Cellular and Molecular Activities of IP6 in Disease Prevention and Therapy

IP6 (phytic acid) is a naturally occurring compound in plant seeds and grains. It is a poly-phosphorylated inositol derivative that has been shown to exhibit many biological activities that accrue benefits in health and diseases (cancer, diabetes, renal lithiasis, cardiovascular diseases, etc.). IP6 has been shown to have several cellular and molecular activities associated with its potential role in disease prevention. These activities include anti-oxidant properties, chelation of metal ions, inhibition of inflammation, modulation of cell signaling pathways, and modulation of the activities of enzymes and hormones that are involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Studies have shown that IP6 has anti-oxidant properties and can scavenge free radicals known to cause cellular damage and contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancers and cardiovascular diseases, as well as diabetes mellitus. It has also been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties that may modulate immune responses geared towards the prevention of inflammatory conditions. Moreover, IP6 exhibits anti-cancer properties through the induction of cell cycle arrest, promoting apoptosis and inhibiting cancer cell growth. Additionally, it has been shown to have anti-mutagenic properties, which reduce the risk of malignancies by preventing DNA damage and mutations. IP6 has also been reported to have a potential role in bone health. It inhibits bone resorption and promotes bone formation, which may help in the prevention of bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Overall, IP6's cellular and molecular activities make it a promising candidate for disease prevention. As reported in many studies, its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer properties support its inclusion as a dietary supplement that may protect against the development of chronic diseases. However, further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms of action of this dynamic molecule and its derivatives and determine the optimal doses and appropriate delivery methods for effective therapeutic use.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Dietary Phosphorus and Calcium in Two Strains of Laying Hens

Simple Summary

Phosphorus and calcium are essential nutrients for body functions including the immune system and are generally supplemented to poultry diets. Phosphorus is also present in plant feedstuffs, bound as phytate, which can be used by enzymatic hydrolyzation in the chicken. A reduction of dietary mineral phosphorus might consequently be conceivable, without negatively influencing the immune system. The high concentration of calcium in diets for laying hens that is needed for eggshell formation may inhibit phytate degrading enzymes, and thus, decrease phosphorus availability for the hen. Both phytate degradation and several immune parameters are known to be strain-specific, making an interaction of the genetic background and the dietary phosphorus and calcium supply with the immune system likely. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of reduced concentrations of dietary phosphorus and calcium on the peripheral and gut-associated immune system in two laying hen strains. Reduced mineral phosphorus enhanced, while reduced calcium reduced several immune parameters. The two strains showed differences in many immune parameters, but only the impact of dietary phosphorus was influenced by the genetic background. These results suggest that dietary phosphorus and calcium supply may strain-specifically influence immune defense and protection against infection in chicken.

Abstract

Insufficient nutrient supply can impair the immune system, which is important for animal health and welfare. Since chicken can partly hydrolyze phytate, which is the primary phosphorus storage in plant seeds, a reduction of mineral phosphorus in the diets could be an option for more sustainable egg production. Laying hens require high concentrations of calcium that might inhibit the function of endogenous enzymes for phytate hydrolyzation. The objective of this study was to characterize the impact of standard and reduced dietary phosphorus and calcium concentrations on the number and functionality of immune cells in the peripheral and gut-associated immune system in a white and brown laying hen strain. Reduced mineral phosphorus enhanced several immune parameters such as B cells in blood and IgA concentrations in bile in both strains, and peripheral monocytes and γδ T cells in cecal tonsils in brown hens. Reduced calcium levels resulted in lower numbers of T cells in blood and cecal tonsils in both strains, suggesting negative effects on adaptive immunity. Differences between the two strains were found in almost all immune parameters. Results suggest a potentially beneficial effect of reduced dietary mineral phosphorus on the immune system that is dependent on the genetic background.

Fungal phytases: from genes to applications

Phytic acid stores 60-90% of the inorganic phosphorus in legumes, oil seeds, and cereals, making it inaccessible for metabolic processes in living systems. In addition, given its negative charge, phytic acid complexes with divalent cations, starch, and proteins. Inorganic phosphorous can be released from phytic acid upon the action of phytases. Phytases are phosphatases produced by animals, plants, and microorganisms, notably Aspergillus niger, and are employed as animal feed additive, in chemical industry and for ethanol production. Given the industrial relevance of phytases produced by filamentous fungi, this work discusses the functional characterization of fungal phytase-coding genes/proteins, highlighting the physicochemical parameters that govern the enzymatic activity, the development of phytase super-producing strains, and key features for industrial applications.

Promoter methylation, transcription, and retrotransposition of LINE-1 in colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas

BACKGROUND

The methylation of the CpG islands of the LINE-1 promoter is a tight control mechanism on the function of mobile elements. However, simultaneous quantification of promoter methylation and transcription of LINE-1 has not been performed in progressive stages of colorectal cancer. In addition, the insertion of mobile elements in the genome of advanced adenoma stage, a precancerous stage before colorectal carcinoma has not been emphasized. In this study, we quantify promoter methylation and transcripts of LINE-1 in three stages of colorectal non-advanced adenoma, advanced adenoma, and adenocarcinoma. In addition, we analyze the insertion of LINE-1, Alu, and SVA elements in the genome of patient tumors with colorectal advanced adenomas.

METHODS

LINE-1 hypomethylation status was evaluated by absolute quantitative analysis of methylated alleles (AQAMA) assay. To quantify the level of transcripts for LINE-1, quantitative RT-PCR was performed. To find mobile element insertions, the advanced adenoma tissue samples were subjected to whole genome sequencing and MELT analysis.

RESULTS

We found that the LINE-1 promoter methylation in advanced adenoma and adenocarcinoma was significantly lower than that in non-advanced adenomas. Accordingly, the copy number of LINE-1 transcripts in advanced adenoma was significantly higher than that in non-advanced adenomas, and in adenocarcinomas was significantly higher than that in the advanced adenomas. Whole-genome sequencing analysis of colorectal advanced adenomas revealed that at this stage polymorphic insertions of LINE-1, Alu, and SVA comprise approximately 16%, 51%, and 74% of total insertions, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our correlative analysis showing a decreased methylation of LINE-1 promoter accompanied by the higher level of LINE-1 transcription, and polymorphic genomic insertions in advanced adenoma, suggests that the early and advanced polyp stages may host very important pathogenic processes concluding to cancer.

Does myo-inositol effect on PCOS follicles involve cytoskeleton regulation?

Inositol metabolism is severely impaired in follicles obtained from cystic ovaries, leading to deregulated insulin transduction and steroid synthesis. On the contrary, inositol administration to women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been proven to efficiently counteract most of the clinical hallmarks displayed by PCOS patients, including insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism and oligo-amenorrhea. We have recently observed that myo-inositol induces significant changes in cytoskeletal architecture of breast cancer cells, by modulating different biochemical pathways, eventually modulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. We hypothesize that inositol and its monophosphate derivatives, besides their effects on insulin transduction, may efficiently revert histological and functional features of cystic ovary by inducing cytoskeleton rearrangements. We propose an experimental model that could address not only whether inositol modulates cytoskeleton dynamics in both normal and cystic ovary cells, but also whether this effect may interfere with ovarian steroidogenesis. A more compelling understanding of the mechanisms of action of inositol (and its derivatives) would greatly improve its therapeutic utilization, by conferring to current treatments a well-grounded scientific rationale.

Phytases Improve Myo-Inositol Bioaccessibility in Rye Bread: A Study Using an In Vitro Method of Digestion and a Caco-2 Cell Culture Model

Preparations of 6-phytase A (EC 3.1.3.26) and phytase B (acid phosphatase, EC 3.1.3.2) were applied alone and combined in the preparation of dough to estimate their catalytic potential for myo-inositol liberation from rye flour in the breadmaking technology. The experimental bread samples were ground after baking and subjected to determination of myo-inositol bioavailability by an in vitro method that simulated digestion in a human alimentary tract, followed by measurements of myo-inositol transport through enterocyte- -like differentiated Caco-2 cells to determine its bioaccessibility. Myo-inositol content was measured by a high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) technique. The concentration of myo-inositol in the dialysates of control bread was 25.3 µg/mL, whereas in the dialysates of bread sample baked with 6-phytase A, the concentration increased to 35.4 µg/mL, and in the bread baked with phytase B to 64.98 µg/mL. Simultaneous application of both enzymes resulted in myo-inositol release of 64.04 µg/mL. The highest bioaccessibility of myo-inositol, assessed by the measurement of the passage through the Caco-2 monolayer was determined in the bread baked with the addition of 6-phytase A. Enzymatically modified rye bread, particularly by the addition of 6-phytase A, may be therefore a rich source of a highly bioaccessible myo- -inositol.

Phytase, a New Life for an “Old” Enzyme

Phytases are phosphohydrolytic enzymes that initiate stepwise removal of phosphate from phytate. Simple-stomached species such as swine, poultry, and fish require extrinsic phytase to digest phytate, the major form of phosphorus in plant-based feeds. Consequently, this enzyme is supplemented in these species’ diets to decrease their phosphorus excretion, and it has emerged as one of the most effective and lucrative feed additives. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the evolving course of phytase science and technology. It gives realistic estimates of the versatile roles of phytase in animal feeding, environmental protection, rock phosphorus preservation, human nutrition and health, and industrial applications. It elaborates on new biotechnology and existing issues related to developing novel microbial phytases as well as phytase-transgenic plants and animals. And it targets critical and integrated analyses on the global impact, novel application, and future demand of phytase in promoting animal agriculture, human health, and societal sustainability.

Application of bifidobacterial phytases in infant cereals: effect on phytate contents and mineral dialyzability

Phytase activity was recently described in probiotic bifidobacterial strains, opening the possibilities for their use in foods, due to the generally regarded as safe/qualified presumption of safety status of these bacteria. Two raw materials for infant cereals (multicereal and gluten-free) were examined by measuring the myo-inositol phosphates content and the in vitro Ca, Fe, and Zn availability after a dephytinization process with purified phytases from Bifidobacterium longum spp. infantis and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum. Treatment with both enzymes reduced the contents of phytate as compared to control samples (untreated or treated with fungal phytase) and led to increased levels of myo-inositol triphosphate. Dephytinization followed by an in vitro model of intestinal digestion increased the solubility of Zn. However, phytase treatment did not increase significantly the mineral dialyzability as compared to untreated samples. This is the first example of the application of purified bifidobacterial phytases in food processing and shows the potential of these enzymes to be used in products for human consumption.