N-Palmitoyl Serinol Stimulates Ceramide Production through a CB1-Dependent Mechanism in In Vitro Model of Skin Inflammation

Bioactive metabolites identification of the foxnut and broken millet-based nutritional bar using HR-MS

The by-products of the grain processing industry are a vital resource for the valorization methods in the food industry. In comparison to the whole grain, the broken kernels and seeds own similar nutrient and bioactive compounds having multifaceted health properties. This study aims to develop a nutritional bar by utilizing the by-products from barnyard millet and foxnut with added sweeteners. Furthermore, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) metabolomics was carried out in positive and negative both ion modes to identify the major bioactive compounds formed in the matrix of the best-optimized valorized bar. The formulation of the bar having 15 % foxnut flour and the barnyard flour each, was elucidated highest rheological and sensory scores. A sum of 29 bioactive metabolites has been observed in the obtained metabolome. Major metabolites were palmitoyl serinol, glycitein, persin, bufagargarizin, apigenin, carvone, etc. covering a wide area in the mass spectrum. The therapeutic value of these compounds is heart health promotion, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, etc. This work highlights the bioactivity of the valorized nutritional bar employing robust and accurate tool of mass spectrometry. The developed snack is a functional food for the consumers.

The Effects of Endogenous Cannabinoids on the Mammalian Respiratory System: A Scoping Review of Cyclooxygenase-Dependent Pathways

Introduction: The endogenous cannabinoid (endocannabinoid) system is an emerging target for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disease with the potential to advance treatment for many respiratory illnesses. The varied effects of endocannabinoids across tissue types makes it imperative that we explore their physiologic impact within unique tissue targets. The aim of this scoping review is to explore the impact of endocannabinoid activity on eicosanoid production as a measure of human airway inflammation. Methods: A scoping literature review was conducted according to PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Search strategies using MeSH terms related to cannabinoids, eicosanoids, cyclooxygenase (COX), and the respiratory system were used to query Medline, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Biosis Previews in December 2021. Only studies that investigated the relationship between endocannabinoids and the eicosanoid system in mammalian respiratory tissue after 1992 were included. Results: Sixteen studies were incorporated in the final qualitative review. Endocannabinoid activation increases COX-2 expression, potentially through ceramide-dependent or p38 and p42/44 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase pathways and is associated with a concentration-dependent increase in prostaglandin (PG)E2. Inhibitors of endocannabinoid hydrolysis found either an increase or no change in levels of PGE2 and PGD2 and decreased levels of leukotriene (LT)B4, PGI2, and thromboxane A2 (TXA2). Endocannabinoids increase bronchial epithelial cell permeability and have vasorelaxant effects in human pulmonary arteries and cause contraction of bronchi and decreased gas trapping in guinea pigs. Inhibitors of endocannabinoid hydrolysis were found to have anti-inflammatory effects on pulmonary tissue and are primarily mediated by COX-2 and activation of eicosanoid receptors. Direct agonism of endocannabinoid receptors appears to play a minor role. Conclusion: The endocannabinoid system has diverse effects on the mammalian airway. While endocannabinoid-derived PGs can have anti-inflammatory effects, endocannabinoids also produce proinflammatory conditions, such as increased epithelial permeability and bronchial contraction. These conflicting findings suggest that endocannabinoids produce a variety of effects depending on their local metabolism and receptor agonism. Elucidation of the complex interplay between the endocannabinoid and eicosanoid pathways is key to leveraging the endocannabinoid system as a potential therapeutic target for human airway disease.

Role of Omega-Hydroxy Ceramides in Epidermis: Biosynthesis, Barrier Integrity and Analyzing Method

Attached to the outer surface of the corneocyte lipid envelope (CLE), omega-hydroxy ceramides (ω-OH-Cer) link to involucrin and function as lipid components of the stratum corneum (SC). The integrity of the skin barrier is highly dependent on the lipid components of SC, especially on ω-OH-Cer. Synthetic ω-OH-Cer supplementation has been utilized in clinical practice for epidermal barrier injury and related surgeries. However, the mechanism discussion and analyzing methods are not keeping pace with its clinical application. Though mass spectrometry (MS) is the primary choice for biomolecular analysis, method modifications for ω-OH-Cer identification are lacking in progress. Therefore, finding conclusions on ω-OH-Cer biological function, as well as on its identification, means it is vital to remind further researchers of how the following work should be done. This review summarizes the important role of ω-OH-Cer in epidermal barrier functions and the forming mechanism of ω-OH-Cer. Recent identification methods for ω-OH-Cer are also discussed, which could provide new inspirations for study on both ω-OH-Cer and skin care development.

Cannabinoid Compounds as a Pharmacotherapeutic Option for the Treatment of Non-Cancer Skin Diseases

The endocannabinoid system has been shown to be involved in various skin functions, such as melanogenesis and the maintenance of redox balance in skin cells exposed to UV radiation, as well as barrier functions, sebaceous gland activity, wound healing and the skin's immune response. In addition to the potential use of cannabinoids in the treatment and prevention of skin cancer, cannabinoid compounds and derivatives are of interest as potential systemic and topical applications for the treatment of various inflammatory, fibrotic and pruritic skin conditions. In this context, cannabinoid compounds have been successfully tested as a therapeutic option for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, atopic and seborrhoeic dermatitis, dermatomyositis, asteatotic and atopic eczema, uraemic pruritis, scalp psoriasis, systemic sclerosis and venous leg ulcers. This review provides an insight into the current literature on cannabinoid compounds as potential medicines for the treatment of skin diseases.

The Neuroprotective Effect of NEUROMIDE, a Compound Bioidentical to Commensal Bacteria Metabolites

GPR119 is a novel cannabinoid receptor that is primarily expressed in the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract and has beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis exerted through the stimulation of GLP-1 secretion, as demonstrated in the rodent brain. GLP-1 also has important anti-inflammatory effects in chronic inflammatory diseases, including type 1 and 2 diabetes, asthma, psoriasis, and neurodegenerative disorders. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the effect of the gut microbiota on both the gut and the brain. However, few studies have examined how gut microbes affect brain health through the endocannabinoid system. NEUROMIDE is a compound that shares a bioidentical structure with certain commensal bacterial metabolites, acting as a CB1 and GPR119 agonist. In an in vitro system exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS), pretreatment with NEUROMIDE resulted in a significant increase in cell viability. The ROS-exposed system also showed decreased acetylcholine and an increase in inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, changes that were counteracted in a dose-dependent manner in the NEUROMIDE treatment groups. To measure the effectiveness of NEUROMIDE in an in vivo system, we used scopolamine-treated mice as a neurodegenerative disease model and performed a series of passive avoidance tests to observe and quantify the cognitive impairment of the mice. Mice in the NEUROMIDE treatment group had increased latency time, thus indicating an improvement in their cognitive function. Furthermore, the NEUROMIDE treatment groups showed dose-dependent increases in acetylcholine along with decreases in TNF-α and IL-1β. These experiments demonstrate that NEUROMIDE can potentially be used for neuroprotection and the improvement of cognitive ability.

Optimizing emollient therapy for skin barrier repair in atopic dermatitis

OBJECTIVE

We compared the principal characteristics of over-the-counter moisturizers with physiological lipid-based barrier repair therapy (BRT).

DATA SOURCES

An extended literature reported that moisturizers are considered standard ancillary therapy for anti-inflammatory skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis (AD). Additional studies have found that physiological lipid-based BRT can comprise effective, stand-alone therapy for pediatric AD.

RESULTS

Not all moisturizers are beneficial-some negatively impact skin function, and in doing so, they risk inducing or exacerbating inflammation in patients with AD. The frequent self-reported occurrences of sensitive skin in patients with AD could reflect the potential toxicity of such formulations. A still unanswered question is whether improper formulations could also prove to be counterproductive in other types of sensitive skin, such as rosacea. In contrast, we found how physiological lipid-based BRT (when comprised of the 3 key stratum corneum lipids in sufficient quantities and at an appropriate molar ratio) can correct the barrier abnormality, thereby reducing inflammation in AD and possibly in other inflammatory dermatoses, such as adult eczemas and possibly even psoriasis.

CONCLUSION

We provide guidelines for the appropriate dispensation of moisturizers and physiological lipid-based, BRT for the treatment of AD. Both over-the-counter (Atopalm) and prescription (EpiCeram) products are available in the United States with these characteristics.

Involvement of Ceramides in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Atherosclerosis (ATS) Development: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and atherosclerosis (ATS) are worldwide known diseases with increased incidence and prevalence. These two are driven and are interconnected by multiple oxidative and metabolic functions such as lipotoxicity. A gamut of evidence suggests that sphingolipids (SL), such as ceramides, account for much of the tissue damage. Although in humans they are proving to be accurate biomarkers of adverse cardiovascular disease outcomes and NAFLD progression, in rodents, pharmacological inhibition or depletion of enzymes driving de novo ceramide synthesis prevents the development of metabolic driven diseases such as diabetes, ATS, and hepatic steatosis. In this narrative review, we discuss the pathways which generate the ceramide synthesis, the potential use of circulating ceramides as novel biomarkers in the development and progression of ATS and related diseases, and their potential use as therapeutic targets in NAFDL-ATS development which can further provide new clues in this field.