Purple sweet potato color improves hippocampal insulin resistance via down-regulating SOCS3 and galectin-3 in high-fat diet mice

Anthocyanins ameliorate obesity-associated metainflammation: Preclinical and clinical evidence

The growing rates of obesity worldwide call for intervention strategies to help control the pathophysiological consequences of weight gain. The use of natural foods and bioactive compounds has been suggested as such a strategy because of their recognized antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. For example, polyphenols, especially anthocyanins, are candidates for managing obesity and its related metabolic disorders. Obesity is well known for the presence of metainflammation, which has been labeled as an inflammatory activation that leads to a variety of metabolic disorders, usually related to increased oxidative stress. Considering this, anthocyanins may be promising natural compounds able to modulate several intracellular mechanisms, mitigating oxidative stress and metainflammation. A wide variety of foods and extracts rich in anthocyanins have become the focus of research in the field of obesity. Here, we bring together the current knowledge regarding the use of anthocyanins as an intervention tested in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical trials to modulate metainflammation. Most recent research applies a wide variety of extracts and natural sources of anthocyanins, in diverse experimental models, which represents a limitation of the research field. However, the literature is sufficiently consistent to establish that the in-depth molecular analysis of gut microbiota, insulin signaling, TLR4-triggered inflammation, and oxidative stress pathways reveals their modulation by anthocyanins. These targets are interconnected at the cellular level and interact with one another, leading to obesity-associated metainflammation. Thus, the positive findings with anthocyanins observed in preclinical models might directly relate to the positive outcomes in clinical studies. In summary and based on the entirety of the relevant literature, anthocyanins can mitigate obesity-related perturbations in gut microbiota, insulin resistance, oxidative stress and inflammation and therefore may contribute as a therapeutic tool in people living with obesity.

Anthocyanins as Promising Molecules Affecting Energy Homeostasis, Inflammation, and Gut Microbiota in Type 2 Diabetes with Special Reference to Impact of Acylation

Anthocyanins, the red-orange to blue-violet colorants present in fruits, vegetables, and tubers, have antidiabetic properties expressed via modulating energy metabolism, inflammation, and gut microbiota. Acylation of the glycosyl moieties of anthocyanins alters the physicochemical properties of anthocyanins and improves their stability. Thus, acylated anthocyanins with probiotic-like property and lower bioavailability are likely to have different biological effects from nonacylated anthocyanins on diabetes. This work highlights recent findings on the antidiabetic effects of acylated anthocyanins from the perspectives of energy metabolism, inflammation, and gut microbiota compared to the nonacylated anthocyanins and particularly emphasizes the cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with the beneficial effects of these bioactive molecules, providing a new perspective to explore the different biological effects induced by structurally different anthocyanins. Acylated anthocyanins may have greater modulating effects on energy metabolism, inflammation, and gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes compared to nonacylated anthocyanins.

Fornix degeneration in risk factors of Alzheimer's disease, possible trigger of cognitive decline

Risk factors of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) such as aging, type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart failure, and traumatic brain injury can facilitate the appearance of cognitive decline and dementia by triggering cerebrovascular pathology and neuroinflammation. White matter (WM) microstructure and function are especially vulnerable to these conditions. Microstructural WM changes, assessed with diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging, can already be detected at preclinical stages of AD, and in the presence of the aforementioned risk factors. Particularly, the limbic system and cortico-cortical association WM tracts, which myelinate late during brain development, degenerate at the earliest stages. The fornix, a C-shaped WM tract that originates from the hippocampus, is one of the limbic tracts that shows early microstructural changes. Fornix integrity is necessary for ensuring an intact executive function and memory performance. Thus, a better understanding of the mechanisms that cause fornix degeneration is critical in the development of therapeutic strategies aiming to prevent cognitive decline in populations at risk. In this literature review, i) we deepen the idea that partial loss of forniceal integrity is an early event in AD, ii) we describe the role that common risk factors of AD can play in the degeneration of the fornix, and iii) we discuss some potential cellular and physiological mechanisms of WM degeneration in the scenario of cerebrovascular disease and inflammation.

The Potential Roles of Dietary Anthocyanins in Inhibiting Vascular Endothelial Cell Senescence and Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a group of diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Increasingly more evidence has shown that the senescence of vascular endothelial cells is the key to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. Anthocyanin is a type of water-soluble polyphenol pigment and secondary metabolite of plant-based food widely existing in fruits and vegetables. The gut microbiome is involved in the metabolism of anthocyanins and mediates the biological activities of anthocyanins and their metabolites, while anthocyanins also regulate the growth of specific bacteria in the microbiota and promote the proliferation of healthy anaerobic flora. Accumulating studies have shown that anthocyanins have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging effects. Many animal and in vitro experiments have also proven that anthocyanins have protective effects on cardiovascular-disease-related dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanism of anthocyanin in eliminating aging endothelial cells and preventing cardiovascular diseases is very complex and is not fully understood. In this systematic review, we summarize the metabolism and activities of anthocyanins, as well as their effects on scavenging senescent cells and cardioprotection.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOXD-AS2 promotes glioblastoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion by regulating the miR-3681-5p/MALT1 signaling pathway

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal type of brain cancer. An increasing number of studies suggest that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in tumor progression. LncRNA HOXD-AS2 was reported to be highly expressed in glioma and associated with glioma grade and poor prognosis. However, the molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we first analyzed differentially expressed lncRNAs in glioblastoma using RNA-seq dataset (156 GBM samples and 5 adjacent normal samples in TCGA (Cancer Genome Atlas) and GTEx (Genotype-Tissue Expression) database). HOXD-AS2 was found to be significantly up-regulated in GBM tissues, which was further confirmed in GBM patient tumor samples and GBM cell lines. Silencing HOXD-AS2 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis. We further identified and validated miR-3681-5p as a target of HOXD-AS2, and miR-3681-5p was negatively regulated by HOXD-AS2. By negatively affecting miR-3681-5p, HOXD-AS2 could promote the expression of MALT1 to augment the aggressiveness of GBM cells. miR-3681-5p overexpression or MALT1 knockdown attenuated aggressiveness of GBM cells. Importantly, silencing HOXD-AS2 suppressed tumorigenesis of GBM cells in the xenograft mouse model. Collectively, our study clarified the role of miR-3681-5p/MALT1 axis underlying the oncogenic function of lncRNA HOXD-AS2 in GBM. Future work is required to study the mechanism by which HOXD-AS2 is upregulated in GBM cells, which can provide novel insights into therapeutic intervention for GBM treatment.

Galectin-3 possible involvement in antipsychotic-induced metabolic changes of schizophrenia: A minireview

Recently, specific immunometabolic profiles have been postulated in patients with schizophrenia, even before full-blown disease and independent of antipsychotic treatment. Proteomic profiling studies offer a promising potential for elucidating the cellular and molecular pathways that may be involved in the onset and progression of schizophrenia symptoms, and co-occurrent metabolic changes. In view of all this, we were intrigued to explore galectin-3 (Gal-3) as a glycan, and in our previous study, we measured its elevated levels in remission of schizophrenia. The finding may be a consequence of antipsychotic treatment and may have an impact on the onset of inflammation, the development of obesity, and the presumed cognitive changes in schizophrenia. In the animal study, it was shown that downregulation of Gal-3 was beneficial in insulin regulation of obesity and cognitive preservation. Strategies involving plasma exchange are discussed in this review, particularly in the context of Gal-3 elimination.

Dietary Flavonoids and Insulin Signaling in Diabetes and Obesity

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity are relevant worldwide chronic diseases. A common complication in both pathologies is the dysregulation of the insulin-signaling pathway that is crucial to maintain an accurate glucose homeostasis. Flavonoids are naturally occurring phenolic compounds abundant in fruits, vegetables and seeds. Rising evidence supports a role for the flavonoids against T2D and obesity, and at present, these compounds are considered as important potential chemopreventive agents. This review summarizes in vitro and in vivo studies providing data related to the effects of flavonoids and flavonoid-rich foods on the modulation of the insulin route during T2D and obesity. Notably, few human studies have evaluated the regulatory effect of these phenolic compounds at molecular level on the insulin pathway. In this context, it is also important to note that the mechanism of action for the flavonoids is not fully characterized and that a proper dosage to obtain a beneficial effect on health has not been defined yet. Further investigations will contribute to solve all these critical challenges and will enable the use of flavonoids to prevent, delay or support the treatment of T2D and obesity.

Relationship between inflammatory biomarker galectin-3 and hippocampal volume in a community study

Galectin-3 (Gal3) is expressed by microglia and performs functions including adhesion; activation of macrophages and fibroblasts, and mediates inflammatory responses in the hippocampus. The present study examined whether serum Gal3 levels predict hippocampal volume in a multi-ethnic, community-based sample. Results of a multiple linear regression (controlling for depression, serum creatinine level, age, BMI, total brain volume, MoCA score, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, history of diabetes) showed that Gal3 levels significantly predicted left (p = .027) but not right hippocampal volume. The relationship was stronger in men than women. Findings suggest this novel inflammatory biomarker is associated with human hippocampal volume.

MALT1 is a potential therapeutic target in glioblastoma and plays a crucial role in EGFR-induced NF-κB activation

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant tumour in the adult brain and hard to treat. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signalling has a crucial role in the tumorigenesis of GBM. EGFR signalling is an important driver of NF-κB activation in GBM; however, the correlation between EGFR and the NF-κB pathway remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of mucosa-associated lymphoma antigen 1 (MALT1) in glioma progression and evaluated the anti-tumour activity and effectiveness of MI-2, a MALT1 inhibitor in a pre-clinical GBM model. We identified a paracaspase MALT1 that is involved in EGFR-induced NF-kB activation in GBM. MALT1 deficiency or inhibition significantly affected the proliferation, survival, migration and invasion of GBM cells both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, MALT1 inhibition caused G1 cell cycle arrest by regulating multiple cell cycle-associated proteins. Mechanistically, MALTI inhibition blocks the degradation of IκBα and prevents the nuclear accumulation of the NF-κB p65 subunit in GBM cells. This study found that MALT1, a key signal transduction cascade, can mediate EGFR-induced NF-kB activation in GBM and may be potentially used as a novel therapeutic target for GBM.

Grown to be Blue-Antioxidant Properties and Health Effects of Colored Vegetables. Part I: Root Vegetables

During the last few decades, the food and beverage industry faced increasing demand for the design of new functional food products free of synthetic compounds and artificial additives. Anthocyanins are widely used as natural colorants in various food products to replenish blue color losses during processing and to add blue color to colorless products, while other compounds such as carotenoids and betalains are considered as good sources of other shades. Root vegetables are well known for their broad palette of colors, and some species, such as black carrot and beet root, are already widely used as sources of natural colorants in the food and drug industry. Ongoing research aims at identifying alternative vegetable sources with diverse functional and structural features imparting beneficial effects onto human health. The current review provides a systematic description of colored root vegetables based on their belowground edible parts, and it highlights species and/or cultivars that present atypical colors, especially those containing pigment compounds responsible for hues of blue color. Finally, the main health effects and antioxidant properties associated with the presence of coloring compounds are presented, as well as the effects that processing treatments may have on chemical composition and coloring compounds in particular.

MiR-455-5p ameliorates HG-induced apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammatory via targeting SOCS3 in retinal pigment epithelial cells

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains the leading cause of blindness in adults with diabetes mellitus. Numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified to modulate the pathogenesis of DR. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential roles of miR-455-5p in high glucose (HG)-treated retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and underlying mechanisms. Our present investigation discovered that the expression of miR-455-5p was apparently downregulated in ARPE-19 cells stimulated with HG. In addition, forced expression of miR-455-5p markedly enhanced cell viability and restrained HG-induced apoptosis accompanied by decreased BCL2-associated X protein (Bax)/B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) ratio and expression of apoptotic marker cleaved caspase-3 during HG challenged. Subsequently, augmentation of miR-455-5p remarkably alleviated HG-triggered oxidative stress injury as reflected by decreased the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content as well as NADPH oxidase 4 expression, concomitant with enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and GPX stimulated with HG. Furthermore, enforced expression of miR-455-5p effectively ameliorated HG-stimulated inflammatory response as exemplified by repressing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-α in ARPE-19 cells challenged by HG. Most importantly, we successfully identified suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) as a direct target gene of miR-455-5p, and miR-455-5p negatively regulated the expression of SOCS3. Mechanistically, restoration of SOCS3 abrogated the beneficial effects of miR-455-5p on apoptosis, accumulation of ROS, and inflammatory factors production in response to HG. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that miR-455-5p relieved HG-induced damage through repressing apoptosis, oxidant stress, and inflammatory response by targeting SOCS3. The study gives evidence that miR-455-5p may serve as a new potential therapeutic agent for DR treatment.