Immunoinflammatory effects of dietary bioactive compounds.

Inflammation is a key mechanism of the immune system that can be elicited by several factors, among them several chemical, physical and biological agents. Once stimulated, the inflammatory response activates a series of signaling pathways and a number of immune cells which promote, in a very coordinated manner, the neutralization of the infectious agent. However, if uncontrolled, the inflammatory status may become chronic leading, potentially, to tissue damage and disease onset. Several risk factors are associated with the development of chronic inflammation and, among these factors, diet plays an essential role. In this chapter the effects of some dietary bioactive compounds, including micronutrients, omega-3 fatty acids, nucleotides and polyphenols, on the immunoinflammatory responses in different cellular, animal and human studies have been summarized.

Apoptotic mechanism activated by blue light and cisplatinum in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cells.

New approaches are being studied for the treatment of skin cancer. It has been reported that light combined with cisplatinum may be effective against skin cancer. In the present study, the effects of specific light radiations and cisplatinum on A431 cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and HaCaT non­tumorigenic cell lines were investigated. Both cell lines were exposed to blue and red light sources for 3 days prior to cisplatinum treatment. Viability, apoptosis, cell cycle progression and apoptotic­related protein expression levels were investigated. The present results highlighted that combined treatment with blue light and cisplatinum was more effective in reducing cell viability compared with single treatments. Specifically, an increase in the apoptotic rate was observed when the cells were treated with blue light and cisplatinum, as compared to treatment with blue light or cisplatinum alone. Combined treatment with blue light and cisplatinum also caused cell cycle arrest at the S phase. Treatment with cisplatinum following light exposure induced the expression of apoptotic proteins in the A431 and HaCaT cell lines, which tended to follow different apoptotic mechanisms. On the whole, these data indicate that blue light combined with cisplatinum may be a promising treatment for cSCC.

Pharmacological, non-pharmacological and stem cell therapies for the management of autism spectrum disorders: A focus on human studies.

In the last decade, the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has dramatically escalated worldwide. Currently available drugs mainly target some co-occurring symptoms of ASD, but are not effective on the core symptoms, namely impairments in communication and social interaction, and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors. On the other hand, transplantation of hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells in ASD children has been shown promising to stimulate the recruitment, proliferation, and differentiation of tissue-residing native stem cells, reducing inflammation, and improving some ASD symptoms. Moreover, several comorbidities have also been associated with ASD, such as immune dysregulation, gastrointestinal issues and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Non-pharmacological approaches, such as dietary supplementations with certain vitamins, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, probiotics, some phytochemicals (e.g., luteolin and sulforaphane), or overall diet interventions (e.g., gluten free and casein free diets) have been considered for the reduction of such comorbidities and the management of ASD. Here, interventional studies describing pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments in ASD children and adolescents, along with stem cell-based therapies, are reviewed.