Protective Effects of Spirulina Against Lipid Micelles and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Intestinal Epithelium Disruption in Caco-2 Cells: In Silico Molecular Docking Analysis of Phycocyanobilin.

Unlabelled: Damage to intestinal epithelial cells is present in obesity and other diseases because of inflammatory and oxidative processes. This damage compromises the gastrointestinal barrier, killing enterocytes, altering intestinal permeability, and eliciting abnormal immune responses that promote chronic inflammation. Recent evidence shows that spirulina is a potent natural agent with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Pharmaceutical targeting of the cannabinoid type 1 receptor impacts the crosstalk between immune cells and islets to reduce insulitis in humans.

Aims/hypothesis: Insulitis, a hallmark of inflammation preceding autoimmune type 1 diabetes, leads to the eventual loss of functional beta cells. However, functional beta cells can persist even in the face of continuous insulitis. Despite advances in immunosuppressive treatments, maintaining functional beta cells to prevent insulitis progression and hyperglycaemia remains a challenge.