LC-K11 polysaccharide

LC-K11 polysaccharide is an investigational microbial-derived carbohydrate therapeutic being developed by the Children's Hospital of Soochow University for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), with a specific focus on adolescent populations. Extracted from the probiotic strain *Lactobacillus casei* K11, this polysaccharide is classified as a postbiotic and is hypothesized to exert antidepressant effects through the modulation of the gut-microbiota-brain axis. Preclinical research suggests that LC-K11 can reduce systemic and neuroinflammation by lowering pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6, while simultaneously promoting neuroplasticity by increasing the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. It is currently being evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled exploratory trial comparing its efficacy and safety to fluoxetine and placebo in adolescents with depression.

Other names

LC-K11 polysaccharideLC-K-11 polysaccharideLC-K 11 polysaccharideLactobacillus casei K11 polysaccharide