Juniperonic Acid Incorporation into the Phospholipids of Murine Macrophage Cells Modulates Pro-Inflammatory Mediator Production

The Biota orientalis, oil extract Epiitalis®, is efficacious at reducing the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis: a pilot, multi-site, dose-ranging, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial

Objective

To explore the safety, and efficacy of a proprietary hydrolyzed oil extract from seeds of Biota orientalis (hBO/Epiitalis^®, Interpath Pty Ltd) in patients with knee pain due to osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

Patients aged 40–65 with X-ray diagnosed knee OA and knee pain ≥ 60 on a 100-point VAS (visual analog scale) were enrolled and randomized into four groups to receive daily hBO for 56 days as high (hBO-HD, 640 mg), mid (hBO-MD, 320 mg) or low (hBO-LD, 160 mg) doses, or a matched placebo oil. The primary outcome was change in VAS knee pain from baseline to 56 days in the mITT (modified intention to treat) population. Exploratory outcomes were the mWOMAC (modified Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index), and the SF-36 QoL (quality of life) questionnaire. The OMERACT-OARSI (Outcome Measures in Arthritis Clinical Trials–Osteoarthritis Research Society International) responder index was also calculated.

Results

223 patients were included in the mITT population. Reductions in VAS scores between baseline and day 56 [Least square mean (LS mean) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of LS mean] were 36.4 (31.7–41.0), 37.9 (33.2–42.7), 35.7 (31.2–40.1) and 9.8 (14.5–15.2) for the hBO-HD, hBO-MD, hBO-LD, and placebo groups respectively. The VAS changes in all hBO groups were significantly different (p < 0.0001) vs. changes in the placebo group. hBO treatment led to similar quantitative beneficial changes in mWOMAC, SF-36 and OMERACT-OARSI responder index. There were no SAEs and no adverse events ascribed to the intervention.

Conclusion

In a 56-day trial, hBO was safe, and was efficacious at reducing symptoms in patients with knee OA. Registration: NCT04117490; Oct 7, 2019.

Sulfated heteropolysaccharides from Undaria pinnatifida: Structural characterization and transcript-metabolite profiling of immunostimulatory effects on RAW264.7 cells

•

UPP-3 showed significant effects on mRNA expression of iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-6.

•

Transcript analysis illustrated the immunostimulatory effects of UPP-3.

•

Metabolic profiling revealed the immunostimulatory effects of UPP-3.

•

UPP-3 might affect the pathways in cancer of macrophage.

•

Provided a molecular detail of the immunostimulatory effects of UPP-3.

Investigation of the polysaccharides from an edible marine brown algae Undaria pinnatifida has led to obtaining three fractional sulfated polysaccharides UPPs 1–3 with molecular weights of 7.212 kDa, 13.924 kDa, and 55.875 kDa, respectively. All UPPs are composed of galactose, xylose, glucose, mannose, glucuronic acid, and mannuronic acid, while UPP-3 also consisted of fucose, arabinose, and fructose. The immunostimulatory assay revealed that UPP-3 had important effects on cell viability, nitric oxide levels, and secretion of cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, the transcript-metabolite data along with western blot and immunofluorescent staining revealed that UPP-3 could stimulate the Toll-like receptor (TLR4) associated with the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) p65 signaling pathway of RAW264.7 cells. These findings of the immunomodulatory sulfated polysaccharide will provide a basic understanding to further exploitation of U. pinnatifida polysaccharides.

Olive Oil Extracts and Oleic Acid Attenuate the LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response in Murine RAW264.7 Macrophages but Induce the Release of Prostaglandin E2

Olive oil contains high amounts of oleic acid (OA). Although OA has been described to inhibit inflammatory processes, the effects of olive oil on cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Therefore, we compared the effects of major fatty acids (FA) from olive oil with those of olive oil extracts (OOE) on inflammatory mediators and alterations in the cellular phospholipid composition in murine macrophages. Upon treatment with different OOE, FA compositions of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine RAW264.7 macrophages were analyzed using gas chromatography. Olive oil extracts and OA significantly reduced the LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNos), cyclooxygenase (Cox2), and interleukin-6 mRNA. In addition, a significant decrease in Cox2 and iNos protein expression was observed. The formation of nitric oxide was significantly reduced, while the formation of prostaglandin (PG) E₂ from arachidonic acid significantly increased after treatment with OOE or OA. The latter was associated with a shift in the phospholipid FA composition from arachidonic acid to OA, resulting in an elevated availability of arachidonic acid. Together, OOE and OA mediate anti-inflammatory effects in vitro but increase the release of arachidonic acid and hereinafter PGE₂, likely due to elongation of OA and competitive incorporation of fatty acids into membrane phospholipids.

Advances on delta 5-unsaturated-polymethylene-interrupted fatty acids: Resources, biosynthesis, and benefits

Though the knowledge on delta 5-unsaturated-polymethylene-interrupted fatty acids (Δ5-UPIFAs) is being updated, the issue of their integration still exists within the field. Thus, this review systematically summarizes the sources, biosynthesis and metabolism, analytical methods, preparation, and health-promoting roles of Δ5-UPIFAs. In plants, the content of Δ5-UPIFAs is higher, which is an ideal source. In animals, although the content of Δ5-UPIFAs is not high, there are many species, which is the possible source of some special Δ5-UPIFAs. At present, although the extraction of Δ5-UPIFAs is mainly from plants, the fermentation by organisms, especially for genetically modified microorganisms engineering maybe be a substitue of pepration of Δ5-UPIFAs. Δ5-UPIFAs have been proved to possess multi-beneficial effects, such as lipid lowering, anti-inflammation and so on, so it has a certain potential application value. However, related knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms regarding Δ5-UPIFAs limited, and how Δ5-UPIFAs work is not clear. Further clinical and human studies about Δ5-UPIFAs are also needed. Studies on tapping new resources, developing structured lipide rich in Δ5-UPIFA and enhancing delivery were quite deficient. This review emphasizes the further directions on Δ5-UPIFAs with scientific suggestions to pay more attention to the applications of Δ5-UPIFAs in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Edible Far Eastern Ferns as a Dietary Source of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Young fronds of ferns are consumed as a vegetable in many countries. The aim of this study was to analyze three fern species that are available for sale in the Russian Far East as dietary sources in terms of fatty acids that are important for human physiology: arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA) and other valuable long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The content of ARA and EPA was 5.5 and 0.5 mg/g dry weight, respectively, in Pteridium aquilinum, 4.1 and 1.1 in Matteuccia struthiopteris, and 2.2 and 0.8 in Osmundastrum asiaticum. Salted fronds of P. aquilinum contained less these fatty acids than the raw fronds, with a decrease of up to 49% for ARA and 65% for EPA. These losses were less pronounced or even insignificant in dried fronds. Cooked ferns preserved significant portions of the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids: cooked P. aquilinum contained 4.4 mg/g dry weight ARA and 0.3 mg/g dry weight EPA. The ferns may provide a supplemental dietary source of these valuable long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially for vegetarian diets.

Immunomodulatory sulfated polysaccharides from Caulerpa racemosa var. peltata induces metabolic shifts in NF-κB signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 macrophages

Algal polysaccharide activates macrophages to alter physiologic biomarkers to drive the immunomodulatory phenotype, but it lacks specific biomarkers involved in the biochemical underpinning process. Here, we undertook an extensive analysis of the RAW 264.7 macrophages induced by an immunostimulating sulfated polysaccharide from Caulerpa racemosa var. peltata (CRVP-1) employing combined transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses to reveal the molecular details occurring in the CRVP-1-induced immunomodulatory process. The omics profiling of CRVP-1-activated macrophage demonstrated a total of 8844 genes (4354 downregulated and 4490 upregulated), 1243 proteins (620 downregulated and 623 upregulated), and 68 metabolites (52 downregulated and16 upregulated). Further, the co-mapped correlation network of omics combined with Western blot and immunofluorescence staining indicated that the cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) might assist Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) involved in nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway to drive the immunomodulatory phenotype. Together, our results discover novel physiologic biomarkers in the immunomodulatory activities of algal polysaccharides.

Red Arils of Taxus baccata L.-A New Source of Valuable Fatty Acids and Nutrients

The aim of this study, focused on the nutritional value of wild berries, was to determine the contents of macronutrients, profiles of fatty (FAs) and amino acids (AAs), and the contents of selected elements in red arils (RA) of Taxus baccata L., grown in diverse locations in Poland. Protein (1.79–3.80 g/100 g) and carbohydrate (18.43–19.30 g/100 g) contents of RAs were higher than in many cultivated berries. RAs proved to be a source of lipids (1.39–3.55 g/100 g). Ten out of 18 AAs detected in RAs, mostly branched-chain AAs, were essential AAs (EAAs). The EAAs/total AAs ratio approximating were found in animal foods. Lipids of RA contained seven PUFAs, including those from n-3 family (19.20–28.20 g/100 g FA). Polymethylene-interrupted FAs (PMI-FAs), pinolenic 18:3Δ5,9,12; sciadonic 20:3Δ5,11,14, and juniperonic 20:4Δ5,11,14,17, known as unique for seeds of gymnosperms, were found in RAs. RAs may represent a novel dietary source of valuable n-3 PUFAs and the unique PMI-FAs. The established composition of RAs suggests it to become a new source of functional foods, dietary supplements, and valuable ingredients. Because of the tendency to accumulate toxic metals, RAs may be regarded as a valuable indicator of environmental contamination. Thus, the levels of toxic trace elements (Al, Ni, Cd) have to be determined before collecting fruits from natural habitats.

Juniperonic Acid Biosynthesis is Essential in Caenorhabditis Elegans Lacking Δ6 Desaturase (fat-3) and Generates New ω-3 Endocannabinoids

In eukaryotes, the C20:4 polyunsaturated fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA) plays important roles as a phospholipid component, signaling molecule and precursor of the endocannabinoid-prostanoid axis. Accordingly, the absence of AA causes detrimental effects. Here, compensatory mechanisms involved in AA deficiency in Caenorhabditis elegans were investigated. We show that the ω-3 C20:4 polyunsaturated fatty acid juniperonic acid (JuA) is generated in the C. elegansfat-3(wa22) mutant, which lacks Δ6 desaturase activity and cannot generate AA and ω-3 AA. JuA partially rescued the loss of function of AA in growth and development. Additionally, we observed that supplementation of AA and ω-3 AA modulates lifespan of fat-3(wa22) mutants. We described a feasible biosynthetic pathway that leads to the generation of JuA from α-linoleic acid (ALA) via elongases ELO-1/2 and Δ5 desaturase which is rate-limiting. Employing liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we identified endocannabinoid-like ethanolamine and glycerol derivatives of JuA and ω-3 AA. Like classical endocannabinoids, these lipids exhibited binding interactions with NPR-32, a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) shown to act as endocannabinoid receptor in C. elegans. Our study suggests that the eicosatetraenoic acids AA, ω-3 AA and JuA share similar biological functions. This biosynthetic plasticity of eicosatetraenoic acids observed in C. elegans uncovers a possible biological role of JuA and associated ω-3 endocannabinoids in Δ6 desaturase deficiencies, highlighting the importance of ALA.