Serum anti-laminarin antibodies in colorectal cancer: a prospective pilot study
D. Kohoutová1,2, M. Drahošová3, P. Morávková1, M. Podhola4, S. Rejchrt1, J. Bureš1
1 2nd Department of Internal Medicine – Gastroenterology, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove and University Hospital, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
2 The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
3 Institute of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove and University Hospital, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
4 The Fingerland Department of Pathology, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove and University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Gastroent Hepatol 2021; 75(4): 323–327. doi: 10.48095/ccgh2021323
Summary
Introduction and objectives: Laminarin is a low molecular weight (504 Da) glucose branched polysaccharide which modulates humoral and cellular immune response, both non-specific and specific. Laminarin possesses anti-tumorous activity as it induces apoptosis and modulates the colonic microbiota. The aim of our current study was to evaluate anti-laminarin antibodies in colorectal carcinoma. Methods: A total of 46 individuals were enrolled n the prospective study including 14 controls (5 men, 9 women, age 29–80, mean 55 ± 13) and 32 patients with colorectal carcinoma, CRC (14 men, 18 women, age 46–86, mean 66 ± 11). Two outliers were identified in the CRC group. Out of 30 CRC patients, 12 individuals had right-sided CRC (12/30; 40%). Majority of the CRC patients had stage III (13/30; 43%) or IV (13/30; 43%) cancer. Most of the CRC patients had moderately (15/30; 50%) or poorly(11/30; 37%) differentiated CRC. Samples were obtained from the peripheral venous blood and investigation of the serum IgG anti-laminarin antibodies was performed by means of ELISA and measured in U/mL. Results: Serum anti-laminarin antibodies were significantly higher in controls compared to the CRC group (16.23 ± 6.60; 11.41 ± 5.53; p = 0.015) and in controls compared to left-sided carcinoma (11.38 ± 5.39; p = 0.046). A statistically significant difference was observed between controls and CRC stage III (11.01 ± 3.36; p = 0.017) and between controls and CRC stage IV (10.98 ± 6.06; p = 0.049). Anti-laminarin antibodies were significantly lower in moderately differentiated CRC compared to controls (10.78 ± 5.22; p = 0.020), but not in poorly differentiated CRC (12.10 ± 6.28; p = 0.755). No difference was identified between controls and females with CRC (11.94 ± 6.39; p = 0.092). There was a significant difference between controls and males with CRC (10.72 ± 4.32; p = 0.017). Conclusion: Serum anti-laminarin antibodies were significantly lower in the CRC group and CRC subgroups compared to controls.
Souhrn
Úvod a cíle: Laminarin je nízkomolekulární (504 Da) větvený glukózový polysacharid [ (1->3) -β-D-glukan], který je schopen modulovat humorální a buněčnou imunitní odpověď, a to nespecifickou i specifickou. Laminarin se vyznačuje anti-tumorózní aktivitou, neboť indukuje apoptózu a ovlivňuje intestinální mikrobiota. Cílem studie bylo vyšetřit anti-laminarinové protilátky u pacientů s kolorektálním karcinomem. Metody: Do prospektivní studie bylo zahrnuto 46 jedinců, z toho 14 kontrol (5 mužů, 9 žen, věk 29–80, průměr 55 ± 13) a 32 pacientů s kolorektálním karcinomem (14 mužů, 18 žen, věk 46–86, průměr 66 ± 11). Dva pacienti z CRC skupiny byli vyřazeni pro zjištěnou odlehlou hodnotu. Z 30 pacientů s CRC mělo 12 pravostranný kolorektální karcinom (12/30, 40 %). Většina pacientů s CRC měla stadium III (13/30, 43 %) nebo IV (13/30, 43 %). Pacienti měli převážně středně diferencovaný (15/30, 50 %) nebo nízce diferencovaný (11/30, 37 %) karcinom. Vzorky byly odebírány z periferní žilní krve a sérové IgG protilátky proti laminarinu byly stanoveny metodou ELISA v jednotkách U/ml. Výsledky: Sérové protilátky proti laminarinu byly signifikantně vyšší u kontrol ve srovnání s pacienty s CRC (16,23 ± 6,60; 11,41 ± 5,53; p = 0,015) a u kontrol ve srovnání s pacienty s levostranným CRC (11,38 ± 5,39; p = 0,046). Významný rozdíl byl pozorován mezi kontrolami a CRC III. stadiem (11,01 ± 3,36; p = 0,017); mezi kontrolami a CRC IV. stadiem (10,98 ± 6,06; p = 0,049). Anti-laminarinové protilátky byly signifikantně nižší u středně diferencovaného CRC ve srovnání s kontrolami (10,78 ± 5,22; p = 0,020), avšak nikoli u nízce diferencovaného CRC (12,10 ± 6,28; p = 0,755). Nebyl prokázán rozdíl mezi kontrolami a ženami s CRC (11,94 ± 6,39; p = 0,092). Byl potvrzen signifikantní rozdíl mezi kontrolami a muži s CRC (10,72 ± 4,32; p = 0,017). Závěr: Sérové protilátky proti laminarinu byly signifikantně nižší u pacientů s CRC a u podskupin osob s kolorektálním karcinomem.
Introduction
Laminarin is a low molecular weight (504 Da) glucose branched polysaccharide. In nature, this beta-glucan polysaccharide is produced mostly by plankton through photosynthesis [1]. Laminarin exerts several biological functions; mainly it modulates humoral and cellular immune response, both non-specific (increased immune responsiveness to a wide variety of antigens) and specific (affecting a restricted type of immune response to a narrow group of antigens). Further, laminarin possesses therapeutic potential, which is related to its antigen--specific immuno-adjuvanticity [2,3]. The anti-tumorous activity of laminarin is known as well: it can induce apoptosis in human colon cancer cells [4] and it promotes anti-cancer immunity by maturation of dendritic cells [5]. Laminarin has the important capability to modulate colonic microbiota, too [6–11].
In our previous studies, we examined various antiglycan antibodies (including anti-laminaribioside ones) in inflammatory bowel disease [12,13]. Our further research focused on the evaluation of apoptotic activity in colorectal neoplasia [14] and we also investigated specific aspects of the large intestinal microbiome in colorectal cancer [15,16].
The aim of our current study was to evaluate anti-laminarin antibodies in colorectal neoplasia.
Methods
Subjects
A total of 46 individuals were enrolled into the prospective study, including 14 controls (5 men, 9 women, age 29–80, mean 55 ± 13) and 32 patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC; 14 men, 18 women, age 46–86, mean 66 ± 11).
The control group consisted of individuals who had normal findings on colonoscopy. These subjects had a negative history of colorectal neoplasia and inflammatory bowel disease; further, they belonged to the population with an average risk for colorectal carcinoma.
The CRC group of patients had carcinoma diagnosed at the time when the serum for subsequent investigation of anti-laminarin antibodies was obtained.
Two patients with colorectal cancer were excluded from the statistical analysis, as they were outliers (an outlier is defined as a value outside the interval (Q1 – 1.5 IQR, Q3 + 1.5 IQR), where Q1 is lower quartile, Q3 is upper quartile and IQR = Q3 – Q1 is interquartile range). One outlier was a woman with right- -sided CRC, stage II; the other outlier was a man with left-sided CRC, stage IV. Statistical analysis was therefore performed on 14 controls and 30 patients with CRC.
Out of 30 CRC patients, 12 individuals had right-sided CRC (12/30, 40%) and 18 persons had left-sided CRC (18/30, 60%). Majority of the CRC patients had stage III (13/30, 43%) or IV (13/30, 43%) cancer. Most of the CRC subjects had moderately (15/30, 50%) or poorly (11/30, 37%) differentiated CRC.
The result of serum CEA was available in 24/30 (80%) patients.
Sample collection and measurement
Samples were obtained from the peripheral venous blood before the standard colonoscopy at the Endoscopy Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine-Gastroenterology. Immediate blood centrifugation followed and the sera have been stored at –80°C. Investigation of serum IgG anti-laminarin antibodies was performed by means of the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique (ELISA).
Ethical issues
All enrolled individuals were given the necessary information and provided informed consent via a signed form. The project was approved by the Joint Ethical Committee (Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, University Hospital Hradec Kralove). For all obtained data, all personal identification information was removed in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 and repealing Directive 95/46/EC).
Statistical analysis
The obtained data was tested statistically by means of descriptive statistics. Data with normal distribution was further analysed by a parametric unpaired t-test and data with non-normal distribution was tested by a non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. The association of variables was evaluated by a Spearman rank order correlation test. STATISTICA software, version 13, 2013, Tulsa, OK, USA and SigmaStat software, version 3.1, Jandel Corp., Erkrath, Germany, were used.
Results
Results of serum IgG anti-laminarin antibodies are summarised in Tab. 1. Statistically significant differences were found between controls and colorectal cancer (whole group of patients; p = 0.015) and between controls and left-sided carcinoma (p = 0.046). There was a trend towards a statistically significant difference observed between the controls and right-sided carcinoma (p = 0.067; type 2 error beta: 0.664). No difference was revealed between right-sided and left-sided carcinoma (p = 0.850) (Graph 1).
A statistically significant difference was observed be- tween controls and CRC stage III (p = 0.017) and between controls and CRC stage IV (p = 0.049). No difference was confirmed between CRC stage III and CRC stage IV (p = 0.473) (Graph 2).
Serum IgG anti-laminarin antibodies were significantly lower in moderately differentiated CRC compared to controls (p = 0.020). No difference was found between poorly differentiated CRC and controls (p = 0.171), and neither between moderately and poorly differentiated CRC (p = 0.755) (Graph 3).
No statistically significant difference was identified between controls and females with CRC (p = 0.092; type 2 error beta: 0.697), but there was a significant difference between controls and males with CRC (p = 0.017). No difference was revealed between females with CRC and males with CRC (p = 0.557) (Graph 4).
In CRC patients, there was a significant negative correlation between age and anti-laminarin antibodies (r = –0.553; p = 0.002) and trend towards a significant negative correlation between CEA and anti-laminarin antibodies (r = –0.382; p = 0.065).
Discussion
Our prospective pilot study brought an important new insight into the possible role of laminarin in large bowel carcinogenesis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first human study on anti-laminarin antibodies in colorectal neoplasia. Serum concentrations of these antibodies were significantly lower in left-sided carcinoma compared to the controls, while they were of borderline insignificance in right-sided cancer. In general, environmental factors are asserted more just in left-sided colorectal neoplasia [17]. We confirmed a negative correlation between anti-laminarin antibodies and the age of the investigated subjects. Antibodies were significantly lower in males compared to the controls, but not in females compared to the controls. The male gender and higher age have been clearly recognised as risk factors in colorectal carcinogenesis [17–19]. There was a borderline insignificant negative correlation between anti-laminarin antibodies and the serum concentration of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). CEA is an oncofetal protein that is elevated in the serum of patients with a variety of cancers, including colorectal carcinoma. Serum concentrations of CEA correlate with disease burden and have a prognostic value [20]. Serum anti-laminarin antibodies were significantly lower in the cancer stages III and IV as well as in the moderately differentiated cancers when compared to controls, but interestingly, not in poorly differentiated carcinoma in our current study.
Anti-laminarin antibodies provide indirect evidence of the possible impact of laminarin in colorectal neoplasia. These antibodies are normally present in healthy subjects [21], yet these have been studied mostly in Crohn‘s disease so far [12,22–24] as they predict a more complicated behaviour of the disease [25,26].
We can hypothesise that laminarin may be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis both on a direct and indirect basis. It is capable of stimulating apoptosis [27,28]. Laminarin slows down tumour growth and possesses anti-angiogenic activity in an experimental setting [29,30]. According to experimental studies, laminarin is able to regulate microbiota of the large bowel [6,9]. All factors, including apoptosis, anti-angiogenic status and colorectal microbiota play a crucial role in human tumorous biology [14–16,31].
We are aware of the possible limitations of our current project. This is a pilot study with a limited number of subjects. We did not investigate anti-laminarin antibodies in colorectal adenomas and serrated lesions.
Conclusions
Serum anti-laminarin antibodies were significantly lower in the CRC group and left-sided colorectal cancer when compared to healthy subjects. A significant difference was also found between controls and stages III and IV and moderately differentiated colorectal carcinoma. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical importance and possible significance of these findings.
Submitted/Doručeno: 19. 7. 2021
Accepted/Přijato: 26. 7. 2021
Prof. Darina Kohoutova, MD, PhD
2nd Department of Internal Medicine – Gastroenterology
Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove
and University Hospital, Hradec Kralove
Sokolska 581
500 05 Hradec Kralove
Czech Republic
darina.kohoutova@fnhk.cz
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Článek byl uveřejněn s laskavým svolením redakce Gastroenterologie a hepatologie
