RESUMEN
Background: This pilot study examined the feasibility of a new lifestyle modification program involving a "Teaching Kitchen" in Japan. Our goal was to explore (1) feasibility of the program; (2) acceptability for class frequency (weekly vs. bi-weekly); and (3) changes in biometrics, dietary intakes, and lifestyle factors. Methods: A total of 24 employees with obesity in a Japanese company were recruited. Participants were randomly divided into two groups (weekly or bi-weekly group), each attending the program consisting of four two-hour classes (lectures on nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and culinary instructions). Participants were observed for changes in dietary intakes, biometrics, and health related quality of life over the subsequent 3 months. We tested the between-group differences in changes using linear mixed-effect models. Results: The program completion rates were 83.3% in total (91.7% for weekly group and 75.0% for bi-weekly group). From baseline to post-intervention, significant decreases were observed in weight (p < 0.001), body mass index (p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.03), body fat mass (p < 0.001), and dietary intakes in total fat (p = 0.03) and sodium (p = 0.008) among 17 participants who were available for measurements. Improvements in biometrics remained significant 1 month after the intervention (all p ≤ 0.03 in 14 participants). Participants' health related quality of life was significantly improved in bodily pain, general health, vitality, and mental component score (all p ≤ 0.047). Conclusions: The new Japanese Teaching Kitchen program is feasible with high program completion rates in Japanese office workers with obesity. While this was a small feasibility study, significant multiple improvements in dietary intakes, biometrics, and health related quality of life suggest that this line of inquiry warrants further exploration to address obesity and obesity-related diseases in Japan.
Asunto(s)
Obesidad , Calidad de Vida , Humanos , Proyectos Piloto , Estudios de Factibilidad , Japón , Obesidad/prevención & controlRESUMEN
AIMS: We previously reported that heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 enhances appetite via changes in autonomic neurotransmission. Here we assessed whether a diet supplemented with heat-killed SBC8803 affects circadian locomotor rhythmicity and sleep architecture. MAIN METHODS AND KEY FINDINGS: Daily total activity gradually increased in mice over 4 weeks and supplementation with heat-killed SBC8803 significantly intensified the increase, which reached saturation at 25 days. Electroencephalography revealed that SBC8803 supplementation significantly reduced the total amount of time spent in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and increased the amount of time spent being awake during the latter half of the nighttime, but tended to increase the total amount of time spent in NREM sleep during the daytime. Dietary supplementation with SBC8803 can extend the duration of activity during the nighttime and of sleep during the daytime. Daily voluntary wheel-running and sleep rhythmicity become intensified when heat-killed SBC8803 is added to the diet. SIGNIFICANCE: Dietary heat-killed SBC8803 can modulate circadian locomotion and sleep rhythms, which might benefit individuals with circadian rhythms that have been disrupted by stress or ageing.
Asunto(s)
Levilactobacillus brevis/metabolismo , Actividad Motora/efectos de los fármacos , Sueño/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Encéfalo/efectos de los fármacos , Encéfalo/fisiología , Ritmo Circadiano/efectos de los fármacos , Ritmo Circadiano/fisiología , Dieta , Suplementos Dietéticos , Electroencefalografía , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C3H , Actividad Motora/fisiología , Probióticos/farmacología , Sueño/fisiología , Fases del Sueño/efectos de los fármacos , Fases del Sueño/fisiología , Vigilia/efectos de los fármacos , Vigilia/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Lactobacilli provide several health benefits to mammals, including humans. We previously observed that in rats, intraduodenal injection of Lactobacillus johnsonii La1 elevated efferent gastric vagal nerve activity (efferent-GVNA), while Lactobacillus paracasei ST11 suppressed efferent-GVNA, and thereby increased or decreased food intake. To determine the function of Lactobacillus brevis (SBC8803), its effect on food intake was examined by providing food containing heat-killed SBC8803 to mice. We observed that administration of SBC8803 elevated food intake. Because the afferent intestinal vagal nerve (IVN) is hypothesized to be involved in efferent-GVNA changes, we examined the effect of intraduodenal administration of heat-killed SBC8803 on efferent-GVNA and afferent-IVN activity (IVNA) in rats. In this study, we found that intraduodenal administration of heat-killed SBC8803 increased both efferent-GVNA and afferent-IVNA in rats. Moreover, IV administration of the serotonin 3 receptor antagonist granisetron eliminated the effects of SBC8803 on efferent-GVNA and afferent-IVNA. These findings suggest that heat-killed SBC8803 enhances appetite by elevating digestion and absorption abilities via changes in autonomic neurotransmission that might be mediated by the serotonin 3 receptor.
Asunto(s)
Apetito , Levilactobacillus brevis , Transmisión Sináptica , Nervio Vago/fisiología , Vías Aferentes/efectos de los fármacos , Vías Aferentes/fisiología , Animales , Duodeno , Ingestión de Alimentos , Vías Eferentes/efectos de los fármacos , Vías Eferentes/fisiología , Granisetrón/farmacología , Intestinos/inervación , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C3H , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Antagonistas de la Serotonina/farmacología , Estómago/inervación , Nervio Vago/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major infectious agent causing serious respiratory tract inflammation in infants and young children. However, an effective vaccine and anti-viral therapy for RSV infection have not yet been developed. Hop-derived bitter acids have potent pharmacological effects on inflammation. Therefore, we investigated the effects of humulone, which is the main constituent of hop bitter acids, on the replication of RSV and release of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 and chemokine RANTES in RSV-infected human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs). We found that humulone prevented the expression of RSV/G-protein, formation of virus filaments and release of IL-8 and RANTES in a dose-dependent manner in RSV-infected HNECs. These findings suggest that humulone has protective effects against the replication of RSV, the virus assembly and the inflammatory responses in HNECs and that it is a useful biological product for the prevention and therapy for RSV infection.
Asunto(s)
Antivirales/farmacología , Quimiocina CCL5/metabolismo , Ciclohexenos/farmacología , Células Epiteliales/virología , Interleucina-8/metabolismo , Virus Sincitiales Respiratorios/fisiología , Terpenos/farmacología , Replicación Viral/efectos de los fármacos , Supervivencia Celular , Células Cultivadas , Células Epiteliales/inmunología , Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Mucosa Nasal/inmunología , Mucosa Nasal/virología , Virus Sincitiales Respiratorios/efectos de los fármacos , Proteínas Virales/genética , Proteínas Virales/metabolismo , Virión/efectos de los fármacos , Virión/fisiología , Ensamble de Virus/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
We have previously reported that phytoceramide and phytosphingosine (PHS) stimulated the transcriptional activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in cells. PPARγ is a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes. We found in this study that an oral administration of PHS improved diet-induced glucose intolerance in mice. Since PHS is highly expressed in yeast, PHS in fermented foods may improve diabetes.
Asunto(s)
Ceramidas/administración & dosificación , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/dietoterapia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/metabolismo , Glucosa/metabolismo , Intestino Delgado/metabolismo , Hígado/metabolismo , Esfingosina/análogos & derivados , Adiponectina/genética , Adiponectina/metabolismo , Administración Oral , Animales , Peso Corporal/efectos de los fármacos , Quimiocina CCL2/genética , Quimiocina CCL2/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/etiología , Dieta Alta en Grasa/efectos adversos , Expresión Génica , Intolerancia a la Glucosa/prevención & control , Prueba de Tolerancia a la Glucosa , Intestino Delgado/química , Hígado/química , Ratones , Ratones Noqueados , Complejos Multienzimáticos/deficiencia , Complejos Multienzimáticos/genética , Oxidorreductasas/deficiencia , Oxidorreductasas/genética , PPAR gamma/genética , PPAR gamma/metabolismo , Esfingosina/administración & dosificación , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/genética , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/metabolismoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) acts as a master switch for allergic inflammation and plays a key role in allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) recognized by Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) strongly activates TSLP release from human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs). Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) extracts have been shown to have potent pharmacologic effects on inflammation. METHODS: To investigate whether a hop water extract (HWE) prevents TSLP release from HNECs, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)-transfected HNECs, used as a model of normal HNECs, were pretreated with HWE before treatment with the TLR3 ligand Polyinosine-polycytidylic acid (poly[I:C]). RESULTS: In the hTERT-transfected HNECs, treatment with HWE significantly reduced poly(I:C)-induced production and release of TSLP in a dose-dependent manner, as well as dexamethasone. Treatment with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X and NF-κB inhibitor IMD-0354 also reduced poly(I:C)-induced TSLP release from hTERT-transfected HNECs. Treatment with HWE efficiently prevented up-regulation of PKC activity by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate but not NF-κB activity induced by IL-1ß in hTERT-transfected HNECs. CONCLUSION: Our results clearly indicated that HWE inhibited dsRNA-induced production and release of TSLP via a PKC signal pathway in HNECs and it may have potent preventive effects against allergic rhinitis.
Asunto(s)
Citocinas/metabolismo , Humulus , Mucosa Nasal/efectos de los fármacos , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , ARN Bicatenario/farmacología , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Células Cultivadas , Dexametasona/farmacología , Humanos , Interleucina-1beta/farmacología , FN-kappa B/metabolismo , Mucosa Nasal/citología , Mucosa Nasal/metabolismo , Proteína Quinasa C/metabolismo , Acetato de Tetradecanoilforbol/farmacología , Linfopoyetina del Estroma TímicoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Xanthohumol is expected to be a potent anti-atherosclerotic agent due to its inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). In this study, we hypothesized that xanthohumol prevents atherosclerosis in vivo and used CETP-transgenic mice (CETP-Tg mice) to evaluate xanthohumol as a functional agent. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Two strains of mice, CETP-Tg and C57BL/6N (wild-type), were fed a high cholesterol diet with or without 0.05% (w/w) xanthohumol ad libitum for 18 weeks. In CETP-Tg mice, xanthohumol significantly decreased accumulated cholesterol in the aortic arch and increased HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) when compared to the control group (without xanthohumol). Xanthohumol had no significant effect in wild-type mice. CETP activity was significantly decreased after xanthohumol addition in CETP-Tg mice compared with the control group and it inversely correlated with HDL-C (%) (P<0.05). Furthermore, apolipoprotein E (apoE) was enriched in serum and the HDL-fraction in CETP-Tg mice after xanthohumol addition, suggesting that xanthohumol ameliorates reverse cholesterol transport via apoE-rich HDL resulting from CETP inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest xanthohumol prevents cholesterol accumulation in atherogenic regions by HDL-C metabolism via CETP inhibition leading to apoE enhancement.
Asunto(s)
Aorta Torácica/efectos de los fármacos , Apolipoproteínas E/metabolismo , Aterosclerosis/prevención & control , Proteínas de Transferencia de Ésteres de Colesterol/metabolismo , Colesterol/metabolismo , Flavonoides/farmacología , Propiofenonas/farmacología , Animales , Aorta Torácica/metabolismo , Western Blotting , Proteínas de Transferencia de Ésteres de Colesterol/genética , Dieta Aterogénica , Electroforesis , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Transgénicos , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa , Temperatura de TransiciónRESUMEN
High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels are correlated with a low risk of atherosclerosis. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), which catalyses cholesterol transfer between lipoproteins, leads to an increase in HDL-cholesterol and is expected to be the next anti-atherogenic target. This study revealed that xanthohumol, a prenylated chalcone, showed the highest inhibition against CETP from screening of natural products in various plants. We investigated the inhibitory activity of some chalcones and flavanones. Naringenin chalcone showed weak CETP inhibition compared with xanthohumol. In addition, isoxanthohumol and naringenin drastically decreased the inhibitory activity. These results suggest that the prenyl group and chalcone structure of xanthohumol were responsible for the CETP inhibitory activity.
Asunto(s)
Chalconas/química , Proteínas de Transferencia de Ésteres de Colesterol/química , HDL-Colesterol/química , Flavonoides/química , Humulus/química , Propiofenonas/químicaRESUMEN
Probiotics exhibit beneficial effects on human health, particularly in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis in a complex manner notwithstanding the diversity of an intestinal flora between individuals. Thus, it is highly probable that some common molecules secreted by probiotic and/or commensal bacteria contribute to the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis and protect the intestinal epithelium from injurious stimuli. To address this question, we aimed to isolate the cytoprotective compound from a lactobacillus strain, Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 which possess the ability to induce cytoprotective heat shock proteins in mouse small intestine. L. brevis was incubated in MRS broth and the supernatant was passed through with a 0.2-µm filter. Caco2/bbe cells were treated with the culture supernatant, and HSP27 expression was evaluated by Western blotting. HSP27-inducible components were separated by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE anion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and HPLC. Finally, we identified that the HSP27-inducible fraction was polyphosphate (poly P), a simple repeated structure of phosphates, which is a common product of lactobacilli and other bacteria associated with intestinal microflora without any definitive physiological functions. Then, poly P was synthesized by poly P-synthesizing enzyme polyphosphate kinase. The synthesized poly P significantly induced HSP27 from Caco2/BBE cells. In addition, Poly P suppressed the oxidant-induced intestinal permeability in the mouse small intestine and pharmacological inhibitors of p38 MAPK and integrins counteract its protective effect. Daily intrarectal administration of poly P (10 µg) improved the inflammation grade and survival rate in 4% sodium dextran sulfate-administered mice. This study, for the first time, demonstrated that poly P is the molecule responsible for maintaining intestinal barrier actions which are mediated through the intestinal integrin ß1-p38 MAPK.
Asunto(s)
Integrinas/metabolismo , Mucosa Intestinal/metabolismo , Polifosfatos/metabolismo , Proteínas Quinasas p38 Activadas por Mitógenos/metabolismo , Animales , Western Blotting , Células CACO-2 , Colitis/metabolismo , Colitis/prevención & control , Colon/efectos de los fármacos , Colon/metabolismo , Colon/patología , Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Proteínas de Choque Térmico HSP27/metabolismo , Homeostasis/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Técnicas In Vitro , Integrina beta1/metabolismo , Mucosa Intestinal/efectos de los fármacos , Intestinos/efectos de los fármacos , Levilactobacillus brevis/metabolismo , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Permeabilidad/efectos de los fármacos , Polifosfatos/aislamiento & purificación , Polifosfatos/farmacología , Probióticos/metabolismo , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate lipid and glucose metabolism. PPARα is highly expressed in the liver and controls genes involved in lipid catabolism. We previously reported that synthetic sphingolipid analogs, part of which contains shorter-length fatty acid chains than natural sphingolipids, stimulated the transcriptional activities of PPARs. Sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine (DHS) are abundant sphingoid bases, and ceramide and dihydroceramide are major ceramide species in mammals. In contrast, phytosphingosine (PHS) and DHS are the main sphingoid bases in fungi. PHS and phytoceramide exist in particular tissues such as the epidermis in mammals, and involvement of ceramide species in PPARß activation in cultured keratinocytes has been reported. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether natural sphingolipids with C18 fatty acid and yeast-derived sphingoid bases activate PPARs as PPAR agonists. METHOD: Lipids of brewer's yeast contain PHS- and DHS-based sphingolipids. To obtain the sphingoid bases, lipids were extracted from brewer's yeast and acid-hydrolyzed. The sphingoid base fraction was purified and quantified. To assess the effects of sphingolipids on PPAR activation, luciferase reporter assay was carried out. NIH/3T3 and human hepatoma (HepG2) cells were transfected with expression vectors for PPARs and retinoid × receptors, and PPAR responsive element reporter vector. When indicated, the PPAR/Gal4 chimera system was performed to enhance the credibility of experiments. Sphingolipids were added to the cells and the dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine the transcriptional activity of PPARs. RESULTS: We observed that phytoceramide increased the transcriptional activities of PPARs significantly, whereas ceramide and dihydroceramide did not change PPAR activities. Phytoceramide also increased transactivation of PPAR/Gal4 chimera receptors. Yeast-derived sphingoid base fraction, which contained PHS and DHS, or authentic PHS or DHS increased PPAR-dependent transcription. Additionally, phytoceramide stimulated PPARα activity in HepG2 hepatocytes, suggesting that phytoceramide activates genes regulated by PPARα. CONCLUSIONS: Phytoceramide and yeast-derived sphingoid bases activate PPARs, whereas ceramide and dihydroceramide do not change the PPAR activity. The present findings suggest that phytoceramide acts as a PPAR ligand that would regulate PPAR-targeted genes.