epiglucan and Uterine-Cervical-Neoplasms

Cervical cancer is the fourth-ranked cancer in the world and is associated with a large number of deaths annually. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are known as the common therapeutic approaches in the treatment of cervical cancer, but because of their side effects and toxicity, researchers are trying to discovery alternative therapies. Beta-glucans, a group of glucose polymers that are derived from the cell wall of fungi, bacteria, and etc. it has been showed that beta-glucans have some anti-cancer properties which due to their impacts on adaptive and innate immunity. Along to these impacts, these molecules could be used as drug carriers. In this regard, the application of beta-glucans is a promising therapeutic option for the cancer prevention and treatment especially for cervical cancer. Herein, we have summarized the therapeutic potential of beta-glucans alone or as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of cervical cancer. Moreover, we highlighted beta-glucans as drug carriers for preventive and therapeutic purposes.

Topics: beta-Glucans; Carrier Proteins; Clinical Studies as Topic; Disease Management; Disease Susceptibility; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Female; Humans; Immunomodulation; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells; Protein Binding; Signal Transduction; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women. Due to incomplete knowledge and hidden symptoms, it is not easily diagnosable. After the diagnosis of cervical cancer at an advanced stage, treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy become too much costly along with having many side effects such as hair loss, loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, etc. β-Glucan does a novel polysaccharide has many immunomodulatory properties. In our research, we have tested the efficacy of Agaricus bisporus derived β-Glucan particles (ADGPs) as an antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer agent against the cervical cancer HeLa cells. Prepared particles were quantified for carbohydrate content by anthrone test and further HPTLC analysis to confirm the polysaccharide nature and 1,3 glycosidic linkages of β-Glucan. ADGPs were found to have efficient antimicrobial activity against various fungal and bacterial tested strains. DPPH assay confirmed the antioxidant activity of ADGPs. Cell viability was assessed against the cervical cancer cell line by using the MTT and IC50 was found at 54μg/ml. Furthermore, β-Glucan was found to induce a significant amount of ROS, leading to the apoptosis of cells. The same was also assessed with the help of Propidium Iodide (PI) staining. With the help of JC-1 staining, β-Glucan was found to disrupt the Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP), ultimately resulting in the cancer cell HeLa death. Based on our experimental findings, we found that ADGPs can be proven as an efficient therapy for cervical cancer treatment and work as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent.

Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; beta-Glucans; Female; Glucans; HeLa Cells; Humans; Polysaccharides; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Infection with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) is known to cause cervical cancer, hence the several HPV therapeutic vaccines are developed in E7 oncoproteins and targeted on cell-mediated immunity. Human dendritic cells (HuDCs) are extensively employed in HPV therapeutic vaccines as the carrier or platform for inducing adaptive immune responses. However, the immunomodulators need to be further investigated for vaccine effects. Gray oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sajor-caju) containing β-glucans is a potent immunomodulator with potential to be used in vaccines.. To study the effect of Pleurotus sajor-caju-β-glucan Polysaccharides (PBG) on human T-lymphocytes by use of the HuDCs' antigen presentation platform for HPV16 vaccine.. The HPV16-E7 recombinant proteins were constructed in E. Coli. HuDCs pulsed with E7 peptide were cocultured with the T-lymphocytes treated with and without PBG. The number of T-lymphocytes(CD4; CD8) was detected by flowcytometry, and the viral response of T-lymphocytes was measured via IFN-γ release.. The PBG treated group of T-lymphocytes cocultured with the HuDCs pulsed by the HPV16-E7 proteins showed significantly higher numbers of T-lymphocytes and IFN-γ release compared with T-lymphocytes without PBG in vitro. Moreover, a significant improvement in the level of specific IgG neutralizing antibodies to HPV was found in a murine model. Further observed was an increase in the expansion of helper and cytotoxic T-cells and IFN-γ releases in human system.. PBG treatment of T-lymphocytes could be a useful option for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines in cervical cancer.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Antibodies, Viral; Antigen Presentation; Antigens, Fungal; beta-Glucans; Cancer Vaccines; Cells, Cultured; Coculture Techniques; Dendritic Cells; Female; Human papillomavirus 16; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Interferon-gamma; Lymphocyte Activation; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; Papillomavirus Infections; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Peptides; Pleurotus; T-Lymphocytes; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the beta-glucan in women with abnormal cytology, including the women with a positive screening for ASCUS-LSIL furtherly divided in women with positive cytology (ASCUS or LSIL) and negative colposcopy and women with abnormal cytology, positive colposcopy and human papilloma virus (HPV)-CIN1 hystology who opted for follow-up.. From September 2007 to December 2008, 60 women with ASCUS-LSIL diagnosis were recruited at the ambulatory of Lasersurgery and Cervico-Vaginal Patology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Policlinico Umberto I of Rome. The women was subdivided in two groups: 1) women with cytological diagnosis of ASCUS or LSIL and negative colposcopy; 2) women with abnormal cytology, positive colposcopy and HPV-CIN1 histology, who opted for follow-up. All the women were treated with two cycles of a daily topical application of beta-glucan for 20 consecutive days with a suspension of 10 days. The effects of beta-glucan were analyzed with colposcopy and cytology at 3.6 and 12 months from the beginning of the therapy.. After 3 months of treatment, of the 30 women with positive cytology and negative colposcopy, 80% with ASCUS diagnosis resulted negative, 35% with LSIL diagnosis resulted negative; after 6 months 100% with ASCUS diagnosis resulted negative, 70% with LSIL diagnosis resulted negative; after 12 months 85% with LSIL diagnosis resulted negative. Of the 30 women with positive cytology, positive colposcopy and HPV-CIN1 histology after 3 months 20% resulted negative, after 6 months 60% resulted negative and after 12 months 80% resulted negative. The persistence of the HPV-CIN1 histology was verified in the 13% of the women. For these women the definitive treatment was the TFD.. Our study demonstrate the effectiveness of the treatment with beta-glucan in the women with ASCUS-LSIL lesions and HPV-CIN1 lesions, increasing of the regressions rate after 12 months of the treatment of the 15-20%.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; beta-Glucans; Female; Humans; Papillomavirus Infections; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Young Adult