Revisiting the Immunometabolic Basis for the Metabolic Syndrome from an Immunonutritional View.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) implies different conditions where insulin resistance constitutes a major hallmark of the disease. The disease incurs a high risk for the development of cardiovascular complications, and takes its toll in regard to the gut-liver axis (pancreas, primary liver and colorectal)-associated immunity. The modulation of immunometabolic responses by immunonutritional factors (IFs) has emerged as a key determinant of the gut-liver axis' metabolic and immune health.

Polyphenolic Characterization and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of In Vitro Digested Extracts of L. Plant Parts in an Inflammatory Model of Human Colon Cells.

L. (EP) preparations are globally popular herbal supplements known for their medicinal benefits, including anti-inflammatory activities, partly related to their phenolic composition. However, regarding their use for the management of inflammation-related intestinal diseases, the knowledge about the fate of orally ingested constituents throughout the human gastrointestinal tract and the exposition of in vitro digested extracts in relevant inflammatory models are unknown.

(,)-Equol 7-β-D-glucuronide, but not other circulating isoflavone metabolites, modulates migration and tubulogenesis in human aortic endothelial cells targeting the VEGF pathway.

Current knowledge indicates that the consumption of isoflavone-rich foodstuffs can have a beneficial impact on cardiovascular health. To what extent these isoflavones act as the main actors of that benefit is less clear. Genistein (GEN), daidzein (DAZ), and the DAZ-derived microbial metabolite equol (Eq) exhibit antiangiogenic effects , but their low bloodstream concentrations make it difficult to rationalize the effects.

Dietary Bioactive Compounds and Breast Cancer.

Cancer is among the most serious health problems and the second leading cause of death globally, affecting millions of people worldwide [...

Modifiable Innate Biology within the Gut-Brain Axis for Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prototypical inflammation-associated loss of cognitive function, with approximately 90% of the AD burden associated with invading myeloid cells controlling the function of the resident microglia. This indicates that the immune microenvironment has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Multiple peripheral stimuli, conditioned by complex and varied interactions between signals that stem at the intestinal level and neuroimmune processes, are involved in the progression and severity of AD.

Ellagitannins, urolithins, and neuroprotection: Human evidence and the possible link to the gut microbiota.

Ellagitannins (ETs) and ellagic acid (EA) are dietary polyphenols poorly absorbed but extensively metabolized by the human gut microbiota to produce different urolithins (Uros). Depending on the individuals' microbial signatures, ETs metabolism can yield the Uro metabotypes A, B, or 0, potentially impacting human health after consuming ETs. Human evidence points to improved brain health after consuming ET-rich foods, mainly pomegranate juices and extracts containing punicalagin, punicalin, and different EA-derivatives.

Physiologically relevant curcuminoids inhibit angiogenesis via VEGFR2 in human aortic endothelial cells.

Angiogenesis is a complex process encompassing endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation. While numerous studies describe that curcumin exerts antitumor properties (e.g.

Urolithins: a Comprehensive Update on their Metabolism, Bioactivity, and Associated Gut Microbiota.

Urolithins, metabolites produced by the gut microbiota from the polyphenols ellagitannins and ellagic acid, are discovered by the research group in humans almost 20 years ago. Pioneering research suggests urolithins as pleiotropic bioactive contributors to explain the health benefits after consuming ellagitannin-rich sources (pomegranates, walnuts, strawberries, etc.).

Intestinal Intervention Strategy Targeting Myeloid Cells to Improve Hepatic Immunity during Hepatocarcinoma Development.

Innate immunity in the tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in hepatocarcinoma (HCC) progression. Plant seeds provide serine-type protease inhibitors (SETIs), which can have a significant influence on liver inflammation and macrophage function. To elucidate the influence of SETIs to counter pro-tumorigenic conditions, at the early stages of HCC development, it was used as an established model of diethylnitrosamine/thioacetamide-injured liver fed with a standard diet (STD) or high-fat diet (42%) (HFD).

Targeting Mammalian 5-Lipoxygenase by Dietary Phenolics as an Anti-Inflammatory Mechanism: A Systematic Review.

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) plays a key role in inflammation through the biosynthesis of leukotrienes and other lipid mediators. Current evidence suggests that dietary (poly)phenols exert a beneficial impact on human health through anti-inflammatory activities. Their mechanisms of action have mostly been associated with the modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β), prostaglandins (PGE), and the interaction with NF-κB and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) pathways.

Disposition of Dietary Polyphenols in Breast Cancer Patients' Tumors, and Their Associated Anticancer Activity: The Particular Case of Curcumin.

Scope: Some polyphenol-derived metabolites reach human breast cancer (BC) tissues at concentrations that induce cell senescence. However, this is unknown for isoflavones, curcuminoids, and lignans. Here, their metabolic profiling in normal (NT) and malignant (MT) mammary tissues of newly-diagnosed BC patients and the tissue-occurring metabolites' anticancer activity are evaluated.

New Insights into the Metabolism of the Flavanones Eriocitrin and Hesperidin: A Comparative Human Pharmacokinetic Study.

The intake of hesperidin-rich sources, mostly found in orange juice, can decrease cardiometabolic risk, potentially linked to the gut microbial phase-II hesperetin derivatives. However, the low hesperidin solubility hampers its bioavailability and microbial metabolism, yielding a high inter-individual variability (high vs. low-producers) that prevents consistent health-related evidence.

Caffeic Acid Modulates Processes Associated with Intestinal Inflammation.

Caffeic acid is one of the most abundant hydroxycinnamic acids in fruits, vegetables, and beverages. This phenolic compound reaches relevant concentrations in the colon (up to 126 µM) where it could come into contact with the intestinal cells and exert its anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this investigation was to study the capacity of caffeic acid, at plausible concentrations from an in vivo point of view, to modulate mechanisms related to intestinal inflammation.

Dietary Phenolics against Breast Cancer. A Critical Evidence-Based Review and Future Perspectives.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related death in adult women worldwide. Over 85% of BC cases are non-hereditary, caused by modifiable extrinsic factors related to lifestyle, including dietary habits, which play a crucial role in cancer prevention. Although many epidemiological and observational studies have inversely correlated the fruit and vegetable consumption with the BC incidence, the involvement of their phenolic content in this correlation remains contradictory.

Inhibition of 5-Lipoxygenase-Derived Leukotrienes and Hemiketals as a Novel Anti-Inflammatory Mechanism of Urolithins.

Scope: Urolithins (Uro), gut microbial metabolites derived from ellagic acid (EA), reach significant concentrations in the human colon. Uro-A exerts anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). It is hypothesized that Uro can modulate the biosynthesis of leukocyte-derived inflammatory eicosanoids from the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and 5-LOX/COX-2 pathways, relevant in the onset and progression of IBDs, including 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (5-HETEs), leukotriene-B (LTB ), prostaglandin E (PGE ), and hemiketals (HKE and HKD ).

The gut microbiota metabolite urolithin A, but not other relevant urolithins, induces p53-dependent cellular senescence in human colon cancer cells.

The promotion of senescence in cancer cells by dietary (poly)phenols gained attention as a promising chemopreventive strategy against colorectal (CRC) and other cancers. Urolithins (Uros) are ellagitannins and ellagic acid-derived gut microbiota metabolites that reach high concentrations in the human colon. They were postulated to be as potential anticancer agents in different CRC models, but their role as promoters of cellular senescence has never been comprehensively evaluated.

Conjugated Physiological Resveratrol Metabolites Induce Senescence in Breast Cancer Cells: Role of p53/p21 and p16/Rb Pathways, and ABC Transporters.

Scope: Recent evidence demonstrates that resveratrol (RSV) metabolites, but not free RSV, reach malignant tumors (MT) in breast cancer (BC) patients. Since these metabolites, as detected in MT, do not exert short-term antiproliferative or estrogenic/antiestrogenic activities, long-term tumor-senescent chemoprevention has been hypothesized. Consequently, here, for the first time, whether physiologically relevant RSV metabolites can induce senescence in BC cells is investigated.

Role of Apple Phytochemicals, Phloretin and Phloridzin, in Modulating Processes Related to Intestinal Inflammation.

Plant-derived food consumption has gained attention as potential intervention for the improvement of intestinal inflammatory diseases. Apple consumption has been shown to be effective at ameliorating intestinal inflammation symptoms. These beneficial effects have been related to (poly)phenols, including phloretin (Phlor) and its glycoside named phloridzin (Phldz).

Total Synthesis and Biological Activity of the Arachidonic Acid Metabolite Hemiketal E.

The total synthesis of hemiketal E (HKE) has been accomplished using a gold(I)-mediated cycloisomerization followed by oxidation of the enol ether product to introduce a unique keto-hemiketal, the core structure of HKE. Synthetic hemiketal E reproduced biosynthetically derived HKE in the inhibition of human platelet aggregation.

Pharmacological Efficacy/Toxicity of Drugs: A Comprehensive Update About the Dynamic Interplay of Microbes.

Oral ingestion is a common, easy to access, route for therapeutic drugs to be delivered. The conception of the gastrointestinal tract as a passive physiological compartment has evolved toward a dynamic perspective of the same. Thus, microbiota plays an important role in contributing with additional metabolic capacities to its host as well as to its phenotypic heterogeneity.

Buckwheat bioactive compounds, their derived phenolic metabolites and their health benefits.

Scope: Buckwheat (BW) consumption has been associated with a broad range of health benefits: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. These beneficial effects have been partially related to the presence of flavonoids. However, some of these compounds (i.

Hesperetin and its sulfate and glucuronide metabolites inhibit TNF-α induced human aortic endothelial cell migration and decrease plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels.

Epidemiological, clinical and preclinical studies have reported the protection offered by citrus consumption, mainly orange, against cardiovascular diseases, which is primarily mediated by the antiatherogenic and vasculoprotective effects of the flavanone hesperetin-7-O-rutinoside (hesperidin). However, flavanone aglycones or glycosides are not present in the bloodstream but their derived phase-II metabolites could be the actual bioactive molecules. To date, only a few studies have explored the effects of circulating hesperetin-derived metabolites (glucuronides and sulfates) on endothelial cells.

Buckwheat as a Functional Food and Its Effects on Health.

Buckwheat (BW) is a gluten-free pseudocereal that belongs to the Polygonaceae family. BW grain is a highly nutritional food component that has been shown to provide a wide range of beneficial effects. Health benefits attributed to BW include plasma cholesterol level reduction, neuroprotection, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic effects, and improvement of hypertension conditions.

In vitro evaluation of the cytotoxicity and modulation of mechanisms associated with inflammation induced by perfluorooctanesulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid in human colon myofibroblasts CCD-18Co.

Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are the most notable members of an emerging class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), poly- and perfluoroalkyl acids (PFASs). In this study, the CCD-18Co myofibroblasts were selected as a cell model to investigate the cytotoxic effects of PFOS and PFOA. The aim was to perform an in vitro evaluation of the ability of these compounds to induce cytotoxicity and modulate mechanisms associated with inflammation as measured by (i) colon fibroblasts viability, (ii) colon fibroblasts proliferation, and (iii) IL-6 production.

Phase-II metabolism limits the antiproliferative activity of urolithins in human colon cancer cells.

Purpose: Urolithins, gut microbiota metabolites derived from ellagic acid and ellagitannins, reach micromolar concentrations in the colon lumen where can have anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. The antiproliferative activity of urolithins (Uro-A, Uro-B, Uro-C and Uro-D) and their most relevant in vivo glucuronides were evaluated in three human colon cancer cell lines (Caco-2, SW480 and HT-29).

Methods: Cell proliferation was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide and Trypan blue exclusion assays.