Abstract
Disruption of the epithelial barrier function has been recently associated with a variety of diseases, mainly at intestinal level, but also affecting the respiratory epithelium and other mucosal barriers. Non-pharmacological approaches such as xyloglucan, with demonstrated protective barrier properties, are proposed as new alternatives for the management of a wide range of diseases, for which mucosal disruption and, particularly, tight junction alterations, is a common characteristic. Xyloglucan, a natural polysaccharide derived from tamarind seeds, possesses a “mucin-like” molecular structure that confers mucoadhesive properties, allowing xyloglucan formulations to act as a barrier capable of reducing bacterial adherence and invasion and to preserve tight junctions and paracellular flux, as observed in different in vitro and in vivo studies. In clinical trials, xyloglucan has been seen to reduce symptoms of gastroenteritis in adults and children, nasal disorders and dry eye syndrome. Similar mucosal protectors containing reticulated proteins have also been useful for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and urinary tract infections. The role of xyloglucan in other disorders with mucosal disruption, such as dermatological or other infectious diseases, deserves further research. In conclusion, xyloglucan, endowed with film-forming protective barrier properties, is a safe non-pharmacological alternative for the management of different diseases, such as gastrointestinal and nasal disorders.
Highlights
Nowadays, there is increasing interest in recognizing the fundamental role of the mucosa as a protective barrier to prevent a wide variety of diseases, for which mucosal disruption by bacterial virulence factors, allergens, pro-inflammatory compounds or environmental particles have been identified as primary or contributing pathogenic factors [1,2,3,4]
Disruption of the epithelial barrier function is being associated with a variety of diseases, mainly at intestinal level, and affecting the respiratory epithelium [2,3,5]
These mucoadhesive properties allow xyloglucan formulations to act as a barrier that is capable of reducing bacterial adherence and invasion and preserving tight junctions and paracellular flux, as observed in different in vitro cell models [1,16,17]
Summary
There is increasing interest in recognizing the fundamental role of the mucosa as a protective barrier to prevent a wide variety of diseases, for which mucosal disruption by bacterial virulence factors, allergens, pro-inflammatory compounds or environmental particles have been identified as primary or contributing pathogenic factors [1,2,3,4]. Results of in vitro studies suggest that epithelial tight junctions may be affected by protease activities of pollen and house dust mite allergens in allergic rhinitis, leading to an abnormally permeable epithelium with alterations in the tight junctions (changes in expression and localization of tight junction proteins) [3,5,13,14] In this context, there is increasing interest in non-pharmacological approaches that can contribute to preventing or reversing the mucosal disruption produced by this variety of factors. Since medical devices containing mucosal protectors are a new strategy for the management of these diseases, we discuss the data published to date and the issues that deserve further research
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