776 research outputs found
Exploitation of Old Wheat Properties for Prevention of Human Disease
Cereals occupy an important place in the Mediterranean diet pyramid and carbohydrates derived from whole grains seem to exert a beneficial role. In this context, some ancient wheat varieties such as khorasan wheat ( Triticum turgidum ssp. turanicum) may offer unique nutritional and functional properties to prevent human disease. The current paper reviews specific features of dietary carbohydrates focussing the attention on khorasan wheat and its major potential health benefits once regularly introduced in the diet
POLYPHENOLS FROM RED WINE MODULATE IMMUNE RESPONSIVENESS: BIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
Many studies have been conducted on the effects of red wine polyphenols on certain diseases, primarily, coronary
heart disease (CHD) and, in this respect, evidence has been demonstrated that intake of red wine is associated with a
reduction of CHD symptomatology. In this framework, the purpose of this review is to illustrate the effects of polyphenols
on immune cells from human healthy peripheral blood. Data will show that polyphenols are able to stimulate both innate
and adaptive immune responses. In particular, the release of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-12, interferon (IFN)-, and
IL-10 as well as immunoglobulins may be important for host protection in different immune related disorders.
Another important aspect pointed out in this review is the release of nitric oxide (NO) from peripheral blood mononuclear
cells (PBMC), stimulated by red wine polyphenols despite the fact that the majority of studies have reported NO production
only by endothelial cells. Release of NO from PBMC may play an important role in cardiovascular disease, because it
is known that this molecule acts as an inhibitor of platelet aggregation. On the other hand, NO exerts a protective role
against infectious organisms.
Finally, some molecular cytoplasmatic pathways elicited by polyphenols able to regulate certain immune responses will
also be discussed. In particular, it seems that p38, a molecule belonging to the MAPK family, is involved in the release of
IFN- and, therefore, in NO production.
All these data confirm the beneficial effects of polyphenols in some chronic diseases
Low Grade Inflammation as a Common Pathogenetic Denominator in Age-Related Diseases: Novel Drug Targets for Anti-Ageing Strategies and Successful Ageing Achievement
Nowadays, people are living much longer than they used to do, however they are not free from ageing. Ageing, an inexorable
intrinsic process that affects all cells, tissues, organs and individuals, is a post-maturational process that, due to a diminished homeostasis
and increased organism frailty, causes a reduction of the response to environmental stimuli and, in general, is associated to an increased
predisposition to illness and death. However, the high incidence of death due to infectious, cardiovascular and cancer diseases underlies a
common feature in these pathologies that is represented by dysregulation of both instructive and innate immunity. Several studies show
that a low-grade systemic inflammation characterizes ageing and that inflammatory markers are significant predictors of mortality in old
humans. This pro-inflammatory status of the elderly underlies biological mechanisms responsible for physical function decline and agerelated
diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and atherosclerosis are initiated or worsened by systemic inflammation. Understanding of the
ageing process should have a prominent role in new strategies for extending the health old population. Accordingly, as extensively
discussed in the review and in the accompanying related papers, investigating ageing pathophysiology, particularly disentangling agerelated
low grade inflammation, is likely to provide important clues about how to develop drugs that can slow or delay ageing
Low Grade Inflammation as a Common Pathogenetic Denominator in Age-Related Diseases: Novel Drug Targets for Anti-Ageing Strategies and Successful Ageing Achievement
Nowadays, people are living much longer than they used to do, however they are not free from ageing. Ageing, an inexorable
intrinsic process that affects all cells, tissues, organs and individuals, is a post-maturational process that, due to a diminished homeostasis
and increased organism frailty, causes a reduction of the response to environmental stimuli and, in general, is associated to an increased
predisposition to illness and death. However, the high incidence of death due to infectious, cardiovascular and cancer diseases underlies a
common feature in these pathologies that is represented by dysregulation of both instructive and innate immunity. Several studies show
that a low-grade systemic inflammation characterizes ageing and that inflammatory markers are significant predictors of mortality in old
humans. This pro-inflammatory status of the elderly underlies biological mechanisms responsible for physical function decline and agerelated
diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and atherosclerosis are initiated or worsened by systemic inflammation. Understanding of the
ageing process should have a prominent role in new strategies for extending the health old population. Accordingly, as extensively
discussed in the review and in the accompanying related papers, investigating ageing pathophysiology, particularly disentangling agerelated
low grade inflammation, is likely to provide important clues about how to develop drugs that can slow or delay ageing
Molecular and cellular substrates for the Friedreich Ataxia. significance of contactin expression and of antioxidant administration
In this study, the neural phenotype is explored in rodent models of the spinocerebellar disorder known as the Friedreich Ataxia (FA), which results from mutations within the gene encoding the Frataxin mitochondrial protein. For this, the M12 line, bearing a targeted mutation, which disrupts the Frataxin gene exon 4 was used, together with the M02 line, which, in addition, is hemizygous for the human Frataxin gene mutation (Pook transgene), implying the occurrence of 82–190 GAA repeats within its first intron. The mutant mice phenotype was compared to the one of wild type littermates in regions undergoing differential profiles of neurogenesis, including the cerebellar cortex and the spinal cord by using neuronal (β-tubulin) and glial (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein) markers as well as the Contactin 1 axonal glycoprotein, involved in neurite growth control. Morphological/morphometric analyses revealed that while in Frataxin mutant mice the neuronal phenotype was significantly counteracted, a glial upregulation occurred at the same time. Furthermore, Contactin 1 downregulation suggested that changes in the underlying gene contributed to the disorder pathogenesis. Therefore, the FA phenotype implies an alteration of the developmental profile of neuronal and glial precursors. Finally, epigallocatechin gallate polyphenol administration counteracted the disorder, indicating protective effects of antioxidant administration
Anaesthetics modulate tumour necrosis factor α: effects of L-carnitine supplementation in surgical patients. Preliminary results.
Both anaesthetics and surgical trauma could strongly affect the production of tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα). During in vitro experiments the authors found that anaesthetics modulate the production of TNFα by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Notably, Pentothal strongly increased the production of the cytokine as compared to both lipopolysacchride treated and control mononuclear cells, whereas in supernatants from Leptofen driven mononuclear cells TNFα was strongly reduced. On the other hand, Pavulon did not significantly affect the cytokine production. In the in vivo study, in an attempt to ameliorate the metabolic response to surgical trauma, L-carnitine was administered to 20 surgical patients, then the circulating TNFα was measured. The results indicate that the levels of circulating TNFα were strongly increased following surgery and that L-carnitine administration resulted in a strong reduction of TNFα. Thus, the data suggest that L-carnitine could be helpful in protecting surgical patients against dysmetabolism dependent on dysregulated production of TNFα
Immunological responses in patients with tuberculosis and in vivo effects of acetyl-L-carnitine oral administration
Tuberculosis (TBC) is characterized by a complex immune response which parallels the clinical course of the disease. In this respect, acquired resistance, delayed hypersensitivity reaction and anergy are the main types of immune reactivity to mycobacterial antigens. In view of the presence of nonspecific and specific immune deficits in TBC patients, a clinical trial was carried out in a group of 20 individuals with active pulmonary TBC by oral administration of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC). This drug, which has been shown to possess immunomodulating activities, was able to upregulate the T-dependent antibacterial activity in TBC patients after 30 days' treatment, while the same activity decreased in patients receiving placebo only. On the other hand, ALC did not modify serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-α, in the same individuals. This cytokine plays a detrimental rather than beneficial role in TBC pathogenesis. In the light of these data, ALC seems to be a powerful immunomodulator in the course of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and other mycobacteriosis
Follicular development in pregnant cows after the administration of equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG): a new insight
The follicular development in the cow occurs in a wave-like pattern, and it takes place also during pregnancy. In the cow, Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) is used for superovulation, but a decrease in total fertility has been reported, likely because of its immunogenic properties in species other than equine. In this regard, immune response has been implicated in follicular growth, ovulation, and placental development. So, aims of our study are to test the safety of eCG administered during pregnancy and characterize the ovarian activity, the quality of oocytes, the hormonal status, and interleukin levels in eCG-treated pregnant cows
Administration of a Synbiotic to Free-Living Elderly and Evaluation of Serum Cytokines. A Pilot Study
Ten free-living elderly were administered with a synbiotic [fermented milk containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus Gorbach and
Goldin (LGG)] and oligofructose as a prebiotic for one month. Serum cytokines were evaluated before (T0) and after (T1) synbiotic
administration. At T0, values of Interleukin (IL)-12, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1 and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)- were lower than normal
controls, with the exception of IL-8, thus confirming previous results on the impairment of both innate and adaptive responses in elderly.
At T1, the synbiotic was able to significantly increase, depressed values of IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8 with a trend to a modest increase for the
restant cytokines.
In conclusion, the synbiotic used in this study seems to be very beneficial to elderly for its capacity to maintain the immune homeostasis,
even if an increase in dosage and prolongation of administration time are required for a better modulation of the aged adaptive immune
response
Increased production of interleukin-2 and IL-2 receptor in primary IgA nephropathy
Increased production of interleukin-2 and IL-2 receptor in primary IgA nephropathy. The production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 13 patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and 9 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis was investigated. Moreover, the distribution of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression was studied in the purified T cell population versus the non-T cell population of IgAN patients. The results show a spontaneous significant production of IL-2 in cultures of PBMC from patients with IgAN (P < 0.025) that increased after PHA stimulation. IgAN patients also had a significantly higher expression of IL-2R on the surface of PBMC than did patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (P < 0.05). IL-2R was usually detected on unstimulated purified T cells that expressed the activation DR antigen. Moreover, a high number of DR helper T cells was associated to a reduced number of suppressor T cells (OKT8+M1+). These findings suggest that the increased production of IL-2 in patients with IgAN may be responsible for the increased activity of helper T cells. The high number of IL-2R expressed by freshly separated PBMC implies an in vivo continuous stimulation of these cells, and this finding is in agreement with the demonstrated spontaneous hyperproduction of IL-2. Moreover, the low number of suppressor T cells may contribute to the overactivity of helper T cells bearing IL-2R in IgAN patients
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