The advancement of polysaccharides in disease modulation: Multifaceted regulation of programmed cell death.

ABSTRACT

Programmed cell death (PCD), also known as regulatory cell death (RCD), is a process that occurs in all organisms and is closely linked to both normal physiological processes and disease states. Various signaling pathways, such as TP53, KRAS, NOTCH, hypoxia, and metabolic reprogramming, have been found to regulate RCD. Polysaccharides, which are essential natural products, have been the subject of extensive research in the fields of food, nutrition, and medicine due to their wide range of pharmacological effects. Studies have shown that polysaccharides have biological activities and the potential to target signal transduction pathways for the treatment of diseases. This paper provides a review of the mechanisms through which polysaccharides exert their therapeutic effects at different levels and explores the relationship between different types of RCD and human diseases. The aim of this review is to provide a theoretical basis for the further clinical use and application of polysaccharide bioactivities.