Stress, Inflammation, and Autoimmunity: The 3 Modern Erinyes

Anti-Inflammatory and Neuroprotective Polyphenols Derived from the European Olive Tree, Olea europaea L., in Long COVID and Other Conditions Involving Cognitive Impairment

The European olive tree, Olea europaea L., and its polyphenols hold great therapeutic potential to treat neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. This review examines the evidence for the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective actions of olive polyphenols and their potential in the treatment of long COVID and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Key findings suggest that olive polyphenols exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antiviral properties, making them promising candidates for therapeutic intervention, especially when formulated in unique combinations. Recommendations for future research directions include elucidating molecular pathways through mechanistic studies, exploring the therapeutic implications of olive polyphenol supplementation, and conducting clinical trials to assess efficacy and safety. Investigating potential synergistic effects with other agents addressing different targets is suggested for further exploration. The evidence reviewed strengthens the translational value of olive polyphenols in conditions involving cognitive dysfunction and emphasizes the novelty of new formulations.

Changes in Rat Adrenal Cortex and Pineal Gland in Inverted Light-Dark Cycle: A Biochemical, Histological, and Immunohistochemical Study

Poor sleep standards are common in everyday life; it is frequently linked to a rise in stress levels. The adrenal gland interacts physiologically with the pineal gland in the stress response. Pineal gland is a small endocrine organ that modulates sleep patterns. This work aimed to evaluate the inverted light-dark cycle rhythm on the histological changes within the adrenal cortex and pineal gland in adult male albino rats. Twenty adult male albino rats were equally divided into two groups: For the first control group, animals were kept on daylight-darkness for 12-12 h. The second group was kept under an inverted 12- to 12-h light-darkness cycle for 4 weeks. Adrenal sections were subjected to biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical study. Inverted light-dark cycle group recorded a significant elevation of plasma corticosterone, tissue malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) associated with a significant reduction of catalase and superoxide dismutase. Adrenal cortex showed biochemical and histological changes. Pineal glands also showed loss of lobular architecture. A significant upregulation in activated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and B-cell lymphoma-associated X (Bax) immunohistochemical expression was recorded in adrenal cortex associating with downregulation in B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). It could be concluded that subchronic inverted light-dark cycle exerted direct effects on adrenal cortex and the pineal glands.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals MAPK/AMPK as a Key Regulator of the Inflammatory Response in PST Detoxification in Mytilus galloprovincialis and Argopecten irradians

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are an increasingly important source of pollution. Bivalves, as the main transmission medium, accumulate and metabolize PSTs while protecting themselves from damage. At present, the resistance mechanism of bivalves to PSTs is unclear. In this study, Mytilus galloprovincialis and Argopecten irradians were used as experimental shellfish species for in situ monitoring. We compared the inflammatory-related gene responses of the two shellfish during PSTs exposure by using transcriptomes. The results showed that the accumulation and metabolism rate of PSTs in M. galloprovincialis was five-fold higher than that in A. irradians. The inflammatory balance mechanism of M. galloprovincialis involved the co-regulation of the MAPK-based and AMPK-based anti-inflammatory pathways. A. irradians bore a higher risk of death because it did not have the balance system, and the regulation of apoptosis-related pathways such as the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway were upregulated. Taken together, the regulation of the inflammatory balance coincides with the ability of bivalves to cope with PSTs. Inflammation is an important factor that affects the metabolic pattern of PSTs in bivalves. This study provides new evidence to support the studies on the resistance mechanism of bivalves to PSTs.

Impact of mental health on disease activity in mastocytosis during COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Mast cell-related symptoms might be influenced by mental health status in mastocytosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of mental health problems developed during the COVID-19 pandemic on the course of mastocytosis.

METHODS

Mental health status in 60 adult patients with mastocytosis was prospectively evaluated with the total Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (tDASS-21) and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) in the lockdown period (LP) and the return to normal period (RTNP) during the pandemic. The disease course was assessed from emergency and outpatient medical reports, including Scoring Mastocytosis (SCORMA) index and serum baseline tryptase levels, by telephone interviews and clinical visits.

RESULTS

The mean FCV-19S and median tDASS-21 scores were significantly higher in LP than RTNP (p < 0.001) and there was a positive correlation between FCV-19S and tDASS-21 in LP (r = 0.820, p < 0.001) and in RTNP (r = 0.572 p= <0.001). Disease-related symptoms including skin lesions, flushing and anaphylaxis attacks increased in 22 patients in LP, and in this group, mean FCV-19S and median tDASS-21 were higher than those without symptom exacerbation (p < 0.001). During the study period, four (6.7%) patients who experienced COVID-19 recovered without any requirement for hospitalization and had not experienced symptom exacerbation.

CONCLUSIONS

Fear of COVID-19 can be a reason for mental health changes, including depression, anxiety and stress which may further increase mast cell-related symptoms. Therefore, psychological support is important to control the severity of mast cell-related symptoms in mastocytosis during a pandemic.

Ways to Address Perinatal Mast Cell Activation and Focal Brain Inflammation, including Response to SARS-CoV-2, in Autism Spectrum Disorder

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to increase, but no distinct pathogenesis or effective treatment are known yet. The presence of many comorbidities further complicates matters, making a personalized approach necessary. An increasing number of reports indicate that inflammation of the brain leads to neurodegenerative changes, especially during perinatal life, "short-circuiting the electrical system" in the amygdala that is essential for our ability to feel emotions, but also regulates fear. Inflammation of the brain can result from the stimulation of mast cells-found in all tissues including the brain-by neuropeptides, stress, toxins, and viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, leading to the activation of microglia. These resident brain defenders then release even more inflammatory molecules and stop "pruning" nerve connections, disrupting neuronal connectivity, lowering the fear threshold, and derailing the expression of emotions, as seen in ASD. Many epidemiological studies have reported a strong association between ASD and atopic dermatitis (eczema), asthma, and food allergies/intolerance, all of which involve activated mast cells. Mast cells can be triggered by allergens, neuropeptides, stress, and toxins, leading to disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and activation of microglia. Moreover, many epidemiological studies have reported a strong association between stress and atopic dermatitis (eczema) during gestation, which involves activated mast cells. Both mast cells and microglia can also be activated by SARS-CoV-2 in affected mothers during pregnancy. We showed increased expression of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-18 and its receptor, but decreased expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-38 and its receptor IL-36R, only in the amygdala of deceased children with ASD. We further showed that the natural flavonoid luteolin is a potent inhibitor of the activation of both mast cells and microglia, but also blocks SARS-CoV-2 binding to its receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). A treatment approach should be tailored to each individual patient and should address hyperactivity/stress, allergies, or food intolerance, with the introduction of natural molecules or drugs to inhibit mast cells and microglia, such as liposomal luteolin.

SARS-CoV-2 Disease Adjuvant Therapies and Supplements Breakthrough for the Infection Prevention

The SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is a high-risk viral agent involved in the recent pandemic stated worldwide by the World Health Organization. The infection is correlated to a severe systemic and respiratory disease in many cases, which is clinically treated with a multi-drug pharmacological approach. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate through a literature overview the effect of adjuvant therapies and supplements for the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The research has analyzed the advantage of the EK1C4, by also assessing the studies on the resveratrol, vitamin D, and melatonin as adjuvant supplements for long hauler patients' prognosis. The evaluated substances reported important benefits for the improvement of the immune system and as a potential inhibitor molecules against SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the use of sartans as therapy. The adjuvant supplements seem to create an advantage for the healing of the long hauler patients affected by chronic symptoms of constant chest and heart pain, intestinal disorders, headache, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, and tachycardia.

Long-COVID syndrome-associated brain fog and chemofog: Luteolin to the rescue

COVID-19 leads to severe respiratory problems, but also to long-COVID syndrome associated primarily with cognitive dysfunction and fatigue. Long-COVID syndrome symptoms, especially brain fog, are similar to those experienced by patients undertaking or following chemotherapy for cancer (chemofog or chemobrain), as well in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) or mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). The pathogenesis of brain fog in these illnesses is presently unknown but may involve neuroinflammation via mast cells stimulated by pathogenic and stress stimuli to release mediators that activate microglia and lead to inflammation in the hypothalamus. These processes could be mitigated by phytosomal formulation (in olive pomace oil) of the natural flavonoid luteolin.

Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Pandemic: Future Challenges for Dental Practitioners

In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic, the medical system has been subjected to many changes. Face-to-face treatments have been suspended for a period of time. After the lockdown, dentists have to be aware of the modalities to protect themselves and their patients in order not to get infected. Dental practitioners are potentially exposed to a high degree of contamination with SARS-CoV-2 while performing dental procedures that produce aerosols. It should also be noted that the airways, namely the oral cavity and nostrils, are the access pathways for SARS-CoV-2. In order to protect themselves and their patients, they have to use full personal protective equipment. Relevant data regarding this pandemic are under evaluation and are still under test. In this article, we made a synthesis about the way in which SARS-CoV-2 spreads, how to diagnose a novel corona virus infection, what the possible treatments are, and which protective personal equipment we can use to stop its spreading.

The impact of psychological stress on mast cells

OBJECTIVE

Atopic diseases worsen with psychological stress, but how stress contributes to their pathogenesis is still not clear. We review the evidence supporting the premise that stress contributes to allergic and inflammatory processes through stimulation of mast cells (MCs) by neuroimmune stimuli.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed was searched between 1950 and 2019 using the following terms: allergies, atopic diseases, corticotropin-releasing hormone, inflammation, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, mast cells, mastocytosis, neuropeptides, psychological stress, neurotensin, and substance P.

STUDY SELECTIONS

Only articles published in English were selected based on their relevance to stress and MCs, especially those that discussed potential mechanisms of action.

RESULTS

Psychological stress worsens many diseases, especially asthma, atopic dermatitis, and mastocytosis. This effect is mediated through MCs stimulated by neuropeptides, especially corticotropin-releasing hormone, neurotensin, and substance P, a process augmented by interleukin-33.

CONCLUSION

Understanding how stress stimulates MCs to release proinflammatory mediators is important in advancing treatments for diseases that worsen with stress.