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PloS One 2024The nerve growth factor (NGF) participates in cell survival and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) processes in rat adult beta cells. GSIS is a complex process...
The nerve growth factor (NGF) participates in cell survival and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) processes in rat adult beta cells. GSIS is a complex process in which metabolic events and ionic channel activity are finely coupled. GLUT2 and glucokinase (GK) play central roles in GSIS by regulating the rate of the glycolytic pathway. The biphasic release of insulin upon glucose stimulation characterizes mature adult beta cells. On the other hand, beta cells obtained from neonatal, suckling, and weaning rats are considered immature because they secrete low levels of insulin and do not increase insulin secretion in response to high glucose. The weaning of rats (at postnatal day 20 in laboratory conditions) involves a dietary transition from maternal milk to standard chow. It is characterized by increased basal plasma glucose levels and insulin levels, which we consider physiological insulin resistance. On the other hand, we have observed that incubating rat beta cells with NGF increases GSIS by increasing calcium currents in neonatal cells. In this work, we studied the effects of NGF on the regulation of cellular distribution and activity of GLUT2 and GK to explore its potential role in the maturation of GSIS in beta cells from P20 rats. Pancreatic islet cells from both adult and P20 rats were isolated and incubated with 5.6 mM or 15.6 mM glucose with and without NGF for 4 hours. Specific immunofluorescence assays were conducted following the incubation period to detect insulin and GLUT2. Additionally, we measured glucose uptake, glucokinase activity, and insulin secretion assays at 5.6 mM or 15.6 mM glucose concentrations. We observed an age-dependent variation in the distribution of GLUT2 in pancreatic beta cells and found that glucose plays a regulatory role in GLUT2 distribution independently of age. Moreover, NGF increases GLUT2 abundance, glucose uptake, and GSIS in P20 beta cells and GK activity in adult beta cells. Our results suggest that besides increasing calcium currents, NGF regulates metabolic components of the GSIS, thereby contributing to the maturation process of pancreatic beta cells.
Topics: Animals; Glucose Transporter Type 2; Glucokinase; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Rats; Nerve Growth Factor; Glucose; Insulin; Rats, Wistar; Male; Insulin Secretion; Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 38875221
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303934 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2024Protein is an essential macronutrient in our diet, source of nitrogen and essential amino acids, but the biological utilization of dietary protein depends on its... (Review)
Review
Protein is an essential macronutrient in our diet, source of nitrogen and essential amino acids, but the biological utilization of dietary protein depends on its digestibility and the absorption of amino acids and peptides in the gastrointestinal tract. The methods to define the amount and the quality of protein to meet human nutritional needs, such as the Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score (DIAAS), require the use of animal models or human studies. These methods are the reference in protein quality evaluation, but they are expensive and long-lasting procedures with significant ethical restrictions. Therefore, the development of rapid, reproducible and digestion methods validated with data is an old demand. This review describes the challenges of the digestion methods in the evaluation of the protein nutritional quality. In addition to the technical difficulties to simulate the complex and adaptable processes of digestion and absorption, these methods are affected by similar limitations as the procedures, i.e., analytical techniques to accurately determine bioavailable amino acids and the contribution of the endogenous nitrogen. The methods used for the evaluation of protein digestibility, with special attention on those showing comparative data, are revised, emphasizing their pros and cons. The internationally harmonized digestion protocol proposed by the INFOGEST network is being adapted to evaluate protein and amino acid digestibility. The inter-laboratory reproducibility of this protocol was demonstrated for dairy products. The comparability results obtained to date with this protocol for several plant and animal sources are promising, but it requires an extensive validation with a wider range of foods and substrates with known digestibility. These methods will probably not be applicable to all foods, and therefore, it is important to identify their limitations, not to elude their use, but to apply them within the limits, by using the appropriate standards and references, and always as a complementary tool to tests to reduce their number.
PubMed: 38873563
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1404538 -
Food Science & Nutrition Jun 2024Quinoa is a nutrient-dense pseudocereal that has garnered global attention for its potential to bolster food security and nutrition. Despite its celebrated status, the...
Quinoa is a nutrient-dense pseudocereal that has garnered global attention for its potential to bolster food security and nutrition. Despite its celebrated status, the detailed nutritional profiles of various quinoa varieties remain poorly understood, which poses a significant barrier to the strategic cultivation and utilization of quinoa's genetic diversity to combat malnutrition. The impetus for this research lies in the urgent need to identify superior quinoa strains that can be tailored to meet specific nutritional requirements and adapt to diverse agro-ecological zones. Our findings reveal substantial variation in nutrient content across different quinoa varieties, highlighting the variety ZLZX-8 as a particularly nutrient-rich strain with the highest levels of protein, fat, essential fatty acids, amino acids, and key minerals such as Mg, K, and Zn. Moreover, ZLZX-8's exceptional antioxidant capacity suggests it may have additional health benefits beyond its macronutrient profile. In contrast, ZLZX-7 stands out for its dietary fiber and phenolic content, which are critical for digestive health and disease prevention, respectively. Meanwhile, ZLZX-5, with its high starch content, could be better suited for energy production in dietary applications. Notably, the study also uncovers a correlation between grain color and nutrient profile, with colored quinoa varieties exhibiting superior fiber, inositol, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity compared to their white counterparts. This work lays the groundwork for an informed selection of quinoa varieties that can enhance dietary quality, support local and global food systems, and contribute to the fight against malnutrition.
PubMed: 38873460
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4113 -
Food Science & Nutrition Jun 2024The current study pioneers a comprehensive exploration into the influence of ripening stages on the nutritional composition and antioxidant attributes of the New Zealand...
The current study pioneers a comprehensive exploration into the influence of ripening stages on the nutritional composition and antioxidant attributes of the New Zealand damson plums (). Sampled at early-, mid-, and late-ripening stages from randomly selected plum trees, the investigation unveiled notable significant ( < .05) declines in multiple parameters as ripening progressed. Noteworthy reductions in dry matter (from 21% to 19.33%), stone weight (from 30.23% to 24.30%), total dietary fiber (from 3.15% to 2.5%), energy content (from 280 to 263 kJ/100 g), vitamin D3 (from 1.67 to 1.53 μg/100 g), vitamin A (from 4.2 to 3.87 μg/100 g), and specific minerals (e.g., Ca, Mg, and P) emerged as a hallmark of this progression. Additionally, plums harvested at the advanced ripening stage exhibited heightened moisture content in contrast to their early-stage counterparts. Conversely, ash, protein, carbohydrates, total sugar, and minerals (including K, Na, Zn, and Se) demonstrated no significant alteration ( > .05) across ripening stages. Remarkably, damson plums that were harvested at the end of the ripening stage displayed reduced phenolic content and total antioxidant activity compared to those acquired at the early-mid ripening phase. This research collectively highlights the substantive impact of harvesting time and ripening stage on the nutritional and antioxidant profiles of damson plums cultivated in New Zealand.
PubMed: 38873447
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4097 -
Veterinary and Animal Science Sep 2024This study investigated marula seed cake (MSC) as alternative protein source (APS) replacing soyabean meal (SBM) in indigenous chicken diets. Four hundred, 3-week-old...
This study investigated marula seed cake (MSC) as alternative protein source (APS) replacing soyabean meal (SBM) in indigenous chicken diets. Four hundred, 3-week-old Boschveld chicks were randomly allocated to 5 iso-energetic-nitrogenous maize and SBM-based grower diets with 0, 10, 15, 20, and 25 % MSC, each with 5 replicate pens of 16 birds, in a completely randomised design (CRD), for 9 weeks. Results showed that dietary MSC quadratically decreased bird overall feed intake (FI) ( < 0.001) and body weight gain (BWG) ( < 0.01) as it linearly decreased the weights of hot carcass (HCW; < 0.05), spleen ( < 0.05), jejunum ( < 0.05), ileum ( < 0.001), and caecum ( < 0.001). In contrast, MSC increased chicken serum glucose ( < 0.05), cholesterol ( = 0.001) and phosphate ( < 0.05) as it decreased its amylase activity ( < 0.01). Also, it decreased bird meat lightness at 45 min ( < 0.05) and its yellowness at 45 min ( < 0.001) and 24 h ( < 0.001) whilst it increased its redness at 45 min ( < 0.01) and 24 h ( < 0.05) post-slaughter. In addition, MSC decreased chicken bone medial diaphysis ( < 0.05) as it induced no effects ( > 0.05) on overall feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and all other parameters. In conclusion, feeding of ≤ 15 % dietary MSC is nutritionally safe for indigenous chickens whilst detrimental on bird appetite, growth and meat yield, however without significantly affecting their physiology, at higher inclusion levels.
PubMed: 38873090
DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2024.100364 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Due to the Earth's rotation, the natural environment exhibits a light-dark diurnal cycle close to 24 hours. To adapt to this energy intake pattern, organisms have... (Review)
Review
Due to the Earth's rotation, the natural environment exhibits a light-dark diurnal cycle close to 24 hours. To adapt to this energy intake pattern, organisms have developed a 24-hour rhythmic diurnal cycle over long periods, known as the circadian rhythm, or biological clock. With the gradual advancement of research on the biological clock, it has become increasingly evident that disruptions in the circadian rhythm are closely associated with the occurrence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). To further understand the progress of research on T2D and the biological clock, this paper reviews the correlation between the biological clock and glucose metabolism and analyzes its potential mechanisms. Based on this, we discuss the potential factors contributing to circadian rhythm disruption and their impact on the risk of developing T2D, aiming to explore new possible intervention measures for the prevention and treatment of T2D in the future. Under the light-dark circadian rhythm, in order to adapt to this change, the human body forms an internal biological clock involving a variety of genes, proteins and other molecules. The main mechanism is the transcription-translation feedback loop centered on the CLOCK/BMAL1 heterodimer. The expression of important circadian clock genes that constitute this loop can regulate T2DM-related blood glucose traits such as glucose uptake, fat metabolism, insulin secretion/glucagon secretion and sensitivity in various peripheral tissues and organs. In addition, sleep, light, and dietary factors under circadian rhythms also affect the occurrence of T2DM.
Topics: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Humans; Circadian Rhythm; Animals; Biological Clocks; Circadian Clocks; Blood Glucose
PubMed: 38872971
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1320605 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2024Long term hypertension seriously promotes target organ damage in the brain and heart, and has increasingly become serious public health problem worldwide. The...
BACKGROUND
Long term hypertension seriously promotes target organ damage in the brain and heart, and has increasingly become serious public health problem worldwide. The anti-hypertensive effects of capsaicin has been reported, however, the role and mechanism of capsaicin within the brain on salt-induced hypertension have yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis that capsaicin attenuates salt-induced hypertension via the AMPK/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN).
METHODS
Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl S) rats were used as animal model for the present study. Rats were randomly divided into four groups based on their dietary regimen (0.3% normal salt diet and 8% high salt diet) and treatment methods (infusion of vehicle or capsaicin in the PVN). Capsaicin was chronically administered in the PVN throughout the animal experiment phase of the study that lasted 6 weeks.
RESULTS
Our results demonstrated that PVN pretreatment with capsaicin can slow down raise of the blood pressure elevation and heart rate (HR) of Dahl S hypertensive rats given high salt diet. Interestingly, the cardiac hypertrophy was significantly improved. Furthermore, PVN pretreatment with capsaicin induced decrease in the expression of mRNA expression of NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), NOX4, p-IKKβ and proinflammatory cytokines and increase in number of positive cell level for Nrf2 and HO-1 in the PVN of Dahl S hypertensive rats. Additionally, the protein expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-PI3K) and phosphorylated protein kinase-B (p-AKT) were decreased, phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) were increased after the PVN pretreatment with capsaicin.
CONCLUSION
Capsaicin pretreatment attenuates salt-sensitive hypertension by alleviating AMPK/Akt/iNOS pathway in the PVN.
PubMed: 38872941
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1416522 -
IBRO Neuroscience Reports Dec 2024Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Death of... (Review)
Review
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Death of dopaminergic cells in the SNpc leads to manifestations of motor dysfunction and non-motor symptoms of PD. The progression of PD symptoms severely affects the quality of life of patients and poses socio-economic problems to families and society at large. The clinical and neuropathological characteristics of PD are triggered by multiple factors such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein aggregation. Notwithstanding the advancements in pharmacological therapy in PD management, there is burgeoning interest in alternative and complementary approaches, essentially nutrition and plant extracts strategies. This review gives widespread analysis of the role of nutrition and plant extracts in the management of PD. Studies that investigated the effects of various dietary compounds and plant extract on PD symptoms and progression were reviewed from existing literatures. Nutraceuticals, including vitamins and phytochemicals such as have shown potential neuroprotective functions in preclinical and clinical studies. Indeed, these strategies ameliorate mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation, all which are implicated in the pathogenesis of PD. The neuroprotective mechanisms of nutrition and plant extracts in PD, with emphasis on their capacity to target multiple pathways implicated in PD are discussed. Additionally, challenges and limitations related with translating preclinical findings into clinical practice including standardization of dosing regimens, bioavailability, and inter-individual variability are discussed. Largely, this review elucidates on the role of nutrition and plant extracts as adjunctive therapy in PD management.
PubMed: 38872839
DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2024.05.011 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) on ileal immune function in broilers under lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immune...
AIMS
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) on ileal immune function in broilers under lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immune stress.
METHODS
Two hundred and forty one-day-old male Arbor Acres chicks were randomly divided into four groups (saline, LPS, saline + AEE and LPS + AEE) with six replicates of ten broilers each. The saline group and LPS group were fed the normal diet, while the other two groups received normal diet plus 0.1 g/kg AEE. Broilers in the LPS and LPS + AEE groups were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 mg/kg B.W LPS in saline for seven consecutive days beginning at 14 days of age, while broilers in the saline and saline + AEE groups were injected with saline only.
RESULTS
The results showed that AEE improved the ileal morphology and increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth of immune-stressed broilers. LPS-induced immune stress significantly reduced the expression of the genes for the tight junction proteins , zonula occludens-1 (), and , in the ileum, while AEE significantly up-regulated the expression of these genes. Compared with the saline group, the LPS-treated chickens showed significantly increased mRNA expression of the inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α (), interleukin-1β (), interleukin-6 (), interleukin-10 (), cyclooxygenase-2 (), and microsomal Prostaglandin E Synthesase-1 () in the ileum, while they were significantly decreased by AEE supplementation. In addition, analysis of the ileal bacterial composition showed that compared with saline and LPS + AEE groups, the proportion of Firmicutes and in the LPS group was lower, while the proportion of Proteobacteria and was higher. Similarly, Line Discriminant Analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis showed that compared with the LPS group, was dominant in the saline group, while the LPS + AEE group was rich in , , Ruminococcaceae, , , Oscillospiraceae, and .
CONCLUSION
These results indicate that dietary supplementation with 0.1 g/kg AEE could protect the intestinal health by improving the intestinal villus morphology, enhancing the expression of tight junction genes and alleviating inflammation to resist the immune stress caused by LPS stimulation in broilers, and the mechanism may involve -related signal transduction and improved intestinal microbiota composition.
PubMed: 38872795
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1401909 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Excessive fat deposition due to impaired fat metabolism in chickens is a major problem in the poultry industry. Nutritional interventions are effective solutions, but...
Excessive fat deposition due to impaired fat metabolism in chickens is a major problem in the poultry industry. Nutritional interventions are effective solutions, but current options are limited. A safe phytochemical, rutin, has shown positive effects in animals, but its effect on lipid metabolism in poultry remains unknown. Hence, this study is to investigate the effects of rutin on egg quality, serum biochemistry, fat deposition, lipid peroxidation and hepatic lipid metabolism in post-peak laying hens. A total of 360 Taihang laying hens (49-week-old) were randomly divided into five groups and fed a basal diet (control group, 0%) and a basal diet supplemented with 300 (0.03%), 600 (0.06%), 900 (0.09%), and 1,200 (0.12%) mg rutin/kg feed, respectively. The results showed that eggshell strength was significantly ( < 0.05) higher in the dietary rutin groups, whereas yolk percentage ( < 0.05), total cholesterol (TC) ( < 0.01) and yolk fat ratio ( < 0.01) decreased linearly ( < 0.05) in the dietary rutin groups. Importantly, dietary rutin reduced serum triglyceride (TG) and TC levels, decreased abdominal lipid deposition and liver index ( < 0.05), and which concomitantly decreased hepatic lipid (TG, TC, and free fatty acid) accumulation ( < 0.05). An increase ( < 0.05) in total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity and a decrease ( < 0.05) in malondialdehyde levels were also found. At the same time, the activities of hepatic lipase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and malic enzyme in the liver were decreased ( < 0.05). Dietary rutin also increased ( < 0.05) the expression of fatty acid oxidation-related genes (carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, farnesoid X receptor). Additionally, it decreased fatty acid synthesis genes (sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c, acetyl-CoA carboxylase α, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1) ( < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of rutin (0.06-0.12%) to the diet improved the fat metabolism and increased liver antioxidant capacity in post-peak laying hens, and these positive changes improved egg quality to some extent.
PubMed: 38872794
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1426377