Polysaccharide from Gracilaria caudata protects the human esophageal mucosal barrier: A differential topical effect and structural dependence

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2020-05, Vol.150, p.354-361
• Main Authors: Sales, Thiago Meneses Araújo Leite, Nicolau, Lucas Antonio Duarte, Rodrigues, Rhubens Levy Moreira, Nascimento, Renata Rocha, Paula, Suliana Mesquita, da Costa-Filho, Humberto Barbosa, Bezerra, Francisco Felipe, Santos, Gustavo Ramalho Cardoso, Barros, Francisco Clark Nogueira, Alencar, Poliana de Oliveira Cavalcante, Freitas, Ana Lúcia Ponte, Nobre-Souza, Miguel Ângelo, Santos, Armênio Aguiar, Sifrim, Daniel, Soares, Pedro Marcos Gomes, Silva, Renan Oliveira, Souza, Marcellus Henrique Loiola Ponte
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological Products - chemistry; Biological Products - pharmacology; Biopsy; Esophageal mucosa; Esophagus; Female; Gastroesophageal Reflux - drug therapy; Gastroesophageal Reflux - etiology; Gastroesophageal Reflux - metabolism; Gastroesophageal Reflux - pathology; Gastroesophageal reflux disease; Gracilaria - chemistry; Gracilaria caudata; Humans; Hydrolysis; Male; Middle Aged; Mucous Membrane - drug effects; Polysaccharides - chemistry; Polysaccharides - pharmacology; Protective Agents - chemistry; Protective Agents - pharmacology; Spectrum Analysis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.02.074

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro protective effect of topical treatment with a native sulfated polysaccharide of G. caudata (SP-Gc), hydrolyzed (H-SP-Gc), or desulfated (D-SP-Gc) polysaccharide of Gracilaria caudata in esophageal biopsies obtained from GERD patients. Biopsies were obtained from nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) patients and from erosive esophagitis patients. Then, the biopsies were mounted in an Ussing chamber to measure the basal transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). The effect of mucosal exposure to an acid solution on TEER was analyzed with or without different concentrations (1, 0.3 or 1%) of SP-Gc, H-SP-Gc, or D-SP-Gc, precoated on the mucosa. Basal esophageal mucosal electrical resistance was significantly lower in erosive esophagitis than from NERD. Mucosal samples precoated with native SP-Gc (1%) significantly prevented TEER drop induced by an acidic solution in NERD, but this effect was not observed in erosive esophagitis. Topical application of D-SP-Gc showed no difference compared to native SP-Gc. However, when treated with chemically-modified SP-Gc, the protective effect observed with native SP-Gc was lost. The present study indicated that SP-Gc protects the human esophageal mucosal barrier in NERD patients. This effect is dependent on the structure but is independent of the presence of sulfate.