Effect of Diet and Exercise on the Peripheral Immune System in Young Balb/c Mice

Enriched environment during adolescence modulates lipid metabolism and emotion-related behaviors in mice

Enriched environment (EE) is an important animal experimental paradigm to decipher gene-environment interaction. It is thought to be efficient in aiding recovery from certain metabolism disorders or cognitive impairments. Recently, the effects of EE during adolescence in mice gradually draw much attention. We first established an EE model in adolescent mice, dissected lipid metabolism, and further examined baseline level of anxiety and depression by multiple behavioral tests, including open field test (OFT), elevated zero maze (EZM), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swimming test (FST). EE mice exhibited lower weights, lower cholesterol than standard housing (SH) mice. Behaviorally, EE mice traveled more distance and had higher velocity than SH mice in OFT and EZM. Besides, EE mice showed reduced anxiety levels in OFT and EZM. Furthermore, EE mice also had less immobility time than SH mice in TST and FST. Thus, these results suggest that EE during adolescence has metabolic and behavioral benefits in mice.

E-cadherin deficiency promotes prostate macrophage inflammation and bladder overactivity in aged male mice

Decreased E-cadherin immunostaining is frequently observed in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and was recently correlated with increased inflammation in aging prostate. Homozygous E-cadherin deletion in the murine prostate results in prostate inflammation and bladder overactivity at 6 months of age. However, this model is limited in that while E-cadherin is significantly reduced in BPH, it is not completely lost; BPH is also strongly associated with advanced age and is infrequent in young men. Here, we examined the functional consequences of aging in male mice with prostate luminal epithelial cell-specific E-cadherin heterozygosity. In control mice, aging alone resulted in an increase in prostate inflammation and changes in bladder voiding function indicative of bladder underactivity. At 24 months of age, mice with prostate-specific Cre-mediated heterozygous deletion of E-cadherin induced at 7 weeks of age developed additional prostatic defects, particularly increased macrophage inflammation and stromal proliferation, and bladder overactivity compared to age-matched control mice, which are similar to BPH/LUTS in that the phenotype is slow-progressing and age-dependent. These findings suggest that decreased E-cadherin may promote macrophage inflammation and fibrosis in the prostate and subsequent bladder overactivity in aging men, promoting the development and progression of BPH/LUTS.

Pandemics of the 21st Century: The Risk Factor for Obese People

The number of obese adults and children is increasing worldwide, with obesity now being a global epidemic. Around 2.8 million people die annually from clinical overweight or obesity. Obesity is associated with numerous comorbid conditions including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer, and even the development of severe disease after infection with viruses. Over the past twenty years, a number of new viruses has emerged and entered the human population. Moreover, influenza (H1N1)pdm09 virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have caused pandemics. During pandemics, the number of obese patients presents challenging and complex issues in medical and surgical intensive care units. Morbidity amongst obese individuals is directly proportional to body mass index. In this review, we describe the impact of obesity on the immune system, adult mortality, and immune response after infection with pandemic influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2. Finally, we address the effect of obesity on vaccination.

Resveratrol does not affect leptin while it has regulatory effects on liver glycogen levels in exercised and non-exercised rats

Abstract. Resveratrol (RES) is a well-known phytocompound and food component which has antioxidative and multifunctional bioactivities. The present study aims to examine how resveratrol administration affects plasma leptin and liver glycogen levels in rats subjected to an acute swimming exercise bout. The study was carried out on Wistar-Albino type adult male rats, each group include 7 rats. Group 1, Control Group. Group 2, Control Swimming Group: The group fed on a standard diet and subjected to an acute swimming exercise bout for 30 minutes at the end of the study. Group 3, Resveratrol Group: The group fed on a standard diet and given (10 mg/kg) resveratrol in drinking water for four weeks. Group 4, Resveratrol + Swimming Group: The group fed on a standard diet, given (10 mg/kg) resveratrol in drinking water for four weeks and subjected to a 30-minute acute swimming exercise at the end of the study. Plasma leptin levels using ELISA method (ng/l) and liver glycogen levels were determined by using histochemical method (number/0.1 mm2). Four weeks resveratrol administration to exercised and not-exercised rats did not cause a change in plasma leptin levels. Liver glycogen levels were 17.00 ± 3.16; 14.12 ± 2.98; 20.82 ± 1.97; 16.38 ± 1.27 (mean ± sd); respectively in groups 1, 2, 3, 4. Resveratrol administration to rats subjected to a bout of acute swimming exercise produced an effect that prevented the decrease in liver glycogen (p < 0.05). The study highlights that resveratrol supplementation may have regulatory effects on liver glycogen levels in exercised and non-exercised rats.

Energy balance and gastrointestinal cancer: risk, interventions, outcomes and mechanisms

Obesity increases the risk of multiple gastrointestinal cancers and worsens disease outcomes. Conversely, strong inverse associations have emerged between physical activity and colon cancer and possibly other gastrointestinal malignancies. The effect of weight loss interventions - such as modifications of diet and/or physical activity or bariatric surgery - remains unclear in patients who are obese and have gastrointestinal cancer, although large clinical trials are underway. Human intervention studies have already shed light on potential mechanisms underlying the energy balance-cancer relationship, with preclinical models supporting emerging pathway effects. Central to interventions that reduce obesity or increase physical activity are pluripotent cancer-preventive effects (including reduced systemic and adipose tissue inflammation and angiogenesis, altered adipokine levels and improved insulin resistance) that directly interface with the hallmarks of cancer. Other mechanisms, such as DNA repair, oxidative stress and telomere length, immune function, effects on cancer stem cells and the microbiome, could also contribute to energy balance effects on gastrointestinal cancers. Although some mechanisms are well understood (for instance, systemic effects on inflammation and insulin signalling), other areas remain unclear. The current state of knowledge supports the need to better integrate mechanistic approaches with preclinical and human studies to develop effective, personalized diet and exercise interventions to reduce the burden of obesity on gastrointestinal cancer.

Obesity, Fat Mass and Immune System: Role for Leptin

Obesity is an epidemic disease characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation associated with a dysfunctional fat mass. Adipose tissue is now considered an extremely active endocrine organ that secretes cytokine-like hormones, called adipokines, either pro- or anti-inflammatory factors bridging metabolism to the immune system. Leptin is historically one of most relevant adipokines, with important physiological roles in the central control of energy metabolism and in the regulation of metabolism-immune system interplay, being a cornerstone of the emerging field of immunometabolism. Indeed, leptin receptor is expressed throughout the immune system and leptin has been shown to regulate both innate and adaptive immune responses. This review discusses the latest data regarding the role of leptin as a mediator of immune system and metabolism, with particular emphasis on its effects on obesity-associated metabolic disorders and autoimmune and/or inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Intestinal adaptations to a combination of different diets with and without endurance exercise

Background

Endurance athletes search for diet regimens that will improve performance and decrease gastrointestinal disturbances during training and events. Although the intestine can adapt to changes in the amount and composition of dietary inputs, the responses to the combination of endurance exercise and diet are poorly understood.

Methods

We evaluated small intestinal dimensions and mucosal architecture and calculated the capacities of the entire small intestine to digest maltose and maltodextrin and absorb glucose in response to two different diet types; a western human diet and the Daniel Fast, a vegan style diet, and with moderate intensity endurance training or a no-exercise sedentary lifestyle for a 13 week period (n = 7 per group). The influences of diet and exercise, alone and in combination, were analyzed by analysis of variation.

Results

Rats fed the western diet gained more weight (P < 0.05) due to more fat mass (P < 0.05), with a similar response for the sedentary compared with the exercised rats in each diet group (P < 0.05). The Daniel Fast rats had longer and heavier intestines with deeper crypts with villi that were wider (P < 0.05), but not taller. Despite increased energetic demands, the exercised rats had shorter and lighter intestines with shorter villi (P < 0.05). Yet, the percentage of mucosa did not differ among groups. Total small intestinal activities for maltase and α-glucoamylase, and capacities for glucose absorption were similar regardless of diet or exercise.

Conclusions

These findings indicate the structural responses of the small intestine to a vegan style diet are modified by exercise, but without altering the capacities of the brush border membrane to digest and absorb carbohydrates.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12970-016-0147-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.