Daily supplementation with fresh pomegranate juice increases paraoxonase 1 expression and activity in mice fed a high-fat diet.

PURPOSE: Studies have found that pomegranate juice (PJ) consumption increases the binding of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) to paraoxonase 1 (PON1), thus increasing the catalytic activity of this enzyme. PON1 is an antioxidant arylesterase synthesized in the liver and transported in plasma in association with HDL. Decreased levels of PON1 are associated with higher levels of cholesterol. We determined the effects of PJ on body weight, cholesterol, and triacylglycerols through 5 months of supplementation. In addition, the effect of PJ on pon1 gene expression in the liver was also measured by RT-qPCR as well as the activity in serum by a semiautomated method using paraoxon as a substrate. METHODS: CD-1 mice were either fed a control diet or were fed a high-fat diet 1.25% (wt/wt) cholesterol, 0.5% (wt/wt) sodium cholate, and 15% (wt/wt) saturated fat. 300 µL of PJ containing 0.35 mmol total polyphenols was administered by oral gavage to half of the high fat mice daily. The rest of the high fat mice and the control mice were administered with 300 µL of water. RESULTS: PJ-supplemented animals had significantly higher levels of expression of pon1 compared to the unsupplemented group. PJ-supplemented animals had twice the PON1 activity of the unsupplemented group. In addition, PJ-supplemented animals had the lowest body weight and significantly reduced cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels, although the tricylglycerol levels were not consistently decreased. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PJ protects against the effects of a high-fat diet in body weight, and cholesterol levels.

Mice fed with a high fat diet show a decrease in the expression of "toll like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR6 mRNAs in adipose and hepatic tissues.

INTRODUCTION: Pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), which include Toll-like Receptor (TLRs) and Nacht leucine-rich repeat proteins (NLRP/NALPs), are molecules of innate immunity able to recognize a wide variety of ligands present in microorganisms and human tissues. Adipocytes (fat cells) may play an important role in the physiological regulation of their own immune responses via TLRs. During obesity, the inflammatory pathway is triggered and insulin responsiveness is altered in fat tissue as a result of TLR4 activation by dietary lipids. OBJECTIVE: Here, we investigate if other PRR family members could also participate in the inflammatory processes in the adipose tissue of obese mice. METHODS: The mRNA expression of TLRs, the NLRP3-inflammasome (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-lbeta), IL-6, and TNFα in the hepatic and adipose tissues of mice fed with a high fat diet (HFD) were studied by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Adipose tissue from mice fed with a HFD had decreased expression levels of TLR2, TLR6 and TLR7 and was similar to the pattern in hepatic tissue HFD mice. IL-6 and TNF-α expression also were decreased in adipose tissue of mice fed with a HFD. NLRP3-inflammasome expression was not modified. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the low expression of TLR2, and TLR6 in the mice fed with a HFD could be regulating the inflammation induced by the diet employed in this study.

Mice fed with a high fat diet show a decrease in the expression of 'toll like receptor' (TLR)2 and TLR6 mRNAs in adipose and hepatic tissues / El tejido adiposo y el tejido hepático de los ratones alimentados con una dieta alta en grasa tienen un decremento en la expresión del mRNA del 'toll like receptor' (TLR)2 y del TLR6

Introduction: Pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), which include Toll-like Receptor (TLRs) and Nacht leucinerich repeat proteins (NLRP/NALPs), are molecules of innate immunity able to recognize a wide variety of ligands present in microorganisms and human tissues. Adipocytes (fat cells) may play an important role in the physiological regulation of their own immune responses via TLRs. During obesity, the inflammatory pathway is triggered and insulin responsiveness is altered in fat tissue as a result of TLR4 activation by dietary lipids. Objective: Here, we investigate if other PRR family members could also participate in the inflammatory processes in the adipose tissue of obese mice. Methods: The mRNA expression of TLRs, the NLRP3-inflammasome (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-lbeta), IL-6, and TNFα in the hepatic and adipose tissues of mice fed with a high fat diet (HFD) were studied by RT-PCR. Results: Adipose tissue from mice fed with a HFD had decreased expression levels of TLR2, TLR6 and TLR7 and was similar to the pattern in hepatic tissue HFD mice. IL-6 and TNF-α expression also were decreased in adipose tissue of mice fed with a HFD. NLRP3-inflamma-some expression was not modified. Conclusion: These results suggest that the low expression of TLR2, and TLR6 in the mice fed with a HFD could be regulating the inflammation induced by the diet employed in this study (AU)

Introducción: Los receptores que reconocen patrones (PRRs), que incluyen a los ‘Toll like receptors’ (TLRs) y a las ‘Nacht leucinerich repeat proteins’ (NLRP/NALPs), son moléculas que participan en la inmunidad innata y éstos pueden reconocer una variedad de ligandos presentes en los microorganismos y en los tejidos del humano. La respuesta inmune conducida por los TLRs de las células de los adipocitos tiene un papel importante en la regulación fisiológica del tejido graso. Durante el desarrollo de la obesidad, la alta presencia de los lípidos activa el TLR4 encendiendo un proceso inflamatorio que conduce a una resistencia a la insulina en el tejido graso. Objetivo: En este trabajo, nosotros investigamos si los otros miembros de la familia de los PRRs podrían también participar en el proceso inflamatorio del tejido adiposo de los ratones obesos. Métodos: La expresión del mRNA de los TLRs, del NLRP3-inflamasoma (constituido por las moléculas NLRP3, ASC, caspasa-1 e IL-lbeta), de las citocinas inflamatorias IL-6 y TNFα fue estudiado, por RT-PCR, en el tejido adiposo y en el tejido hepático de ratones alimentados con una dieta alta en grasa (HFD). Resultados: El tejido adiposo de los ratones alimentados con una HFD tuvieron un nivel bajo de expresión de TLR2, TLR6 y TLR7 en comparación a los ratones controles y este nivel fue también presente en el tejido hepático. La expresión de la IL-6 y el TNF-α se decremento en el tejido adiposo de los ratones alimentados con HFD. La expresión del NLRP3-inflamasoma no fue modificado. Conclusión: Estos resultados sugieren que el nivel bajo de expresión del TLR2 y del TLR6 en los ratones alimentados con HFD podrían estar regulando la inflamación inducida por la dieta empleada en este estudio (AU)

An Early Indicator of Resistance in Barley to Russian Wheat Aphid.

During early stages of infestation by Russian wheat aphids (Diuraphis noxia [Mordvilko]; RWAs), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaf cells collapsed and showed autofluorescence in the mesophyll and bundle sheath adjacent to the RWA stylet sheath. The response was visually similar to the hypersensitive cell death response, typical of resistance to microbial pathogens. Resistant barley produced significantly more collapsed, autofluorescent cells (CAC) than did susceptible barley. RWA stylet entry sites and sheath paths also fluoresced, making them easy to observe in whole leaf sections. The number of CAC increased with the number of RWAs and with the number of days of feeding in resistant plants. The CAC could be observed 1 d following infestation, making this the most rapid plant response toward the RWAs known to date. The response may be useful in screening for resistant plants and may provide insight into resistance mechanisms in barley.