Nature as a model: Researchers develop novel anti-inflammatory substance


Date:
September 9, 2020
Source:
Martin-Luther-Universita"t Halle-Wittenberg
Summary:
Anti-inflammatory substances based on components of human cells
could one day improve treatment in patients. Researchers have
developed a method for producing those substances with controlled
quality. Since the body does not recognize them as foreign
substances, they offer advantages over anti-inflammatory drugs
such as ibuprofen or diclofenac.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Anti-inflammatory substances based on components of human cells could
one day improve treatment in patients. Researchers at the Institute of
Pharmacy at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) have developed
a method for producing those substances with controlled quality. Since the
body does not recognise them as foreign substances, they offer advantages
over anti- inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or diclofenac. The results
were published in the "European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences."

==========================================================================
"We are attempting to imitate nature," explains Professor Karsten Ma"der
from the Institute of Pharmacy at MLU. These novel anti-inflammatory
substances occur naturally within the human body, for example on
the inner surface of cells. When a cell dies, it turns inside out,
or more precisely, phosphatidylserine (PS), a certain component of its
cell membrane does. This gives phagocytes the signal to digest the dead
cell. PS also ensures that there is no inflammatory response. Something
similar happens in the lungs, which are regularly confronted with a
large number of foreign substances after an intake of breath. Here
another phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol (PG), ensures that there
is no excessive inflammatory response. Ma"der's research group has now
prepared both substances so that they can potentially be used as drugs -
- possible areas of application include infarcts, arthritis and psoriasis.

From a medical standpoint, both phospholipids are of interest to
researchers because the body does not recognise them as foreign
substances, which means fewer side effects can be expected. A U.S. study
has already shown that PS is particularly effective in fighting
inflammation after a heart attack. "However, producing the preparation
was a complex process," says Ma"der. The research group from Halle has
now developed a production process that is much simpler and cheaper. The phospholipids form small particles that are less than ten nanometres in
size. This enables them to easily undergo sterile filtration.

They have also proven to be harmless to cells and blood
components. Especially the PG particles produced in this way were shown
to reduce the inflammatory activity of phagocytes under laboratory
conditions. "The results indicate that the phospholipids could work
well in anti-inflammatory therapies," says Ma"der summarising the
research work.

However, several clinical trials are needed before the natural anti- inflammatory substances can be used in humans. The research was supported
by the Phospholipid Research Center in Heidelberg.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Martin-Luther-Universita"t_Halle-Wittenberg. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Miriam Elisabeth Klein, Max Rieckmann, Henrike Lucas, Annette
Meister,
Harald Loppnow, Karsten Ma"der. Phosphatidylserine (PS) and
phosphatidylglycerol (PG) enriched mixed micelles (MM): A new
nano-drug delivery system with anti-inflammatory potential? European
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2020; 152: 105451 DOI: 10.1016/
j.ejps.2020.105451 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200909100240.htm

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