Intestinal mucus and epithelial surface glycans

Intestinal mucus and epithelial surface glycans are complex carbohydrate structures, primarily O-glycans, that decorate mucin proteins and the epithelial glycocalyx. They form a critical physicochemical barrier that protects the intestinal lining from mechanical damage, digestive enzymes, and pathogenic microorganisms (Hansson, G. C., Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2020). These glycans serve as a nutrient source and docking site for the commensal microbiota, thereby shaping the gut ecosystem (Tailford, L. E., et al., Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2015). In pathological states like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), the glycan composition is often altered, leading to a compromised barrier and chronic inflammation (Arike, L., & Hansson, G. C., Journal of Internal Medicine, 2016). Therapeutic strategies targeting these glycans include the use of glycan mimetics to prevent pathogen attachment and agents that enhance the production of the protective mucus layer (Nifantiev, N. E., et al., Molecules, 2021). Understanding the interaction between these glycans and the microbiome is essential for developing precision therapies for gastrointestinal disorders.

Other names

Gut glycansMucosal O-glycansIntestinal glycocalyxMucin-linked carbohydratesIntestinal glycome

Drugs targeting intestinal glycans primarily work through competitive inhibition, where glycan mimetics act as decoy receptors to prevent pathogen adhesion (Tailford et al., 2015, Nature Reviews Microbiology). Other agents, such as mucolytics, alter the physical properties of the mucus layer, while secretagogues like rebamipide induce the expression of mucin genes to reinforce the epithelial barrier (Nifantiev et al., 2021, Molecules).