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

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.

Clinical effects and safety of semi-solid feeds in tube-fed patients: a meta-analysis and systematic review

“…Critically ill patients are more likely to have gastric reflux when they are lying on their back, resulting in vomiting ( 33 ). Pectin can combine well with calcium ions in the nutrient solution without changing the composition of the nutrient solution to form semi-solid, which is similar to the chyme state in which food is ground in the stomach and reduces the occurrence of reflux ( 34 , 35 ). Reducing the incidence of vomiting is more in line with the physiological characteristics of human digestion and absorption.…”

Inhibition of galectins in cancer: Biological challenges for their clinical application

“…Nevertheless, pectins are not digestible in the human intestinal tract, and their modifications are believed to increase their absorbability ( 167 , 168 ). Moreover, it has been postulated that products of pectin fermentation by the human microbiota should contribute to their systemic in vivo biological effects ( 169 ). It should also be mentioned that pectins induce galectin-independent biological effects ( 170 , 171 ).…”

Unveiling Plant-Based Pectins: Exploring the Interplay of Direct Effects, Fermentation, and Technological Applications in Clinical Research with a Focus on the Chemical Structure

“…This region is called rhamnogalacturonan (RG) and can be ramified in the Rhap residues, depending on the plant source and extraction method. Most commonly, the monosaccharides present in those side chains are α-1,5-L-arabinofuranoside (Araf) and β-1,4-D-galactopyranoside (Galp), forming structures identified as arabinans (linear Ara f chains), galactans (linear Gal p chains), and arabinogalactans (linear Gal p chain with occasional linked Ara f in O -3 or O -6 residues), delineating the Type-I RG [ 1 , 3 , 16 , 17 , 18 ] ( Figure 1 ). The most variable and complex structure in pectin is the Type-II RG, which consists of the same linear conformation as HG but with wide side chains comprising 12 different monosaccharides (some of them rare sugars), such as D-Xylose, D-apiose ((3R,4R)-4-(Hydroxymethyl)tetrahydro-2,3,4-furantriol), L-aceric acid (3-C-Carboxy-5-deoxy-L-xylofuranose), and Kdo (2-Keto-3-Deoxy-D-Mannooctanoic Acid [ 19 ].…”