The Complex Biological Effects of Pectin: Galectin-3 Targeting as Potential Human Health Improvement?

Author(s)

Pedrosa, Lucas de Freitas ; Raz, Avraham ; Fabi, Joao Paulo

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIOMOLECULES; v. 12, n. 2, p. 32-pg., 2022-02-01.

Abstract

Galectin-3 is the only chimeric representative of the galectin family. Although galectin-3 has ubiquitous regulatory and physiological effects, there is a great number of pathological environments where galectin-3 cooperatively participates. Pectin is composed of different chemical structures, such as homogalacturonans, rhamnogalacturonans, and side chains. The study of pectin's major structural aspects is fundamental to predicting the impact of pectin on human health, especially regarding distinct molecular modulation. One of the explored pectin's biological activities is the possible galectin-3 protein regulation. The present review focuses on revealing the structure/function relationship of pectins, their fragments, and their biological effects. The discussion highlighted by this review shows different effects described within in vitro and in vivo experimental models, with interesting and sometimes contradictory results, especially regarding galectin-3 interaction. The review demonstrates that pectins are promissory food-derived molecules for different bioactive functions. However, galectin-3 inhibition by pectin had been stated in literature before, although it is not a fully understood, experimentally convincing, and commonly agreed issue. It is demonstrated that more studies focusing on structural analysis and its relation to the observed beneficial effects, as well as substantial propositions of cause and effect alongside robust data, are needed for different pectin molecules' interactions with galectin-3. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/08063-5 - Study of the biological effects of modified passion fruit pectins using in vitro and in vivo models of Colon Carcinogenesis
• Grantee: Lucas de Freitas Pedrosa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 16/19657-8 - Effect of acidic and neutral papaya polysaccharides on colon cancer cells
• Grantee: Lucas de Freitas Pedrosa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 12/23970-2 - Biological changes of papaya pectins with possible benefits to human health
• Grantee: Joao Paulo Fabi
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/11816-8 - Effect of papaya modified fibers on three-dimensional co-culture of human colon cancer cells and on in vivo model of rats with chemically induced colon carcinogenesis
• Grantee: Joao Paulo Fabi
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/07914-8 - FoRC - Food Research Center
• Grantee: Bernadette Dora Gombossy de Melo Franco
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC