MLL leukemia-associated rearrangements in peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy individuals

Chromosomal translocations are characteristic of hematopoietic neoplasias and can lead to unregulated oncogene expression or the fusion of genes to yield novel functions. In recent years, different lymphoma/leukemia-associated rearrangements have been detected in healthy individuals. In this study, we used inverse PCR to screen peripheral lymphocytes from 100 healthy individuals for the presence of MLL (Mixed Lineage Leukemia) translocations. Forty-nine percent of the probands showed MLL rearrangements. Sequence analysis showed that these rearrangements were specific for MLL translocations that corresponded to t(4;11)(q21;q23) (66%) and t(9;11) (20%). However, RT-PCR failed to detect any expression of t(4;11)(q21;q23) in our population. We suggest that 11q23 rearrangements in peripheral lymphocytes from normal individuals may result from exposure to endogenous or exogenous DNA-damaging agents. In practical terms, the high susceptibility of the MLL gene to chemically-induced damage suggests that monitoring the aberrations associated with this gene in peripheral lymphocytes may be a sensitive assay for assessing genomic instability in individuals exposed to genotoxic stress

Impact of Flavonoids on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Neurodegeneration

Purpose of Review This review summarises the most recent evidence regarding the effects of dietary flavonoids on age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent Findings Recent evidence indicates that plant-derived flavonoids may exert powerful actions on mammalian cognition and protect against the development of age-related cognitive decline and pathological neurodegeneration. The neuroprotective effects of flavonoids have been suggested to be due to interactions with the cellular and molecular architecture of brain regions responsible for memory. Summary Mechanisms for the beneficial effects of flavonoids on age-related cognitive decline and dementia are discussed, including modulating signalling pathways critical in controlling synaptic plasticity, reducing neuroinflammation, promoting vascular effects capable of stimulating new nerve cell growth in the hippocampus, bidirectional interactions with gut microbiota and attenuating the extracellular accumulation of pathological proteins. These processes are known to be important in maintaining optimal neuronal function and preventing age-related cognitive decline and neurodegeneration

Bioavailability and Nutritional Analysis of Flavonoids

Flavonoids are plant-specific dietary components with their promising health-promoting effects in human cell which has been well proven with plethora of experimental and human clinical studies. They own a variety of biological activities and properties as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-allergic and many more which can modulate cell signaling and gene expression-related disease development. Poor bioavailability of flavonoids is a great concern as it can put a check or even can hinder their health effects. Therefore, efforts to improve their bioavailability with the aim of improving the efficacy of flavonoids are subject of current research in this area. This chapter highlights the overall picture of flavonoids, including their beneficial roles, contributing toward improving the human health