A High-Fat Diet Induces Lower Systemic Inflammation than a High-Carbohydrate Diet in Mice

The effect of diet and nutrition on T cell function in cancer

Cancer can be considered one of the most threatening diseases to human health, and immunotherapy, especially T-cell immunotherapy, is the most promising treatment for cancers. Diet therapy is widely concerned in cancer because of its safety and fewer side effects. Many studies have shown that both the function of T cells and the progression of cancer can be affected by nutrients in the diet. In fact, it is challenging for T cells to infiltrate and eliminate cancer cells in tumor microenvironment, because of the harsh metabolic condition. The intake of different nutrients has a great influence on the proliferation, activation, differentiation and exhaustion of T cells. In this review, we summarize the effects of typical amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates and other nutritional factors on T cell functions and provide future perspectives for dietary treatment of cancer based on modifications of T cell functions.

Linseed oil attenuates fatty liver disease in mice fed a high-carbohydrate diet

The impact of linseed oil as a lipid source on liver disease induced by a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) was evaluated. Adult male Swiss mice received an HCD containing carbohydrates (72.1%), proteins (14.2%), and lipids (4.0%). The Control HCD group (HCD-C) received an HCD containing lard (3.6%) and soybean oil (0.4%) as lipid sources. The L10 and L100 groups received an HCD with 10 and 100% linseed oil as lipid sources, respectively. A group of mice were euthanized before receiving the diets (day 0) and the remaining groups after 56 days of receiving the diets (HCD-C, L10, and L-100 groups). Morphological and histopathological analyses, as well as collagen deposition were evaluated. Perivenous hepatocytes (PVH) of the HCD-C group were larger (P<0.05) than periportal hepatocytes (PPH) in the median lobe (ML) and left lobe (LL). There was a greater (P<0.05) deposition of type I collagen in PPH (vs PVH) and in the ML (vs LL). The ML exhibited a higher proportion of apoptotic bodies, inflammatory infiltrate, and hepatocellular ballooning. All these alterations (hepatocyte size, deposition of type I collagen, apoptotic bodies, inflammatory infiltrate, and hepatocellular ballooning) induced by HCD were prevented or attenuated in L10 and L100 groups. Another indicator of the beneficial effects of linseed oil was the lower (P<0.05) number of binucleated hepatocytes (HCD-C vs L10 or L100 group). In general, the L100 group had greater effects than the L10 group. In conclusion, linseed oil impedes or reduces the liver injury progression induced by an HCD.

Linseed Oil Attenuates Liver Inflammation, Fatty Acid Accumulation, and Lipid Distribution in Periportal and Perivenous Hepatocytes Induced by a High-Carbohydrate Diet in Mice

We evaluated whether linseed oil (LO) modulates the effects of a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) on liver inflammation, fatty acid (FA) accumulation, and lipid distribution in periportal and perivenous hepatocytes. The control group (control high-carbohydrate diet [HCD-C]) received an HCD with lard and soybean oil as the lipid source. The L10 and L100 groups received the HCD with 10% and 100% of LO as the lipid source, respectively. The animals were killed by decapitation before (day 0) and after receiving the diets. Liver FA composition, inflammation, and fibrogenesis gene expression were evaluated. Also, the percentage of lipid-occupied area in periportal end perivenous hepatocytes were measured. The L100 group exhibited a higher (P < .05) liver amount of omega-3 polyunsaturated FA (n-3 PUFA) and lower (P < .05) amounts of saturated FA (SFA), monounsaturated FA (MUFA), and omega-6 polyunsaturated FA (n-6 PUFA) compared with L10 or HCD-C mice. On day 56, interleukin 10 and type IV collagen gene expression were significantly upregulated and downregulated, respectively in L100. Also, the L100 group showed lower (P < .05) FA accumulation (i.e., total FA, SFA, MUFA, and n-6 PUFA). Also, L10 and L100 presented lower (P < .05) percentage of high lipid-containing portion in periportal and perivenous hepatocytes. We concluded that LO attenuation of liver inflammation promoted by an HCD is associated with increased liver n-3 PUFA levels, so modulating FA composition, deposition, and distribution in periportal and perivenous hepatocytes.

Lipidomic profiling of the hepatic esterified fatty acid composition in diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in genetically diverse Collaborative Cross mice

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), one of the most common forms of chronic liver disease, is characterized by the excessive accumulation of lipid species in hepatocytes. Recent studies have indicated that in addition to the total lipid quantities, changes in lipid composition are a determining factor in hepatic lipotoxicity. Using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry, we analyzed the esterified fatty acid composition in 24 strains of male and female Collaborative Cross (CC) mice fed a high fat/high sucrose (HF/HS) diet for 12 weeks. Changes in lipid composition were found in all strains after the HF/HS diet, most notably characterized by increases in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and decreases in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Similar changes in MUFA and PUFA were observed in a choline- and folate-deficient (CFD) mouse model of NAFLD, as well as in hepatocytes treated in vitro with free fatty acids. Analysis of fatty acid composition revealed that alterations were accompanied by an increase in the estimated activity of MUFA generating SCD1 enzyme and an estimated decrease in the activity of PUFA generating FADS1 and FADS2 enzymes. PUFA/MUFA ratios were inversely correlated with lipid accumulation in male and female CC mice fed the HF/HS diet and with morphological markers of hepatic injury in CFD diet-fed mouse model of NAFLD. These results demonstrate that different models of NAFLD are characterized by similar changes in the esterified fatty acid composition and that alterations in PUFA/MUFA ratios may serve as a diagnostic marker for NAFLD severity.

Influence of Maternal Diet and Intergenerational Change in Diet Type on Ovarian and Adipose Tissue Morphology in Female Rat Offspring

Background and Objectives: A high-fat diet causes inflammation in the organism and many metabolic disorders. Adipose tissue secretes adipokines that affect the function of many organs. The health status of the mother before and during pregnancy affects the health of the offspring. The aim of this study was to determine how the type of maternal diet and the change in the type of diet in the offspring affects the histological characteristics of the ovaries and subcutaneous and perigonadal adipose tissue in female rat offspring. Materials and Methods: Ten female rats were divided into two groups. One group was fed standard laboratory chow, and the other was fed a high-fat diet and mated with a male of the same breed. The offspring of both groups of dams were divided into four subgroups with different feeding protocols. At 22 weeks of age, the offspring were sacrificed. Ovaries and subcutaneous and perigonadal adipose tissue were isolated. In the ovaries, the presence of cystic formations was investigated. Histomorphometric analysis was performed in two types of adipose tissue. Results: The weight of the ovaries of the offspring of mothers fed a high-fat diet was significantly higher than that of the offspring of mothers fed standard laboratory diets. Cystic formations were found in the ovaries of the offspring of mothers fed a high-fat diet. In subcutaneous adipose tissue, the percentage of small-sized adipocytes was significantly higher in the offspring of mothers fed standard laboratory diets. There were no significant differences in adipocyte surface area and adipocyte number between groups. Conclusion: Maternal diet influences the morphology of the ovaries and adipose tissue of the offspring.

Investigation of the Effect of Curcumin on Protein Targets in NAFLD Using Bioinformatic Analysis

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent metabolic disorder. Defects in function/expression of genes/proteins are critical in initiation/progression of NAFLD. Natural products may modulate these genes/proteins. Curcumin improves steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis progression. Here, bioinformatic tools, gene−drug and gene-disease databases were utilized to explore targets, interactions, and pathways through which curcumin could impact NAFLD. METHODS: Significant curcumin−protein interaction was identified (high-confidence:0.7) in the STITCH database. Identified proteins were investigated to determine association with NAFLD. gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were analyzed for significantly involved targets (p < 0.01). Specificity of obtained targets with NAFLD was estimated and investigated in Tissue/Cells−gene associations (PanglaoDB Augmented 2021, Mouse Gene Atlas) and Disease−gene association-based EnrichR algorithms (Jensen DISEASES, DisGeNET). RESULTS: Two collections were constructed: 227 protein−curcumin interactions and 95 NAFLD-associated genes. By Venn diagram, 14 significant targets were identified, and their biological pathways evaluated. Based on gene ontology, most targets involved stress and lipid metabolism. KEGG revealed chemical carcinogenesis, the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications and NAFLD as the most common significant pathways. Specificity to diseases database (EnrichR algorithm) revealed specificity for steatosis/steatohepatitis. CONCLUSION: Curcumin may improve, or inhibit, progression of NAFLD through activation/inhibition of NAFLD-related genes.

Prefrontal Cortex and Hippocampus Inflammation in Mice Fed High-Carbohydrate or High-Fat Diets

We previously reported that a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) induced systemic inflammation and higher gene expression of proinflammatory mediators in the liver, skeletal muscle, and brain than a high-fat diet (HFD). However, the differences between the groups were less pronounced in the brain. In this study, we extended the evaluation of inflammation to specific areas of the brain. In this study, we evaluated the gene expression of caspase 2, caspase 3, caspase 9, cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox 2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL), IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-4, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), integrin subunit alpha m (Itgam), S100 protein (S100), allograft inflammatory factor 1 (Aif1), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (Gfap) in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of male Swiss mice that were fed with HCD or HFD for 8 weeks. The HCD group exhibited higher IL-1β expression, whereas the HFD group showed higher TNF-α expression in the prefrontal cortex. In the hippocampus, TNF-α expression was higher in the HFD group. IL-1β and TNF-α are proinflammatory cytokines that have been associated with impaired brain function and numerous brain disorders. Our results indicate that both HCD and HFD promote prefrontal cortex inflammation; however, the hippocampus seems more sensitive to a HFD than HCD.