Phenolic compounds profile and antioxidant properties of six sweet cherry (Prunus avium) cultivars

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium) fruits are a nutritionally important food rich in dietary phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the phenolic profile and chemometric discrimination of fruits from six cherry cultivars using a quantitative metabolomics approach, which combine non-targeted mass spectrometry and chemometric analysis. The assessment of the phenolic fingerprint of cherries allowed the tentative identification of 86 compounds. A total of 40 chlorogenic acids were identified in cherry fruit, which pointed out hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives as the main class of phenolics by number of compounds. Among the compounds detected, 40 have been reported for the first time in sweet cherry fruit. Hydroxycinnamic acids are also the quantitatively most represented class of phenolic compounds in the cherry cultivars with the exception of Lapins and Durone della Marca where the most representative class of phenolic compounds were anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols, respectively. This non-targeted approach allowed the tentative identification of the cultivar-compound relationships of these six cherry cultivars. Both anthocyanins and colorless phenolic compounds profile appeared to be cultivar-dependent. In detail, anthocyanins and flavonols patterns have the potential to be used for the determination of a varietal assignment of cherries.

IL15 induces a potent antitumor activity in NK cells isolated from malignant pleural effusions and overcomes the inhibitory effect of pleural fluid

Natural Killer (NK) cells are capable of recognizing and killing cancer cells and play an important role in tumor immunosurveillance. However, tumor-infiltrating NK cells are frequently impaired in their functional capability. A remarkable exception is represented by NK cells isolated from malignant pleural effusions (PE) that are not anergic and, upon IL2-induced activation, efficiently kill tumor cells. Although IL2 is used in various clinical trials, severe side effects may occur in treated patients. In this study, we investigated whether also other clinical-grade cytokines could induce strong cytotoxicity in NK cells isolated from pleural fluid of patients with primary or metastatic tumors of different origins. We show that PE-NK cells, cultured for short-time intervals with IL15, maintain the CD56^bright phenotype, a high expression of the main activating receptors, produce cytokines and kill tumor cells in vitro similarly to those treated with IL2. Moreover, IL15-activated PE-NK cells could greatly reduce the growth of established tumors in mice. This in vivo antitumor effect correlated with the ability of IL15-activated PE-NK cells to traffic from periphery to the tumor site. Finally, we show that IL15 can counteract the inhibitory effect of the tumor pleural microenvironment. Our study suggests that IL15-activated NK cells isolated from pleural fluid (otherwise discarded after thoracentesis) may represent a suitable source of effector cells to be used in adoptive immunotherapy of cancer.

Cavitation clusters in lipid systems – surface effects, local heating and streamer formation

Cavitation clusters in lipid materials (specifically sunflower oil): high-speed streamers and local heating effects.

Release of the Antihypertensive Tripeptides Valine-Proline-Proline and Isoleucine-Proline-Proline from Bovine Milk Caseins during in Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion

The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the release of antihypertensive tripeptides valine-proline-proline (VPP) and isoleucine-proline-proline (IPP) during in vitro oro-gastro-intestinal (OGI) digestion of bovine skimmed milk. The experimental approach combined the recently developed harmonized static in vitro digestion (IVD) model and targeted mass spectrometry to monitor peptide generation. We first demonstrated that VPP and IPP are released from bovine milk proteins during in vitro OGI digestion at final concentrations of 354.3 ± 29.8 and 973.8 ± 155.7 μg/L, respectively. In silico analysis of cleavage sites and mass spectrometry revealed that tetrapeptides VPPF, IPPL, and IPPK are precursors of VPP and IPP. The release of other ACE-inhibitory peptides, such as FVAP, VAP, AW, and VY, was demonstrated, and their fate and the time course were investigated. This research underlines the suitability of an IVD system to study the release of short bioactive peptides during OGI transit.

PKCε is a regulator of hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes in osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and highly debilitating degenerative disease whose complex pathogenesis and the multiplicity of the molecular processes involved, hinder its complete understanding. Protein Kinase C (PKC) novel isozyme PKCε recently proved to be an interesting molecule for further investigations as it can represent an intriguing, new actor in the acquisition of a OA phenotype by the chondrocyte.

DESIGN

PKCε was modulated in primary chondrocytes from human OA patient knee cartilage samples by means of short hairpin RNA (ShRNA) and the expression of cartilage specific markers observed at mRNA and protein level. The involvement of Histone deacetylases (HDACs) signaling pathway was also investigated through the use of specific inhibitors MS-275 and Inhibitor VIII.

RESULTS

PKCε loss induces up-regulation of Runt-domain transcription factor (RUNX2), Metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) and Collagen X (COL10) as well as an enhanced calcium deposition in OA chondrocyte cultures. In parallel, PKCε knock-down also leads to SOX9 and Collagen II (COL2) down-modulation and to a lower deposition of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the extracellular matrix (ECM). This novel regulatory role of PKCε over cartilage hypertrophic phenotype is exerted via an HDAC-mediated pathway, as HDAC2 and HDAC4 expression is modulated by PKCε. HDAC2 and HDAC4, in turn, are at least in part responsible for the modulation of the master transcription factors RUNX2 and SOX9, key regulators of chondrocyte phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS

PKCε prevents the phenotypic progression of the OA chondrocyte, acting on cartilage specific markers through the modulation of the transcription factors SOX9 and RUNX2. The loss of PKCε enhances, in fact, the OA hypertrophic phenotype, with clear implications in the pathophysiology of the disease.

Legume finishing provides beef with positive human dietary fatty acid ratios and consumer preference comparable with grain-finished beef

Consumer liking, proximate composition, pH, Warner-Bratzler shear force, fatty acid composition, and volatile compounds were determined from the LM (longissimus thoracis) of cattle ( = 6 per diet) finished on conventional feedlot (USUGrain), legume, and grass forage diets. Forage diets included a condensed tannin-containing perennial legume, birdsfoot trefoil (; USUBFT), and a grass, meadow brome ( Rehmann; USUGrass). Moreover, representative retail forage (USDA Certified Organic Grass-fed [OrgGrass]) and conventional beef (USDA Choice, Grain-fed; ChGrain) were investigated ( = 6 per retail type). The ChGrain had the greatest ( < 0.05) intramuscular fat (IMF) percentage followed by USUGrain, the IMF percentage of which was greater ( < 0.05) than that of USUGrass and OrgGrass. The IMF content of USUBFT was similar ( > 0.05) to that of both USUGrain and USUGrass. Both grain-finished beef treatments were rated greater ( < 0.05) for flavor, tenderness, fattiness, juiciness, and overall liking compared with USUGrass and OrgGrass. Consumer liking of USUBFT beef tenderness, fattiness, and overall liking were comparable ( > 0.05) with that of USUGrain and ChGrain. Flavor liking was rated greatest ( < 0.05) for USUGrain and ChGrain, and that of USUBFT was intermediate ( > 0.05) to those of ChGrain, USUGrass, and OrgGrass. Cumulative SFA and MUFA concentrations were greatest ( < 0.05) in ChGrain and USUGrain, whereas USUGrass and OrgGrass had lower ( < 0.05) concentrations. Concentrations of cumulative SFA and MUFA in USUBFT were intermediate and similar ( > 0.05) to those of USUGrain and USUGrass. Each forage-finished beef treatment, USUGrass, OrgGrass, and USUBFT, had lower ( < 0.001) ratios of -6:-3 fatty acids. Hexanal was the most numerically abundant volatile compound. The concentration of hexanal increased with increasing concentrations of total PUFA. Among all the lipid degradation products (aldehydes, alcohols, furans, carboxylic acids, and ketones) measured in this study, there was an overall trend toward greater quantities in grain-finished products, lower quantities in USUGrass and OrgGrass, and intermediate quantities in USUBFT. This trend was in agreement with IMF content, fatty acid concentrations, and sensory attributes. These results suggest an opportunity for a birdsfoot trefoil finishing program, which results in beef comparable in sensory quality with grain-finished beef but with reduced -6 and SFA, similar to grass-finished beef.

PKCε as a novel promoter of skeletal muscle differentiation and regeneration

INTRODUCTION

Satellite cells are muscle resident stem cells and are responsible for muscle regeneration. In this study we investigate the involvement of PKCε during muscle stem cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Here, we describe the identification of a previously unrecognized role for the PKCε-HMGA1 signaling axis in myoblast differentiation and regeneration processes.

METHODS

PKCε expression was modulated in the C2C12 cell line and primary murine satellite cells in vitro, as well as in an in vivo model of muscle regeneration. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and shRNA silencing techniques were used to determine the role of PKCε and HMGA1 in myogenic differentiation.

RESULTS

PKCε expression increases and subsequently re-localizes to the nucleus during skeletal muscle cell differentiation. In the nucleus, PKCε blocks Hmga1 expression to promote Myogenin and Mrf4 accumulation and myoblast formation. Following in vivo muscle injury, PKCε accumulates in regenerating, centrally-nucleated myofibers. Pharmacological inhibition of PKCε impairs the expression of two crucial markers of muscle differentiation, namely MyoD and Myogenin, during injury induced muscle regeneration.

CONCLUSION

This work identifies the PKCε-HMGA1 signaling axis as a positive regulator of skeletal muscle differentiation.

Identification of ACE-inhibitory peptides from Phaseolus vulgaris after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

The objective of this study was to identify the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptides released from thermally treated Phaseolus vulgaris (pinto) whole beans after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The degree of hydrolysis increased during digestion reaching a value of 50% at the end of the pancreatic digestion. The <3 kDa fraction of the postpancreatic sample showed high ACE-inhibitory activity (IC50 = 105.6 ± 2.1 μg of peptides/mL). Peptides responsible for the ACE-inhibitory activity were isolated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Three fractions, showing the highest inhibitory activity, were selected for tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments. Eleven of the identified sequences have previously been described as ACE-inhibitors. Most of the identified bioactive peptides have a hydrophobic amino acid, (iso)leucine or phenylalanine, or proline at the C-terminal position, which is crucial for their ACE-inhibitory activity. The sequence of some peptides allowed us to anticipate the presence of ACE-inhibitory activity.

Protein kinase Cɛ inhibition restores megakaryocytic differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors from primary myelofibrosis patients

Among the three classic Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms, primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is the most severe in terms of disease biology, survival and quality of life. Abnormalities in the process of differentiation of PMF megakaryocytes (MKs) are a hallmark of the disease. Nevertheless, the molecular events that lead to aberrant megakaryocytopoiesis have yet to be clarified. Protein kinase Cɛ (PKCɛ) is a novel serine/threonine kinase that is overexpressed in a variety of cancers, promoting aggressive phenotype, invasiveness and drug resistance. Our previous findings on the role of PKCɛ in normal (erythroid and megakaryocytic commitment) and malignant (acute myeloid leukemia) hematopoiesis prompted us to investigate whether it could be involved in the pathogenesis of PMF MK-impaired differentiation. We demonstrate that PMF megakaryocytic cultures express higher levels of PKCɛ than healthy donors, which correlate with higher disease burden but not with JAK2V617F mutation. Inhibition of PKCɛ function (by a negative regulator of PKCɛ translocation) or translation (by target small hairpin RNA) leads to reduction in PMF cell growth, restoration of PMF MK differentiation and inhibition of PKCɛ-related anti-apoptotic signaling (Bcl-xL). Our data suggest that targeting PKCɛ directly affects the PMF neoplastic clone and represent a proof-of-concept for PKCɛ inhibition as a novel therapeutic strategy in PMF.

Comparison of scoring systems and outcome of patients admitted to a liver intensive care unit of a tertiary referral centre with severe variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND

Acute variceal haemorrhage (AVH) is associated with significant mortality.

AIMS

To determine outcome and factors associated with hospital mortality (HM) in patients with AVH admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) and to compare outcomes of patients requiring transfer to a tertiary ICU (transfer group, TG) to a local in-patient group (LG).

METHODS

A retrospective study of all adult patients (N = 177) admitted to ICU with AVH from 2000-2008 was performed.

RESULTS

Median age was 48 years (16-80). Male represented 58%. Median MELD score was 16 (6-39), SOFA score was 8 (6-11). HM was higher in patients who had severe liver disease or critical illness measured by MELD, SOFA, APACHE II scores and number of failed organs (NFO), P < 0.05. Patients with day-1 lactate ≥ 2 mmol/L had increased HM (P < 0.001). MELD score performed as well as APACHE II, SOFA and NFO (P < 0.001) in predicting HM (AUROC = 0.84, 0.81, 0.79 and 0.82, respectively P > 0.05 for pair wise comparisons). Re-bleeding was associated with increased HM (56.9% vs. 31.6%, P = 0.002). The TG (n = 124) had less severe liver disease and critical illness and consequently had lower HM than local patients (32% vs. 57%, P = 0.002). TG patients with ≥2 endoscopies prior to transfer had increased 6-week mortality (P = 0.03). Time from bleeding to transfer ≥3 days was associated with re-bleeding (OR = 2.290, P = 0.043).

CONCLUSIONS

MELD score was comparable to ICU prognostic models in predicting mortality. Blood lactate was also predictive of hospital mortality. Delays in referrals and repeated endoscopy were associated with increased re-bleeding and mortality in this group.

Importance of grass-legume choices on cattle grazing behavior, performance, and meat characteristics

We determined if tall fescue in a mixture with either tannin-containing sainfoin or saponin-containing alfalfa affected cattle foraging behavior, performance, meat quality, and consumer acceptance of meat. Foraging behavior, BW, and pasture biomass before and after grazing were monitored when cattle strip-grazed 3 replications of 2 treatments from May through September 2010 (12 calves/replication) and from June through September 2012 (8 calves/replication). Animals were allowed a choice between tall fescue and sainfoin (SAN) or tall fescue and alfalfa (ALF) growing in strips (fescue, legume, and fescue-legume mixture). Incidence of use (scan samples) of legumes increased from the beginning to the end of the trials (P < 0.05), suggesting that cattle learned to mix legumes with tall fescue. Scan samples and assessments of pasture biomass removal revealed greater use of sainfoin than alfalfa when both legumes were abundant in the spring (P < 0.05); that pattern reversed toward the end of the growing season (P < 0.05) as the abundance of sainfoin declined more than that of alfalfa. Intake of forage per kilogram of gain was greater for SAN than for ALF in 2010 (P = 0.0003) and showed a tendency to be greater for SAN than ALF in 2012 (P = 0.19). There were no differences in ADG between SAN and ALF in either year (1 kg/d; P > 0.05). No incidences of bloat were detected. When cattle (3 calves/treatment in 2010 and 8 calves/treatment in 2012) were slaughtered in September to assess meat quality and consumer acceptance, carcasses were lean (4% to 6% fat content of the longissimus muscle), but compared with ALF, SAN had higher marbling scores, quality grades (Select versus Standard), and back fat thicknesses (P < 0.05) in 2012. Steaks from cattle finished on SAN were redder in color than steaks from cattle finished on ALF (P < 0.05; 2012). Meat samples from SAN and ALF showed some differences in unsaturated fatty acid profiles and volatiles concentrations (P < 0.05), but consumer acceptance did not differ between SAN and ALF (P > 0.05). Thus, cattle incorporated a lower-quality grass into their diets even when legumes were available ad libitum during most grazing trials. Choices between tall fescue and legumes differing in the type of secondary compound (tannins vs. saponins) and bloating potential influenced patterns of forage use by cattle and led to differences in meat quality.