0 Glyconutrients

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that causes substantial changes in joint tissues, such as cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone sclerosis. Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine are commonly used products for the symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of these products when used as structure-modifying drugs on the progression of osteoarthritis in the rabbit temporomandibular joint. Thirty-six New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups (n = 12/group): control (no disease); osteoarthritis (disease induction); and treatment (disease induction and administration of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine). Osteoarthritis was induced by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate. Animals were killed at 30 and 90 days after initiation of therapy. The treatment was effective in reducing disease severity, with late effects and changes in the concentration of glycosaminoglycans in the articular disc. The results indicate that chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine may have a structure-modifying effect on the tissues of rabbit temporomandibular joints altered by osteoarthritis.

From the Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy (G.F., S.S.)

About Authors: Priya M. Padalia*, Manthan A. Padalia Dagon Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. *modiyapriya@gmail.com

Author summary Cryptococcal meningitis claims half a million lives each year. There is no clinically available vaccine and the current antifungal therapies have serious limitations. Thus identifying cryptococcal specific programs that can be targeted for antifungal or vaccine development is of great value. We have shown previously that switching from the yeast to the hypha form drastically attenuates/abolishes cryptococcal virulence. Cryptococcal cells in the filamentous form also trigger host immune responses that can protect the host from a subsequent lethal challenge. However, self-filamentation is rarely observed in serotype A isolates that are responsible for the vast majority of cryptococcosis cases. In this study, we found that glucosamine stimulated self-filamentation in genetically distinct strains of the Cryptococcus species complex, including the most commonly used serotype A reference strain H99. We demonstrated that filamentation elicited by glucosamine did not depend on the pheromone pathway, but it requires the calcineurin transcription factor Crz1. Glucosamine promotes nuclear translocation of Crz1, which is positively controlled by the phosphatase calcineurin and is suppressed by the HOG pathway. These findings raise the possibility of manipulating genetic pathways controlling fungal morphogenesis against diseases caused by the Cryptococcus species complex.

Glucosamine (GlcN) is a naturally occurring derivative of glucose and an over-the-counter food additive. However, the mechanism underlying GlcN action on cells is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of GlcN on natural killer (NK) cells. We demonstrate that GlcN affects NK-92 cell cytotoxicity by altering the distribution of cathepsin C, a cysteine protease required for granzyme processing in cytotoxic granules. The relocation of cathepsin C due to GlcN was shown to be accompanied by a decrease in the intracellular enzyme activity and its extracellular secretion. Similarly, the relocation of endosomal aspartic cathepsin E was observed. Furthermore, we elucidated that repositioning of cathepsin C is a consequence of altered signaling pathways of cytotoxic granule movement. The inhibition of phosphorylation upstream and downstream of ERK by GlcN disturbed the polarized release of cytotoxic vesicles. Considerable changes in the ERK phosphorylation dynamics, but not in those of p38 kinase or JNK, were observed in the IL2-activated NK-92 cells. We found decreased phosphorylation of the transcription factor FOXO1 and simultaneous prolonged phosphorylation of ERK as well as its nuclear translocation. Additionally, a protein downstream of the ERK phosphorylation cascade, paxillin, was less phosphorylated, resulting in a diffuse distribution of cytotoxic granules. Taken together, our results suggest that dietary GlcN affects signaling pathway activation of NK-92 immune cells.

The cerebral microcirculation and its glycocalyx, a matrix coating the luminal endothelium, are key regulators of capillary permeability and cerebral …

There are many plants with interesting pharmaceutical activities but Aloe vera is probably the most applied medicinal plant worldwide. Since biblical …

Kim SH, et al. Food Suppl Biomater Health. 2023 Jun;3(2):e8. https://doi.org/10.52361/fsbh.2023.3.e8

Allulose, a rare sugar, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its numerous health benefits, primarily concerning metabolic health. To be sure, it seems like it is everywhere …

Allulose, a rare sugar, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its numerous health benefits, primarily concerning metabolic health. To be sure, it seems like it is everywhere …

Allulose, a rare sugar, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its numerous health benefits, primarily concerning metabolic health. To be sure, it seems like it is everywhere …

Allulose, a rare sugar, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its numerous health benefits, primarily concerning metabolic health. To be sure, it seems like it is everywhere …

Allulose, a rare sugar, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its numerous health benefits, primarily concerning metabolic health. To be sure, it seems like it is everywhere …

Allulose, a rare sugar, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its numerous health benefits, primarily concerning metabolic health. To be sure, it seems like it is everywhere …

Allulose, a rare sugar, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its numerous health benefits, primarily concerning metabolic health. To be sure, it seems like it is everywhere …

Allulose, a rare sugar, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its numerous health benefits, primarily concerning metabolic health. To be sure, it seems like it is everywhere …

Allulose, a rare sugar, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its numerous health benefits, primarily concerning metabolic health. To be sure, it seems like it is everywhere …

Allulose, a rare sugar, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its numerous health benefits, primarily concerning metabolic health. To be sure, it seems like it is everywhere …

Allulose, a rare sugar, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its numerous health benefits, primarily concerning metabolic health. To be sure, it seems like it is everywhere …

To assess the association of different sedentary behaviors and glucosamine use with the risk of kidney stones and examine the modification of genetic …

Jellyfish dermatitis is a common medical problem caused by jellyfish stings. However, there are no targeted and effective medications for their treatm…

Pages Introduction Dictionary Economic Alternatives Fucose Galactose Glucosamine Glucose Mannose N-Acetylneuraminic Acid Nacetylgalactosamine Sugar

(NaturalHealth365) Find out how common forms of seaweed may offer a natural way to suppress tumor growth and prevent cancer.