Looking Inside of the Intestinal Permeability Regulation by Protein-Derivatives from Bovine Milk.

The prime function of the epithelium is to regulate the intestinal permeability; the latter is a quantitative parameter that refers to the measurement of the rate of passage of solutes through the epithelial monolayer. Function of epithelial monolayer depends on the expression of protein complexes known as tight junction proteins; whose function and expression can be disrupted under conditions of inflammation including irritable bowel disease (IBD), intestinal infections, and high-fat diets, among others. This manuscript is focused to outline the effects of bovine milk protein derivatives on the intestinal permeability addressed mostly in animal models in which the intestinal barrier is disrupted.

Lipocalin-2 as a fundamental protein in type 2 diabetes and periodontitis in mice.

Background: Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) is an osteokine that suppresses appetite, stimulates insulin secretion, regulates bone remodeling, and is induced by proinflammatory cytokines. The aim of this work was to investigate the participation of LCN-2 in periodontitis associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) by evaluating alveolar bone loss, glycemic control, inflammation, and femur fragility.

Methods: A murine model of periodontitis with T2D and elevated LCN-2 concentration was used.

Moderate Aerobic Exercise Induces Homeostatic IgA Generation in Senile Mice.

A T-cell-independent (TI) pathway activated by microbiota results in the generation of low-affinity homeostatic IgA with a critical role in intestinal homeostasis. Moderate aerobic exercise (MAE) provides a beneficial impact on intestinal immunity, but the action of MAE on TI-IgA generation under senescence conditions is unknown. This study aimed to determine the effects of long-term MAE on TI-IgA production in young (3 month old) BALB/c mice exercised until adulthood (6 months) or aging (24 months).

Exercise improves intestinal IgA production by T-dependent cell pathway in adults but not in aged mice.

Introduction: Hypermutated high-affinity immunoglobulin A (IgA), neutralizes toxins and drives the diversification of bacteria communities to maintain intestinal homeostasis although the mechanism underlies the impact of moderate aerobic exercise (MAE) on the IgA-generation via T-dependent (TD) is not fully know. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of long-time MAE on the production of IgA through the TD pathway in Peyer´s patches of the small intestine from aged mice.

Methods: MAE protocol consisted of twenty 3-month-old (young) BALB/c mice running in an endless band at 0° inclination and a speed of 10 m/h for 5 days a week and resting 2 days on the weekend until reaching 6-month-old (adulthood, n=10) or 24-month-old (aging, n=10).

Role of Stress on Driving the Intestinal Paracellular Permeability.

The gut epithelium is a polarized monolayer that exhibits apical and basolateral membrane surfaces. Monolayer cell components are joined side by side via protein complexes known as tight junction proteins (TJPs), expressed at the most apical extreme of the basolateral membrane. The gut epithelium is a physical barrier that determinates intestinal permeability, referred to as the measurement of the transit of molecules from the intestinal lumen to the bloodstream or, conversely, from the blood to the gut lumen.

[Peritoneal dialysis impact on quality of life in elderly].

Background: Nowadays elderly live longer but with more diseases and geriatric syndromes which can deteriorate their quality of life (QoL). Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a renal replacement therapy which seeks to prolong an improve QoL; however, this is uncertain in elderly. Therefore, comparing QoL before and after starting dialysis in this population may let us know if there is a benefit at this level.

Riluzole, a Derivative of Benzothiazole as a Potential Anti-Amoebic Agent against .

Amoebiasis is produced by the parasite ; this disease affects millions of people throughout the world who may suffer from amoebic colitis or amoebic liver abscess. Metronidazole is used to treat this protozoan, but it causes important adverse effects that limit its use. Studies have shown that riluzole has demonstrated activity against some parasites.

Lactoferrin as a Component of Pharmaceutical Preparations: An Experimental Focus.

Lactoferrin is an 80 kDa monomeric glycoprotein that exhibits multitask activities. Lactoferrin properties are of interest in the pharmaceutical field for the design of products with therapeutic potential, including nanoparticles and liposomes, among many others. In antimicrobial preparations, lactoferrin has been included either as a main bioactive component or as an enhancer of the activity and potency of first-line antibiotics.

Regionalized analysis of gut barrier components in the small intestine of BALB/c mice following chronic immobilization stress.

Background: Microbiota and tight junction proteins (TJPs) are components of the gut barrier, and are considered stress targets that have deleterious effects on intestinal homeostasis.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic immobilization stress on selected small intestine homeostasis parameters.

Material And Methods: Female BALB/c mice were divided into a stress group that underwent short-term immobilization for 2 h per day for 4 consecutive days, and a non-stressed control group (n = 6 per group).

Moderate aerobic exercise on bone quality changes associated with aging and oxidative stress in BALB/c mice.

Exercise encourages active and healthy aging, maintaining functional and physical capabilities. This study aimed to assess the effects of a long-term moderate aerobic exercise protocol on bone microarchitecture and fragility associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in aging. Male BALB/c mice (n = 10 per group) underwent a moderate exercise protocol from 13 weeks to 27 (adulthood age) or 108 weeks of age (elderly age) and were then sacrificed.

Intestinal Homeostasis under Stress Siege.

Intestinal homeostasis encompasses a complex and balanced interplay among a wide array of components that collaborate to maintain gut barrier integrity. The appropriate function of the gut barrier requires the mucus layer, a sticky cushion of mucopolysaccharides that overlays the epithelial cell surface. Mucus plays a critical anti-inflammatory role by preventing direct contact between luminal microbiota and the surface of the epithelial cell monolayer.

An insight into the promoter methylation of PHF20L1 and the gene association with metastasis in breast cancer.

Background: Plant homeodomain finger protein 20-like 1 (PHF20L1) is a protein reader involved in epigenetic regulation that binds monomethyl-lysine. An oncogenic function has been attributed to PHF20L1 but its role in breast cancer (BC) is not clear.

Objectives: To explore PHF20L1 promoter methylation and comprehensive bioinformatics analysis to improve understanding of the role of PHF20L1 in BC.

Analysis of the intestinal IgA response in mice exposed to chronic stress and treated with bovine lactoferrin.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) A, an antibody with a pivotal role in gut homeostasis, can be modulated by stress and bovine lactoferrin (bLf). The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of chronic stress on the IgA response in the small intestine during bLf treatment. Male BALB/c mice (n=6 mice/group) underwent 1 h of chronic stress by immobilization for 7 consecutive days or were left unstressed, and were untreated or treated with bLf (50, 500 or 5,000 µg).

Identification of an allergenic calmodulin from Amaranthus palmeri pollen.

Introduction: Pollens are an important source of allergens that trigger rhinitis or asthma. The allergenic extracts of pollens used to diagnose and treat allergies contain different allergenic antigens. Isolated allergenic proteins are employed in in vitro assays, skin tests and allergenic-specific immunotherapy.

Incobotulinum toxin type A for treatment of chronic myofascial pain.

Purpose: This study assessed the effectiveness of incobotulinum toxin type A (IBTx) for chronic myofascial pain affecting the masseter and temporal muscles.

Methods: Twenty two patients who received a diagnosis of chronic masseter and temporalis myofascial pain were evaluated by using a visual analog pain scale (VAS), digital pressure algometry, and the SF-36 Health Survey at baseline (T0), before IBTx injection. Patients were again evaluated at 2 months (T1) and 7 months (T2) after IBTx injection.

Decoding Aging: Understanding the Complex Relationship among Aging, Free Radicals, and GSH.

N-aryl maleimides can undergo a 1,4-Michael-type addition reaction with reduced glutathione (GSH), leading to a decreased concentration of GSH and an increased concentration of free radicals (FRs) in cells. GSH is a critical scavenging molecule responsible for protecting cells from oxidation and for maintaining redox homeostasis. N-aryl maleimides disturb redox homeostasis in cells because they scavenge thiol-containing molecules, especially GSH.

The Impact of Lactoferrin on the Growth of Intestinal Inhabitant Bacteria.

Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding milk glycoprotein that promotes the growth of selected probiotic strains. The effect of Lf on the growth and diversification of intestinal microbiota may have an impact on several issues, including (i) strengthening the permeability of the epithelial cell monolayer, (ii) favoring the microbial antagonism that discourages the colonization and proliferation of enteric pathogens, (iii) enhancing the growth and maturation of cell-monolayer components and gut nerve fibers, and (iv) providing signals to balance the anti- and pro-inflammatory responses resulting in gut homeostasis. Given the beneficial role of probiotics, this contribution aims to review the current properties of bovine and human Lf and their derivatives in in vitro probiotic growth and Lf interplay with microbiota described in the piglet model.

Impact of chronic immobilization stress on parameters of colonic homeostasis in BALB/c mice.

The intestinal epithelium is a monolayer of cells arranged side‑by‑side and connected by tight junction (TJ) proteins expressed at the apical extreme of the paracellular membrane. This layer prevents stress‑induced inflammatory responses, thus helping to maintain gut barrier function and gut homeostasis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of chronic immobilization stress on the colonic expression of various parameters of homeostasis.

Modulation by bovine lactoferrin of parameters associated with the IgA response in the proximal and distal small intestine of BALB/c mice.

Background: Secretory IgA (SIgA) and the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) have a pivotal role in gut homeostasis. Bovine lactoferrin (bLf) has been shown to modulate intestinal immunity and endogenous corticosterone. Considering the regionalization of the intestinal immune response, the aim of this work was to compare the impact of bLf on the IgA response in the proximal versus distal small intestine under physiological conditions.

Effect of Bovine Lactoferrin Treatment Followed by Acute Stress on the IgA-Response in Small Intestine of BALB/c Mice.

Secretory IgA (SIgA) has a pivotal role in gut homeostasis, which can be disturbed by stress. SIgA is formed by IgA-dimers (associated by the J-chain) and the secretory component, a protein derivative of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR). Given the gut immuno-modulatory properties of bovine lactoferrin (bLf), the aim of this study was to compare, after bLf treatment followed by acute stress, the IgA response and IgA-associated parameters in proximal versus distal small intestine.

Aryl Maleimides as Apoptosis Inducers on L5178-Y Murine Leukemia Cells (in silico, in vitro and ex vivo Study).

Thiol reagents were shown to act as potent inhibitors of L5178-Y murine leukemia cell proliferation. A series of aryl maleimides (AMI) was synthesized and evaluated theoretically for global and local reactivity, showing their selectivity for thiol groups, due to a reaction of the vinyl moiety (a soft acid) with thiols (a soft base). Two AMI that are benzoic acid derivatives (1f and 1h) were tested with an in vitro and ex vivo model to evaluate their reactivity with thiols and their activity in L5178-Y cells.

Intermittent fasting favored the resolution of Salmonella typhimurium infection in middle-aged BALB/c mice.

Intermittent fasting (IF) reportedly increases resistance and intestinal IgA response to Salmonella typhimurium infection in mature mice. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of aging on the aforementioned improved immune response found with IF. Middle-aged male BALB/c mice were submitted to IF or ad libitum (AL) feeding for 40 weeks and then orally infected with S.

Intermittent fasting modulates IgA levels in the small intestine under intense stress: a mouse model.

Intermittent fasting prolongs the lifespan and unlike intense stress provides health benefits. Given the role of the immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the intestinal homeostasis, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of intermittent fasting plus intense stress on secretory IgA (SIgA) production and other mucosal parameters in the duodenum and ileum. Two groups of six mice, with intermittent fasting or fed ad libitum for 12weeks, were submitted to a session of intense stress by a bout of forced swimming.

Nasal IgA secretion in a murine model of acute stress. The possible role of catecholamines.

Stress stimuli affect the immune system of the mucosa, and in particular IgA secretion. It is well documented that intense psychological and physical stress can increase susceptibility to infection by diverse pathogens in the upper respiratory tract. Our workgroup reported that chronic stress caused by immobilization elicits a decrease in nasal IgA levels in mice.