Omega-3 decreases IL-6 levels in HIV and human herpesvirus-8 coinfected patients in Uganda

Omega-3-Rich Tuna Oil Derived from By-Products of the Canned Tuna Industry Enhances Memory in an Ovariectomized Rat Model of Menopause

To increase the value of the by-products of the canned tuna industry, the memory enhancement effect and the possible mechanisms of omega-3-rich tuna oil in bilateral ovariectomized (OVX) rats were assessed. Female rats were orally given tuna oil at doses of 140, 200, and 250 mg/kg of body weight (BW) for 28 days before OVX and for 21 days continually after OVX. Memory performance was assessed every week, whereas the parameters regarding mechanisms of action were assessed at the end of the study. All doses of tuna oil enhanced memory, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities but decreased cortisol, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), malondialdehyde (MDA), and inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Medium and high doses of tuna oil suppressed monoamine oxidase (MAO) but increased eNOS activity. A high dose of tuna oil suppressed gamma-aminotransferase (GABA-T) but increased glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and sirtuin-1. A medium dose of tuna oil decreased homocysteine (Hcys) and C-reactive protein. No change in telomere or estradiol was observed in this study. Our results suggest the memory-enhancing effect of tuna oil in an OVX rat model of menopause. The main mechanisms may involve a reduction in oxidative stress, inflammation, and neurotransmitter regulation.

Effects of fish oil-containing nutrition supplementation in adult sepsis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Although fish oil has been used as an immunonutritional preparations for the treatment of sepsis patients, there is still controversy as to whether it is beneficial to them. We systematically reviewed published clinical trial data to evaluate the effectiveness of fish oil-containing nutrition supplementation in sepsis patients.

METHODS

A systematic search was undertaken in PubMed, Embase, Chinese Biomedicine Database, the Cochrane Library and the China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database to obtain clinical controlled trails. RCTs on nutrition therapy containing fish oil among adult sepsis patients were selected for analysis in comparison with routine therapy.

RESULTS

Twenty-five published trials were included in the meta-analysis. Fish oil-containing nutrition supplementation reduced the mortality compared with the control group (relative risk (RR) 0.74, I ² = 0%). Fish oil also shortened the ICU stay (MD -3.57 days; 95% CI -4.54, -2.59; p<0.00001; I ² = 76%), hospital stay (MD -9.92 days; 95% CI -15.37, -4.46; p = 0.0004; I ² = 91%) and the duration of mechanical ventilation support (MD -2.26; 95% CI -4.27, -0.26; p = 0.03; I ² = 83%). A subgroup analysis based on the route of administration revealed that parenteral administration of fish oil could reduce mortality in septic patients (RR =0.68, I ² = 0%), but no significant difference in mortality was observed in the fish oil group administered by enteral route (RR = 0.80, I ² = 0%). No statistically significant publication biases were detected for the above clinical endpoints (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Parenteral nutrition containing fish oil could significantly decrease mortality in sepsis patients while enteral administration could not. Fish oil-containing nutrition supplementation.

Distinct immune profiles of HIV-infected subjects are linked to specific lipid mediator signature

INTRODUCTION

To date, with no prophylactic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine available, HIV incidence rates remain undefeated. Despite full virological suppression, HIV+ individuals exhibit a higher rate of cardiovascular disorders and cancers what is attributed to the residual, persistent levels of immune activation.

METHODS

We have established the Virological and Immunological Monitoring (VIM) platform and forty VIM samples that included treated immunological responders (IRs) or nonresponders (INRs), viremic untreated subjects and uninfected controls, were phenotyped by flow cytometry and plasma was used to quantify proinflammatory eicosanoids and the specialized proresolving mediators by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

While HIV infection profoundly altered lipid mediator (LM) profile, differences were also seen in patients on viral suppressive therapy. IRs exhibited higher levels of proresolving mediators as compared to INRs and notable differences in plasma LM were also seen in early and late treated individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated distortions in proinflammatory/proresolution processes in infected patients including those with controlled viremia.

Dietary Fish Oil Increases the Number of CD11b+CD27− NK Cells at the Inflammatory Site and Enhances Key Hallmarks of Resolution of Murine Antigen-Induced Peritonitis

Purpose

To determine the effects of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on recruitment of natural killer (NK) cells and resolution responses in antigen-induced peritonitis in mice.

Methods

Mice were fed fish oil-enriched or control diets, immunized twice and challenged intraperitoneally with methylated bovine serum albumin. Prior to and at different time-points following inflammation induction, expression of surface molecules on peritoneal cells was determined by flow cytometry, concentration of soluble mediators in peritoneal fluid by ELISA or Luminex, and of lipid mediators by LC-MS/MS, and number of apoptotic cells in mesenteric lymph nodes by TUNEL staining.

Results

Mice fed the fish oil diet had higher number of CD11b⁺CD27⁻ NK cells as well as a higher proportion of CD107a⁺ NK cells in their peritoneum 6 h after inflammation induction than mice fed the control diet. They also had higher numbers of CCR5⁺ NK cells and higher concentrations of CCL5 and CXCL12. Additionally, a higher fraction of apoptotic neutrophils but lower fraction of CD47⁺ neutrophils were present in the peritoneum of mice fed the fish oil diet 6 h after inflammation induction and the fish oil fed mice had a shorter resolution interval. They also had lower concentrations of pro-inflammatory mediators but higher concentrations of the anti-inflammatory/pro-resolution mediators TGF-β, IGF-1, and soluble TNF RII, as well as higher ratios of hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (HEPE) to hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) than mice fed the control diet.

Conclusion

The results demonstrate that dietary fish oil increases the number of mature NK cells at the inflamed site in antigen-induced peritonitis and enhances several key hallmarks of resolution of inflammation, casting light on the potential mechanisms involved.

Effect of Varying Levels of Hempseed Meal Supplementation on Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immune Responses of Goats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of varying levels of hempseed meal supplementation on antibody and cell-mediated immune responses, as well as the expression of some of the important immunoregulatory cytokines. Treatments consisted of hempseed meal supplementation at 0 (control), 10, 20, and 30% of the total diet. Goats were randomly assigned to one of the four treatments n = 10. Cell-mediated immune response was evaluated on day 59 of the feeding period by measuring skinfold thickness at 24 h following intradermal injection of phytohemagglutinin. A significant increase in skinfold thickness was observed with increasing levels of supplementation as compared to that of the control group. Serum antibody titers to chicken ovalbumin were not significantly different between treatment groups. Cytokine concentrations of IL-6 increased linearly with increasing level of supplementation (p < 0.05), contrarily to the linear decrease that was observed for TNF-α (p < 0.05). Although IL-2 tended to increase with the 10 and 30% levels of supplementation (p < 0.07), the result was not significant, and no significant differences were obtained with respect to IL-4 concentrations. Cytokine gene expression values measured by RT-PCR, however, demonstrated some significant differences. HSM supplementation had no significant effect on the expression of IL-2 or IL-6. However, significant differences were observed with the 30% supplementation for IL-4 and TNF-α as compared to that of the control group (p < 0.05). IL-4 was down regulated for the 10 and 20% treatment groups but was upregulated for the 30% treatment group. TNF-α was downregulated in the 10% but upregulated for the 20 and 30% treatment groups. No significant differences were observed for the serum cortisol concentration or white blood cell counts. These results suggested that hempseed meal supplementation may improve cell-mediated immune response while having no effect on antibody-mediated immune response. However, more research needs to be conducted to determine the most efficacious inclusion rate.

Inflammatory Phenotypes Predict Changes in Arterial Stiffness Following Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation

BACKGROUND

Inflammation drives vascular dysfunction in HIV, but in low-income settings causes of inflammation are multiple, and include infectious and environmental factors. We hypothesized that patients with advanced immunosuppression could be stratified into inflammatory phenotypes that predicted changes in vascular dysfunction on ART.

METHODS

We recruited Malawian adults with CD4 <100 cells/μL 2 weeks after starting ART in the REALITY trial (NCT01825031). Carotid femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV) measured arterial stiffness 2, 12, 24, and 42 weeks post-ART initiation. Plasma inflammation markers were measured by electrochemiluminescence at weeks 2 and 42. Hierarchical clustering on principal components identified inflammatory clusters.

RESULTS

211 participants with HIV grouped into 3 inflammatory clusters representing 51 (24%; cluster-1), 153 (73%; cluster-2), and 7 (3%; cluster-3) individuals. Cluster-1 showed markedly higher CD4 and CD8 T-cell expression of HLADR and PD-1 versus cluster-2 and cluster-3 (all P < .0001). Although small, cluster-3 had significantly higher levels of cytokines reflecting inflammation (IL-6, IFN-γ, IP-10, IL-1RA, IL-10), chemotaxis (IL-8), systemic and vascular inflammation (CRP, ICAM-1, VCAM-1), and SAA (all P < .001). In mixed-effects models, cfPWV changes over time were similar for cluster-2 versus cluster-1 (relative fold-change, 0.99; 95% CI, .86-1.14; P = .91), but greater in cluster-3 versus cluster-1 (relative fold-change, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.01-2.09; P = .045).

CONCLUSIONS

Two inflammatory clusters were identified: one defined by high T-cell PD-1 expression and another by a hyperinflamed profile and increases in cfPWV on ART. Further clinical characterization of inflammatory phenotypes could help target vascular dysfunction interventions to those at highest risk.

CLINICAL TRIALS NETWORK

NCT01825031.

The effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on clinical and biochemical parameters of critically ill patients with COVID-19: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3-PUFAs) may exert beneficial effects on the immune system of patients with viral infections. This paper aimed to examine the effect of n3-PUFA supplementation on inflammatory and biochemical markers in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

METHODS

A double-blind, randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 128 critically ill patients infected with COVID-19 who were randomly assigned to the intervention (fortified formula with n3-PUFA) (n = 42) and control (n = 86) groups. Data on 1 month survival rate, blood glucose, sodium (Na), potassium (K), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), albumin, hematocrit (HCT), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), mean arterial pressure (MAP), O₂ saturation (O₂sat), arterial pH, partial pressure of oxygen (PO₂), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO₂), bicarbonate (HCO₃), base excess (Be), white blood cells (WBCs), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), hemoglobin (Hb), platelet (Plt), and the partial thromboplastin time (PTT) were collected at baseline and after 14 days of the intervention.

RESULTS

The intervention group had significantly higher 1-month survival rate and higher levels of arterial pH, HCO₃, and Be and lower levels of BUN, Cr, and K compared with the control group after intervention (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between blood glucose, Na, HCT, Ca, P, MAP, O2sat, PO₂, PCO₂, WBCs, GCS, Hb, Plt, PTT, and albumin between two groups.

CONCLUSION

Omega-3 supplementation improved the levels of several parameters of respiratory and renal function in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Further clinical studies are warranted. Trial registry Name of the registry: This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT); Trial registration number: IRCT20151226025699N3; Date of registration: 2020.5.20; URL of trial registry record: https://en.irct.ir/trial/48213.

Decreased Docosahexaenoic Acid Levels in Serum of HIV Carrier Patients

The study aimed to measure serum fatty acids (FAs) composition in HIV carrier patients and compare it with non-HIV carrier patients. The FAs composition was measured by gas chromatography as follows: four saturated FAs myristic acid (14:0), palmitic acid (16:0), stearic acid (18:0), and docosanoic acid (22:0); four monounsaturated FAs 7-hexadecenoic acid (16:1 n-9), palmitoleic acid (16:1 n-7), oleic acid (18:1 n-9), and vaccenic acid (18:1 n-7); and three polyunsaturated FAs linoleic acid (18:2 n-6), dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (20:3 n-6), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3). We reported herein lower (P < .05) DHA concentration (by 40%) in the serum of HIV carrier patients than in non-HIV carrier patients. This FA has a pivotal role as a precursor of anti-inflammatory molecules with beneficial effects on metabolism, cardiovascular system, and immunological system. Even though most clinical studies reported beneficial effects of DHA supplementation in HIV carrier patients, this issue remains under debate. Further investigations then require to fully clarify the role of DHA in preventing or alleviating the comorbidities associated with HIV infection.

Anti-HIV, antitumor and immunomodulatory activities of paclitaxel from fermentation broth using molecular imprinting technique

In this study, a single component paclitaxel was obtained from fermentation broth by molecular imprinting technique, and its antiviral, antitumor and immunomodulatory activities were studied. The results showed that paclitaxel had a good inhibitory activity on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and showed a concentration- dependent relationship with an IC50 of about 15 μg/mL in the sulforhodamine B assay. At the same time, paclitaxel exerted a weak inhibitory activity on cervical cancer Hela cells. In addition, paclitaxel not only inhibited the invasion of HIV-1 pseudovirus into cells, but also exhibited inhibitory activity to a certain extent after viral invasion of the cells. At a paclitaxel concentration of 20 μg/mL, the inhibition of HIV-1 pseudovirus reached about 66%. The inhibition of HIV-1 protease activity was concentration-dependent. At a concentration of 20 μg/mL, the inhibitory effect of paclitaxel on HIV-1 protease was similar to that of the positive control pepstatin A, being 15.8%. The HIV-1 integrase inhibiting activity of paclitaxel was relatively weak. Paclitaxel significantly up-regulated the expression of interleukin-6.