenic disruption varies across individuals. This variation depends on several factors, such as comorbidities, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. When considering ethnic variations, the vulnerability of Caucasians, African Americans and Hispanics needs to be addressed before arriving at strategies to handle thromboembolic complications, which have been identified in recent reports as the leading causes of mortality in COVID-19. Although evaluation of D-dimer and prothrombin during admission is considered to predict prognosis and mortality, there are no preventive or prophylactic strategies before hospital admission. Herein, we present our perspectives on the effect of regular supplementation with the biological response modifier beta glucan based on its relevance to immune modulation. This effect is of paramount importance in decreasing the development of severe COVID-19 and reducing mortality against the background of coagulopathy, especially in vulnerable populations.