Dietary isoflavone supplementation for food allergy: A pilot study

Effects of Ipriflavone-Loaded Mesoporous Nanospheres on the Differentiation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Their Modulation by Macrophages

Angiogenic biomaterials are designed to promote vascularization and tissue regeneration. Nanoparticles of bioactive materials loaded with drugs represent an interesting strategy to stimulate osteogenesis and angiogenesis and to inhibit bone resorption. In this work, porcine endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), essential for blood vessel formation, were isolated and characterized to evaluate the in vitro effects of unloaded (NanoMBGs) and ipriflavone-loaded nanospheres (NanoMBG-IPs), which were designed to prevent osteoporosis. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) was studied in EPCs under different culture conditions: (a) treatment with NanoMBGs or NanoMBG-IPs, (b) culture with media from basal, M1, and M2 macrophages previously treated with NanoMBGs or NanoMBG-IPs, (c) coculture with macrophages in the presence of NanoMBGs or NanoMBG-IPs, and (d) coculture with M2d angiogenic macrophages. The endocytic mechanisms for nanosphere incorporation by EPCs were identified using six different endocytosis inhibitors. The results evidence the great potential of these nanomaterials to enhance VEGFR2 expression and angiogenesis, after intracellular incorporation by EPCs through clathrin-dependent endocytosis, phagocytosis, and caveolae-mediated uptake. The treatment of EPCs with basal, M1, and M2 macrophage culture media and EPC/macrophage coculture studies also confirmed the angiogenic effect of these nanospheres on EPCs, even in the presence of phagocytic cells.

Recent Advances on the Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of Red Grape Polyphenols: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

In this review, special emphasis will be placed on red grape polyphenols for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, their capacity to inhibit major pathways responsible for activation of oxidative systems and expression and release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines will be discussed. Furthermore, regulation of immune cells by polyphenols will be illustrated with special reference to the activation of T regulatory cells which support a tolerogenic pathway at intestinal level. Additionally, the effects of red grape polyphenols will be analyzed in obesity, as a low-grade systemic inflammation. Also, possible modifications of inflammatory bowel disease biomarkers and clinical course have been studied upon polyphenol administration, either in animal models or in clinical trials. Moreover, the ability of polyphenols to cross the blood-brain barrier has been exploited to investigate their neuroprotective properties. In cancer, polyphenols seem to exert several beneficial effects, even if conflicting data are reported about their influence on T regulatory cells. Finally, the effects of polyphenols have been evaluated in experimental models of allergy and autoimmune diseases. Conclusively, red grape polyphenols are endowed with a great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential but some issues, such as polyphenol bioavailability, activity of metabolites, and interaction with microbiota, deserve deeper studies.

Anti-inflammatory effects of flavonoids

Inflammation plays a key role in diseases such as diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Diet can influence different stages of inflammation and can have an important impact on several inflammatory diseases. Increasing scientific evidence has shown that polyphenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, which are found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, or cocoa, can have anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies have demonstrated that flavonoids can inhibit regulatory enzymes or transcription factors important for controlling mediators involved in inflammation. Flavonoids are also known as potent antioxidants with the potential to attenuate tissue damage or fibrosis. Consequently, numerous studies in vitro and in animal models have found that flavonoids have the potential to inhibit the onset and development of inflammatory diseases. In the present review, we focused in flavonoids, the most abundant polyphenols in the diet, to give an overview of the most recent scientific knowledge about their impact on different inflammatory diseases.

Advances in the approach to the patient with food allergy

Advances in food allergy diagnosis, management, prevention, and therapeutic interventions have been significant over the past 2 decades. Evidence-based national and international guidelines have streamlined food allergy diagnosis and management, whereas paradigm-shifting work in primary prevention of peanut allergy has resulted in significant modifications in the approach to early food introduction in infants and toddlers. Innovative investigation of food allergy epidemiology, systems biology, effect, and management has provided important insights. Although active therapeutic approaches to food allergy remain experimental, progress toward licensed therapies has been substantial. Mechanistic understanding of the immunologic processes underlying food allergy and immunotherapy will inform the future design of therapeutic approaches targeting the food-induced allergic response. Global strategies to mitigate the substantial medical, economic, and psychosocial burden of food allergy in affected subjects and families will require engagement of stakeholders across multiple sectors in research, health care, public health, government, educational institutions, and industry. However, the relationship between the well-informed allergy care provider and the patient and family remains fundamental for optimizing the care of the patient with food allergy.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice 2017 Year in Review

An impressive number of clinically impactful studies and reviews were published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice in 2017. As a service to our readers, the editors provide this Year in Review article to highlight and contextualize the advances published over the past year. We include information from articles on asthma, allergic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, immunotherapy, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, food allergy, anaphylaxis, drug hypersensitivity, urticarial/angioedema, eosinophilic disorders, and immunodeficiency. Within each topic, epidemiologic findings are presented, relevant aspects of prevention are described, and diagnostic and therapeutic advances are enumerated. Treatments discussed include behavioral therapy, allergen avoidance therapy, positive and negative effects of pharmacologic therapy, and various forms of immunologic and desensitization management. We hope this review will help readers consolidate and use this extensive and practical knowledge for the benefit of patients.