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Nature Reviews. Urology Oct 2023Calcium-based kidney stone disease is a highly prevalent and morbid condition, with an often complicated and multifactorial aetiology. An abundance of research on the... (Review)
Review
Calcium-based kidney stone disease is a highly prevalent and morbid condition, with an often complicated and multifactorial aetiology. An abundance of research on the role of specific vitamins (B, C and D) in stone formation exists, but no consensus has been reached on how these vitamins influence stone disease. As a consequence of emerging research on the role of the gut microbiota in urolithiasis, previous notions on the contribution of these vitamins to urolithiasis are being reconsidered in the field, and investigation into previously overlooked vitamins (A, E and K) was expanded. Understanding how the microbiota influences host vitamin regulation could help to determine the role of vitamins in stone disease.
Topics: Humans; Vitamins; Calcium; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Kidney Calculi; Urolithiasis; Vitamin A; Vitamin K
PubMed: 37161031
DOI: 10.1038/s41585-023-00768-5 -
Advanced Science (Weinheim,... Dec 2023Gut microbiome is integral to the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. A novel probiotic Lactobacillus intestinalis (L. intestinalis) exerts a protective effect against...
Gut microbiome is integral to the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. A novel probiotic Lactobacillus intestinalis (L. intestinalis) exerts a protective effect against dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice. Based on flow cytometry, colitis-associated Th17 cells are the target of L. intestinalis, which is supported by the lack of protective effects of L. intestinalis in T cell-null Rag1 mice or upon anti-IL-17-A antibody-treated mice. Although L. intestinalis exerts no direct effect on T cell differentiation, it decreases C/EBPA-driven gut epithelial SAA1 and SAA2 production, which in turn impairs Th17 cell differentiation. Cometabolism of L. intestinalis ALDH and host ALDH1A2 contributed to elevated biosynthesis of retinoic acid (RA), which accounts for the anti-colitis effect in RAR-α -mediated way. In a cohort of ulcerative colitis patients, it is observed that fecal abundance of L. intestinalis is negatively associated with the C/EBPA-SAA1/2-Th17 axis. Finally, L. intestinalis has a synergistic effect with mesalazine in alleviating murine colitis. In conclusion, L. intestinalis and associated metabolites, RA, have potential therapeutic effects for suppressing colonic inflammation by modulating the crosstalk between intestinal epithelia and immunity.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Colitis, Ulcerative; Th17 Cells; Colitis; Epithelial Cells; Tretinoin
PubMed: 37983567
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303457 -
The EMBO Journal Nov 2023DELLA proteins are master regulators of gibberellic acid (GA) signaling through their effects on gene expression. Enhanced DELLA accumulation in rice and wheat varieties...
DELLA proteins are master regulators of gibberellic acid (GA) signaling through their effects on gene expression. Enhanced DELLA accumulation in rice and wheat varieties has greatly contributed to grain yield increases during the green revolution. However, the molecular basis of DELLA-mediated gene repression remains elusive. In this work, we show that the rice DELLA protein SLENDER RICE1 (SLR1) forms a tripartite complex with Polycomb-repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and the histone deacetylase HDA702 to repress downstream genes by establishing a silent chromatin state. The slr1 mutation and GA signaling resulted in dissociation of PRC2 and HDA702 from GA-inducible genes. Loss-of-function or downregulation of the chromatin regulators impaired SLR1-dependent histone modification and gene repression. Time-resolved analysis of GA signaling revealed that GA-induced transcriptional activation was associated with a rapid increase of H3K9ac followed by H3K27me3 removal. Collectively, these results establish a general epigenetic mechanism for DELLA-mediated gene repression and reveal details of the chromatin dynamics during transcriptional activation stimulated by GA signaling.
Topics: Gibberellins; Oryza; Plant Proteins; Gene Expression; Chromatin; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
PubMed: 37691541
DOI: 10.15252/embj.2023114220 -
Nutrients Oct 2023Cataract, defined as the opacification of the lens that prevents clear vision, is a leading cause of vision loss and impairment worldwide. Elderly people comprise the... (Review)
Review
Cataract, defined as the opacification of the lens that prevents clear vision, is a leading cause of vision loss and impairment worldwide. Elderly people comprise the highest proportion of those suffering from this eye disease. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the risk of developing aged-related cataract (ARC) increases with every decade of life, starting from the age of 40. Despite progress in surgical treatment methods, life-style modifications may be beneficial in prevention or slowing down the progression of ARC. This systematic review aims to summarize studies on the significance of specific nutritional patterns, dietary products, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids intake in the onset or progression of ARC. In this context, the presented paper thoroughly analyzes 24 articles, following the PRISMA guidelines. The results indicate significant protective effects of various dietary patterns, including the Korean balanced diet, vegetarian diet, "dairy products and vegetables", "traditional", "antioxidant", and "omega-3" patterns. Additionally, the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, skimmed yoghurt, fish, coffee, and vitamins has shown positive effects on cataract incidence. Therefore, further research seems to be essential to gain a better understanding of these associations and to create uniform dietary recommendations for both the vulnerable population and ARC patients.
Topics: Aged; Animals; Humans; Vitamins; Diet; Cataract; Antioxidants; Vitamin A; Vegetables; Vitamin K
PubMed: 37960238
DOI: 10.3390/nu15214585 -
Cells Sep 2023Confocal microscopy and fluorescence staining of cellular structures are commonly used to study neutrophil activation and NETosis. However, they do not reveal the...
Confocal microscopy and fluorescence staining of cellular structures are commonly used to study neutrophil activation and NETosis. However, they do not reveal the specific characteristics of the neutrophil membrane surface, its nanostructure, and morphology. The aim of this study was to reveal the topography and nanosurface characteristics of neutrophils during activation and NETosis using atomic force microscopy (AFM). We showed the main stages of neutrophil activation and NETosis, which include control cell spreading, cell fragment formation, fusion of nuclear segments, membrane disruption, release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and final cell disintegration. Changes in neutrophil membrane nanosurface parameters during activation and NETosis were quantified. It was shown that with increasing activation time there was a decrease in the spectral intensity of the spatial periods. Exposure to the activator A23187 resulted in an increase in the number and average size of cell fragments over time. Exposure to the activators A23187 and PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) caused the same pattern of cell transformation from spherical cells with segmented nuclei to disrupted cells with NET release. A23187 induced NETosis earlier than PMA, but PMA resulted in more cells with NETosis at the end of the specified time interval (180 min). In our study, we used AFM as the main research tool. Confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) images are provided for identification and detailed analysis of the phenomena studied. In this way, we exploited the advantages of both techniques.
Topics: Neutrophils; Calcimycin; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Extracellular Traps; Cell Nucleus; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
PubMed: 37681931
DOI: 10.3390/cells12172199 -
Nutrients Nov 2023Adults with Crohn's disease (CD) may be at risk of micronutrient insufficiency in clinical remission through restrictive eating, malabsorption, abnormal losses or... (Review)
Review
Adults with Crohn's disease (CD) may be at risk of micronutrient insufficiency in clinical remission through restrictive eating, malabsorption, abnormal losses or inflammation. This systematic review synthesises the literature on micronutrient insufficiency in CD in clinical remission in terms of the prevalence of low circulating micronutrient concentrations and as a comparison against a healthy control (HC). Studies were included if the population was predominantly in remission. A total of 42 studies met the inclusion criteria; 12 were rated as low quality, leaving 30 studies covering 21 micronutrients of medium/high quality that were included in the synthesis. Vitamins D and B12 were the most frequently reported nutrients (8 and 11); there were few eligible studies for the remaining micronutrients. The prevalence studies were consistent in reporting individuals with low Vitamins A, B6, B12 and C, β-carotene, D, Magnesium, Selenium and Zinc. The comparator studies were inconsistent in finding differences with CD populations; Vitamin D, the most reported nutrient, was only lower than the HC in one-quarter of the studies. Adult CD populations are likely to contain individuals with low levels of one or more micronutrients, with the most substantial evidence for Vitamins D and B12. The studies on other micronutrients are of insufficient number, standardisation and quality to inform practice.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Micronutrients; Crohn Disease; Trace Elements; Vitamins; Vitamin A; Cholecalciferol
PubMed: 38004171
DOI: 10.3390/nu15224777 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024is a large genus of the Euphorbiaceae family. Around 250 species of the genus have been studied chemically and pharmacologically; different compounds have been... (Review)
Review
is a large genus of the Euphorbiaceae family. Around 250 species of the genus have been studied chemically and pharmacologically; different compounds have been isolated from these species, especially diterpenes and triterpenes. Several reports show that several species have anti-inflammatory activity, which can be attributed to the presence of diterpenes, such as abietanes, ingenanes, and lathyranes. In addition, it was found that some diterpenes isolated from different species have anti-cancer activity. In this review, we included compounds isolated from species of the genus with anti-inflammatory or cytotoxic effects published from 2018 to September 2023. The databases used for this review were Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Springer, and Google Scholar, using the keywords with anti-inflammatory or cytotoxic activity. In this review, 68 studies were collected and analyzed regarding the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of 264 compounds obtained from 36 species of the genus. The compounds included in this review are terpenes (95%), of which 68% are diterpenes, especially of the types ingenanes, abietanes, and triterpenes (approximately 15%).
Topics: Euphorbia; Abietanes; Molecular Structure; Diterpenes; Antineoplastic Agents; Triterpenes; Anti-Inflammatory Agents
PubMed: 38474596
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29051083 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023Norditerpenes are considered to be a common and widely studied class of bioactive compounds in plants, exhibiting a wide array of complex and diverse structural types... (Review)
Review
Norditerpenes are considered to be a common and widely studied class of bioactive compounds in plants, exhibiting a wide array of complex and diverse structural types and originating from various sources. Based on the number of carbons, norditerpenes can be categorized into C19, C18, C17, and C16 compounds. Up to now, 557 norditerpenes and their derivatives have been found in studies published between 2010 and 2023, distributed in 51 families and 132 species, with the largest number in Lamiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Cephalotaxaceae. These norditerpenes display versatile biological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, as well as inhibitory effects against HIV and -glucosidase, and can be considered as an important source of treatment for a variety of diseases that had a high commercial value. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the plant sources, chemical structures, and biological activities of norditerpenes derived from natural sources, serving as a valuable reference for further research development and application in this field.
Topics: Humans; Antioxidants; Carbon; Diterpenes; Euphorbiaceae; Lamiaceae
PubMed: 38202643
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29010060 -
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia E... Nov 2023It is well known that female infertility is multifactorial. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of thyroid dysfunction, vitamin deficiency, and microelement...
OBJECTIVE
It is well known that female infertility is multifactorial. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of thyroid dysfunction, vitamin deficiency, and microelement deficiency in fertile and infertile patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between May 1st, 2017, and April 1st, 2019, we conducted a retrospective case-control study with of 380 infertile and 346 pregnant patients (who normally fertile and able to conceive spontaneously). The fertile patients were selected among those who got pregnant spontaneously without treatment, had a term birth, and did not have systemic or obstetric diseases. The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), vitamin D, vitamin B12, folic acid, ferritin, and zinc of both groups were compared.
RESULTS
There was no difference between patients in the infertile and pregnant groups in terms of low normal and high serum T3 and T4 levels ( = 0.938; > 0.05) respectively, nor in terms of normal and high anti-TPO levels ( = 0.182; > 0.05) respectively. There was no significant difference regarding patients with low, insufficient, and sufficient vitamin D levels in the infertile and pregnant groups ( = 0.160; >0.05) respectively. The levels of folic acid, ferritin, and zinc of the infertile group were significantly lower than those of the pregnant group.
CONCLUSION
The serum levels of folic acid, ferritin, and zinc in infertile patients presenting to our outpatient clinic were lower than those o the fertile patients.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Vitamins; Infertility, Female; Retrospective Studies; Case-Control Studies; Thyroid Hormones; Vitamin D; Vitamin A; Vitamin K; Folic Acid; Ferritins; Zinc
PubMed: 38029770
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1772478 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Invariant chain (Ii, CD74) is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein that acts as a chaperone and facilitates the folding and transport of MHC II chains. By assisting the...
Invariant chain (Ii, CD74) is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein that acts as a chaperone and facilitates the folding and transport of MHC II chains. By assisting the assembly and subcellular targeting of MHC II complexes, Ii has a wide impact on the functions of antigen-presenting cells such as antigen processing, endocytic maturation, signal transduction, cell migration, and macropinocytosis. Ii is a multifunctional molecule that can alter endocytic traffic and has several interacting molecules. To understand more about Ii's function and to identify further Ii interactors, a yeast two-hybrid screening was performed. Retinoic Acid-Induced 14 (Rai14) was detected as a putative interaction partner, and the interaction was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. Rai14 is a poorly characterized protein, which is believed to have a role in actin cytoskeleton and membrane remodeling. In line with this, we found that Rai14 localizes to membrane ruffles, where it forms macropinosomes. Depletion of Rai14 in antigen-presenting cells delays MHC II internalization, affecting macropinocytic activity. Intriguingly, we demonstrated that, similar to Ii, Rai14 is a positive regulator of macropinocytosis and a negative regulator of cell migration, two antagonistic processes in antigen-presenting cells. This antagonism is known to depend on the interaction between myosin II and Ii. Here, we show that Rai14 also binds to myosin II, suggesting that Ii, myosin II, and Rai14 work together to coordinate macropinocytosis and cell motility.
Topics: Tretinoin; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; Pinocytosis; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Myosin Type II
PubMed: 37545539
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1182180