Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Origanum vulgare Genotypes Belonging to the Carvacrol and Thymol Chemotypes.

The remarkable biological activities of oregano essential oils (EOs) have recently prompted a host of studies aimed at exploring their potential innovative applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The chemical composition and biological activities of EOs from two Origanum vulgare genotypes, widely cultivated in Sicily and not previously studied for their biological properties, were characterized. Plants of the two genotypes, belonging to the carvacrol (CAR) and thymol (THY) chemotypes and grown in different cultivation environments, were considered for this study. The chemical profiles, including the determination of enantiomeric distribution, of the EOs, obtained by hydrodistillation from dried leaves and flowers, were investigated by GC-MS. Biological activity was evaluated as antimicrobial properties against different pathogen indicator strains, while intestinal barrier integrity, reduction in pathogen adhesion and anti-inflammatory actions were assayed in the intestinal Caco-2 cell line. The chemical profile of the CAR genotype was less complex and characterized by higher levels of the most active compound, i.e., carvacrol, when compared to the THY genotype. The enantiomeric distribution of chiral constituents did not vary across genotypes, while being markedly different from that observed in Origanum vulgare genotypes from other geographical origins. In general, all EOs showed high antimicrobial activity, both in vitro and in a food matrix challenge test. Representative EOs from the two genotypes resulted not altering epithelial monolayer sealing only for concentrations lower than 0.02%, were able to reduce the adhesion of selected pathogens, but did not exert relevant anti-inflammatory effects. These results suggest their potential use as control agents against a wide spectrum of foodborne pathogens.

Comparative Study of Bioactive Compounds and Biological Activities of Five Rose Hip Species Grown in Sicily.

Nowadays, research on plant extracts has attracted increasing interest. The aim of this study was to compare phenolic profile, vitamin C, and carotenoid content, as well as the biological activities of five different rose species, including Rosa canina, R. corymbifera, R. micrantha, R. rubiginosa, and R. rugosa. These species had different morphological characteristics, with R. rugosa showing higher size of flower petals and higher weight of hips. The highest vitamin C content was found in hip extracts of R. rubiginosa and R. rugosa, which also showed the highest carotenoid amount. R. corymbifera showed the highest phenolic content. No significant antimicrobial activity of extracts containing phenolic compounds against different indicator strains could be detected. Cell monolayer integrity was not affected by treatments with the above-mentioned extracts of R. canina, R. micrantha, and R. rugosa at different concentrations for up to 24 h, while those of R. rubiginosa and R. corymbifera affected intestinal permeability at the highest concentration tested. The partial least squares regression analysis generated a predictive model correlating phenolic compounds with cell monolayer integrity, suggesting a relevant role for catechin, quercitrin, and p-coumaric acid. In conclusion, this study highlights how rose hips belonging to different species can have a diverse phenolic profile, differently influencing intestinal monolayer integrity.

Unraveling the Effects of Carotenoids Accumulation in Human Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Among the thyroid cancers, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) accounts for 90% of the cases. In addition to the necessity to identify new targets for PTC treatment, early diagnosis and management are highly demanded. Previous data indicated that the multivariate statistical analysis of the Raman spectra allows the discrimination of healthy tissues from PTC ones; this is characterized by bands typical of carotenoids. Here, we dissected the molecular effects of carotenoid accumulation in PTC patients by analyzing whether they were required to provide increased retinoic acid (RA) synthesis and signaling and/or to sustain antioxidant functions. HPLC analysis revealed the lack of a significant difference in the overall content of carotenoids. For this reason, we wondered whether the carotenoid accumulation in PTC patients could be related to vitamin A derivative retinoic acid (RA) biosynthesis and, consequently, the RA-related pathway activation. The transcriptomic analysis performed using a dedicated PCR array revealed a significant downregulation of RA-related pathways in PTCs, suggesting that the carotenoid accumulation in PTC could be related to a lower metabolic conversion into RA compared to that of healthy tissues. In addition, the gene expression profile of 474 PTC cases previously published in the framework of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TGCA) project was examined by hierarchical clustering and heatmap analyses. This metanalysis study indicated that the RA-related pathways resulted in being significantly downregulated in PTCs and being associated with the follicular variant of PTC (FV-PTC). To assess whether the possible fate of the carotenoids accumulated in PTCs is associated with the oxidative stress response, the expression of enzymes involved in ROS scavenging was checked. An increased oxidative stress status and a reduced antioxidant defense response were observed in PTCs compared to matched healthy thyroids; this was possibly associated with the prooxidant effects of high levels of carotenoids. Finally, the DepMap datasets were used to profile the levels of 225 metabolites in 12 thyroid cancer cell lines. The results obtained suggested that the high carotenoid content in PTCs correlates with tryptophan metabolism. This pilot provided novel possible markers and possible therapeutic targets for PTC diagnosis and therapy. For the future, a larger study including a higher number of PTC patients will be necessary to further validate the molecular data reported here.

Colonization Ability and Impact on Human Gut Microbiota of Foodborne Microbes From Traditional or Probiotic-Added Fermented Foods: A Systematic Review.

A large subset of fermented foods act as vehicles of live environmental microbes, which often contribute food quality assets to the overall diet, such as health-associated microbial metabolites. Foodborne microorganisms also carry the potential to interact with the human gut microbiome via the food chain. However, scientific results describing the microbial flow connecting such different microbiomes as well as their impact on human health, are still fragmented. The aim of this systematic review is to provide a knowledge-base about the scientific literature addressing the connection between foodborne and gut microbiomes, as well as to identify gaps where more research is needed to clarify and map gut microorganisms originating from fermented foods, either traditional or added with probiotics, their possible impact on human gut microbiota composition and to which extent foodborne microbes might be able to colonize the gut environment. An additional aim was also to highlight experimental approaches and study designs which could be better standardized to improve comparative analysis of published datasets. Overall, the results presented in this systematic review suggest that a complex interplay between food and gut microbiota is indeed occurring, although the possible mechanisms for this interaction, as well as how it can impact human health, still remain a puzzling picture. Further research employing standardized and trans-disciplinary approaches aimed at understanding how fermented foods can be tailored to positively influence human gut microbiota and, in turn, host health, are therefore of pivotal importance.

Human Metabolites of Hamaforton™ (Hamamelis virginiana L. Extract) Modulates Fibroblast Extracellular Matrix Components in Response to UV-A Irradiation.

Hamamelis virginiana L. a rich source of both condensed and hydrolyzable tannins, utilized to treat dermatological disorders. Since no experimental and clinical data is available for its use as oral formulation in skin related disorders, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Hamaforton™ (Hamamelis virginiana extract) metabolites on gene dysregulation induced by ultraviolet A radiation in cultured human dermal fibroblasts. A combination of in vivo and ex vivo experimental designs has been exploited in order to take into account the polyphenol metabolic transformation that occurs in humans. 12 healthy volunteers received either a capsule of Hamaforton™ or a placebo in a randomized, blinded crossover trial. After Hamaforton™ ingestion, the kinetic of appearance of galloyl derivatives was measured in plasma. Then, in the ex vivo experiment, the serum isolated after supplementation was used as a source of Hamaforton™ metabolites to enrich the culture medium of dermal fibroblasts exposed to ultraviolet A radiation. Three different gallic acid metabolites (4-O-methyl gallic acid, 4-O-methyl gallic acid sulphate and trimethyl gallic acid glucuronide) were identified in volunteer plasma. While, ultraviolet A irradiation of dermal fibroblasts affected the expression of extracellular matrix genes, the presence of Hamaforton™ metabolites in the culture media did not affect the expression of most of those genes. However, the activation of the expression of 10 different genes involved in repair processes for the maintenance of skin integrity, suggest that the metabolites can play a role in damage recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates the bioavailability of Hamaforton™ phenolic compounds, and the effects of its metabolites on cultured dermal fibroblast response to ultraviolet A irradiation.

A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Impact of Bovine Milk Containing Different Beta-Casein Profiles on Gut Health of Ageing Mice.

Ageing is often characterised by nutritional deficiencies and functional alterations of the digestive and immune system. The aim of the present study was to analyse the impact of consumption of conventional milk with A1/A2 beta-casein, compared to milk containing only the A2 beta-casein variant, characterised by a protein profile favouring gut health. Twenty-four ageing Balb-c mice (20 months old) were fed for 4 weeks, with either a control diet (CTRL), a diet supplemented with bovine milk containing A1/A2 beta-casein (A1A2) or a diet containing A2/A2 beta-casein (A2A2). Lymphocyte subpopulations, enzymatic activities, cytokine secretion, gut morphology and histopathological alterations were measured in different gut segments, while short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content and microbiota composition were evaluated in faecal samples. The A2A2 group showed higher content of faecal SCFAs (in particular, isobutyrate) of intestinal CD4+ and CD19+ lymphocytes in the intraepithelial compartment and improved villi tropism. The A1A2 group showed higher percentages of intestinal TCRγδ+ lymphocytes. Faecal microbiota identified Deferribacteriaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae as the most discriminant families for the A2A2 group, while Ruminococcaceae were associated to the A1A2 group. Taken together, these results suggest a positive role of milk, in particular when containing exclusively A2 beta-casein, on gut immunology and morphology of an ageing mice model.

Involvement of miR-190b in Xbp1 mRNA Splicing upon Tocotrienol Treatment.

We previously demonstrated that apoptosis induced by tocotrienols (γ and δT3) in HeLa cells is preceded by Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum. This event is eventually followed by the induction of specific calcium-dependent signals, leading to the expression and activation of the gene encoding for the IRE1α protein and, in turn, to the alternative splicing of the pro-apoptotic protein sXbp1 and other molecules involved in the unfolded protein response, the core pathway coping with EndoR stress. Here, we showed that treatment with T3s induces the expression of a specific set of miRNAs in HeLa cells. Data interrogation based on the intersection of this set of miRNAs with a set of genes previously differentially expressed after γT3 treatment provided a few miRNA candidates to be the effectors of EndoR-stress-induced apoptosis. To identify the best candidate to act as the effector of the Xbp1-mediated apoptotic response to γT3, we performed in silico analysis based on the evaluation of the highest ∆ in Gibbs energy of different mRNA-miRNA-Argonaute (AGO) protein complexes. The involvement of the best candidate identified in silico, miR-190b, in Xbp1 splicing was confirmed in vitro using T3-treated cells pre-incubated with the specific miRNA inhibitor, providing a preliminary indication of its role as an effector of EndoR-stress-induced apoptosis.

Supplementation with dairy matrices impacts on homocysteine levels and gut microbiota composition of hyperhomocysteinemic mice.

PURPOSE: Several studies highlighted a correlation between folic acid deficiency and high plasma homocysteine concentration, considered a risk factor for multifactorial diseases. Natural folates represent an emerging alternative strategy to supplementation with synthetic folic acid, whose effects are controversial. The present work was, therefore, performed in hyperhomocysteinemic mice to study the impact of supplementation with dairy matrices containing natural folates on plasma homocysteine levels and faecal microbiota composition. METHODS: Forty mice were divided into six groups, two of which fed control or folic acid deficient (FD) diets for 10 weeks. The remaining four groups were fed FD diet for the first 5 weeks and then shifted to a standard control diet containing synthetic folic acid (R) or a FD diet supplemented with folate-enriched fermented milk (FFM) produced by selected lactic acid bacteria, fermented milk (FM), or milk (M), for additional 5 weeks. RESULTS: Supplementation with dairy matrices restored homocysteine levels in FD mice, although impacting differently on hepatic S-adenosyl-methionine levels. In particular, FFM restored both homocysteine and S-adenosyl-methionine levels to the control conditions, in comparison with FM and M. Next generation sequencing analysis revealed that faecal microbiota of mice supplemented with FFM, FM and M were characterised by a higher richness of bacterial species in comparison with C, FD and R groups. Analysis of beta diversity highlighted that the three dairy matrices determined specific, significant variations of faecal microbiota composition, while hyperhomocysteinemia was not associated with significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results represent a promising starting point for the applicability of food matrices enriched in natural folates to manage hyperhomocysteinemia.

Caenorhabditis Elegans and Probiotics Interactions from a Prolongevity Perspective.

Probiotics exert beneficial effects on host health through different mechanisms of action, such as production of antimicrobial substances, competition with pathogens, enhancement of host mucosal barrier integrity and immunomodulation. In the context of ageing, which is characterized by several physiological alterations leading to a low grade inflammatory status called inflammageing, evidences suggest a potential prolongevity role of probiotics. Unraveling the mechanisms underlying anti-ageing effects requires the use of simple model systems. To this respect, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans represents a suitable model organism for the study of both host-microbe interactions and for ageing studies, because of conserved signaling pathways and host defense mechanisms involved in the regulation of its lifespan. Therefore, this review analyses the impact of probiotics on C. elegans age-related parameters, with particular emphasis on oxidative stress, immunity, inflammation and protection from pathogen infections. The picture emerging from our analysis highlights that several probiotic strains are able to exert anti-ageing effects in nematodes by acting on common molecular pathways, such as insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IIS) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). In this perspective, C. elegans appears to be advantageous for shedding light on key mechanisms involved in host prolongevity in response to probiotics supplementation.

The Foodborne Strain Lactobacillus fermentum MBC2 Triggers pept-1-Dependent Pro-Longevity Effects in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are involved in several food fermentations and many of them provide strain-specific health benefits. Herein, the probiotic potential of the foodborne strain Lactobacillus fermentum MBC2 was investigated through in vitro and in vivo approaches. Caenorhabditis elegans was used as an in vivo model to analyze pro-longevity and anti-aging effects. L. fermentum MBC2 showed a high gut colonization capability compared to E. coli OP50 (OP50) or L. rhamnosus GG (LGG). Moreover, analysis of pumping rate, lipofuscin accumulation, and body bending showed anti-aging effects in L. fermentum MBC2-fed worms. Studies on PEPT-1 mutants demonstrated that pept-1 gene was involved in the anti-aging processes mediated by this bacterial strain through DAF-16, whereas the oxidative stress protection was PEPT-1 independent. Moreover, analysis of acid tolerance, bile tolerance, and antibiotic susceptibility were evaluated. L. fermentum MBC2 exerted beneficial effects on nematode lifespan, influencing energy metabolism and oxidative stress resistance, resulted in being tolerant to acidic pH and able to adhere to Caco-2 cells. Overall, these findings provide new insight for application of this strain in the food industry as a newly isolated functional starter. Furthermore, these results will also shed light on C. elegans molecular players involved in host-microbe interactions.

Proteomic Analysis of Zn Depletion/Repletion in the Hormone-Secreting Thyroid Follicular Cell Line FRTL-5.

Zinc deficiency predisposes to a wide spectrum of chronic diseases. The human Zn proteome was predicted to represent about 10% of the total human proteome, reflecting the broad array of metabolic functions in which this micronutrient is known to participate. In the thyroid, Zn was reported to regulate cellular homeostasis, with a yet elusive mechanism. The Fischer Rat Thyroid Cell Line FRTL-5 cell model, derived from a Fischer rat thyroid and displaying a follicular cell phenotype, was used to investigate a possible causal relationship between intracellular Zn levels and thyroid function. A proteomic approach was applied to compare proteins expressed in Zn deficiency, obtained by treating cells with the Zn-specific chelator N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylene-diamine (TPEN), with Zn repleted cells. Quantitative proteomic analysis of whole cell protein extracts was performed using stable isotope dimethyl labelling coupled to nano-ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). TPEN treatment led to almost undetectable intracellular Zn, while decreasing thyroglobulin secretion. Subsequent addition of ZnSO4 fully reversed these phenotypes. Comparative proteomic analysis of Zn depleted/repleted cells identified 108 proteins modulated by either treatment. Biological process enrichment analysis identified functions involved in calcium release and the regulation of translation as the most strongly regulated processes in Zn depleted cells.

In Vitro and in Vivo Selection of Potentially Probiotic Lactobacilli From Nocellara del Belice Table Olives.

Table olives are increasingly recognized as a vehicle as well as a source of probiotic bacteria, especially those fermented with traditional procedures based on the activity of indigenous microbial consortia, originating from local environments. In the present study, we report characterization at the species level of 49 Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) strains deriving from Nocellara del Belice table olives fermented with the Spanish or Castelvetrano methods, recently isolated in our previous work. Ribosomal 16S DNA analysis allowed identification of 4 Enterococcus gallinarum, 3 E. casseliflavus, 14 Leuconostoc mesenteroides, 19 Lactobacillus pentosus, 7 L. coryniformis, and 2 L. oligofermentans. The L. pentosus and L. coryniformis strains were subjected to further screening to evaluate their probiotic potential, using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches. The majority of them showed high survival rates under in vitro simulated gastro-intestinal conditions, and positive antimicrobial activity against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) pathogens. Evaluation of antibiotic resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, or erythromycin was also performed for all selected strains. Three L. coryniformis strains were selected as very good performers in the initial in vitro testing screens, they were antibiotic susceptible, as well as capable of inhibiting pathogen growth in vitro. Parallel screening employing the simplified model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, fed the Lactobacillus strains as a food source, revealed that one L. pentosus and one L. coryniformis strains significantly induced prolongevity effects and protection from pathogen-mediated infection. Moreover, both strains displayed adhesion to human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells and were able to outcompete foodborne pathogens for cell adhesion. Overall, these results are suggestive of beneficial features for novel LAB strains, which renders them promising candidates as starters for the manufacturing of fermented table olives with probiotic added value.

Impact of supplementation with a food-derived microbial community on obesity-associated inflammation and gut microbiota composition.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a complex pathology associated with dysbiosis, metabolic alterations, and low-grade chronic inflammation promoted by immune cells, infiltrating and populating the adipose tissue. Probiotic supplementation was suggested to be capable of counteracting obesity-associated immune and microbial alterations, based on its proven immunomodulatory activity and positive effect on gut microbial balance. Traditional fermented foods represent a natural source of live microbes, including environmental strains with probiotic features, which could transiently colonise the gut. The aim of our work was to evaluate the impact of supplementation with a complex foodborne bacterial consortium on obesity-associated inflammation and gut microbiota composition in a mouse model. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice fed a 45% high fat diet (HFD) for 90 days were supplemented with a mixture of foodborne lactic acid bacteria derived from the traditional fermented dairy product "Mozzarella di Bufala Campana" (MBC) or with the commercial probiotic GG strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG). Inflammation was assessed in epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) following HFD. Faecal microbiota composition was studied by next-generation sequencing. RESULTS: Significant reduction of epididymal WAT weight was observed in MBC-treated, as compared to LGG and control, animals. Serum metabolic profiling showed correspondingly reduced levels of triglycerides and higher levels of HDL cholesterol, as well as a trend toward reduction of LDL-cholesterol levels. Analysis of the principal leucocyte subpopulations in epididymal WAT revealed increased regulatory T cells and CD4+ cells in MBC microbiota-supplemented mice, as well as decreased macrophage and CD8+ cell numbers, suggesting anti-inflammatory effects. These results were associated with lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in WAT explants. Faecal bacterial profiling demonstrated increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in all mice groups following HFD. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results indicate a protective effect of MBC microbiota supplementation toward HFD-induced fat accumulation and triglyceride and cholesterol levels, as well as inflammation, suggesting a stronger effect of a mixed microbial consortium vs single-strain probiotic supplementation. The immunomodulatory activity exerted by the MBC microbiota could be due to synergistic interactions within the microbial consortium, highlighting the important role of dietary microbes with yet uncharacterised probiotic effect.

Impact of NaCl reduction on lactic acid bacteria during fermentation of Nocellara del Belice table olives.

Table olives are widely consumed worldwide but, due to the presence of NaCl in fermenting brines, they contain high levels of sodium. A promising strategy to lower sodium content is the reduction or substitution of NaCl in brines with other chlorides. However, these procedures may impact safety, spoilage, as well as quality and technological properties, including the evolution and final composition of the fermenting microbiota. In the present work the effects of partially replacing NaCl with KCl in fermenting brines on the microbiological quality of Nocellara del Belice olives produced by Spanish style (Sivigliano) or Castelvetrano methods have been analyzed. In both cases, the fermentation steps were performed in parallel, in brines containing either NaCl alone, or partially replaced with different proportions of KCl (25, 50 and 75%), while maintaining a final saline concentration of 9% (Sivigliano method) or 7% (Castelvetrano). To compare microbial dynamics in the experimental brines, changes in bacterial ecology were monitored during fermentation with a polyphasic approach, including both microbiological methods and culture-independent techniques based on DGGE and NGS analysis. The main microbial groups detected in the olive microbiota from both production procedures were LAB and yeasts. Overall, the data demonstrate that partial replacement of NaCl with KCl does not increase the risk of contamination, nor the overgrowth of pathogens or spoiler microbes.

Tocotrienols induce endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in cervical cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that γ- and δ-tocotrienols (γ- and δ-T3) induce gene expression and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7). This effect is mediated, at least in part, by a specific binding and activation of the estrogen receptor-ß (ERß). Transcriptomic data obtained within our previous studies, interrogated by different bioinformatic tools, suggested the existence of an alternative pathway, activated by specific T3 forms and leading to apoptosis, also in tumor cells not expressing ER. In order to confirm this hypothesis, we conducted a study in HeLa cells, a line of human cervical cancer cells void of any canonical ER form. RESULTS: Cells were synchronized by starvation and treated either with a T3-rich fraction from palm oil (10-20 µg/ml) or with purified α-, γ-, and δ-T3 (5-20 µg/ml). α-tocopherol (TOC) was utilized as a negative control. Apoptosis, accompanied by a significant expression of caspase 8, caspase 10, and caspase 12 was observed at 12 h from treatments. The interrogation of data obtained from transcriptomic platforms (NuGO Affymetrix Human Genechip NuGO_Hs1a520180), further confirmed by RT-PCR, suggested that the administration of γ- and δ-T3 associates with Ca2+ release. Data interrogation were confirmed in living cells; in fact, Ca-dependent signals were observed followed by the expression and activation of IRE-1α and of other molecules involved in the unfolded protein response, the core pathway coping with endoplasmic reticulum stress in eukaryotic cells, finally leading to apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that γ- and δ-T3 induce apoptosis also in tumor cells lacking of ERß by triggering signals originating from endoplasmic reticulum stress. Our observations suggest that tocotrienols could have a significant role in tumor cell physiology and a possible therapeutic potential.

Nanomolar Caffeic Acid Decreases Glucose Uptake and the Effects of High Glucose in Endothelial Cells.

Epidemiological studies suggest that moderate and prolonged consumption of coffee is associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes but the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect are not known. In this study, we report the effects of physiological concentrations of caffeic acid, easily achievable by normal dietary habits, in endothelial cells cultured in 25 mM of glucose (high glucose, HG). In HG, the presence of 10 nM caffeic acid was associated with a decrease of glucose uptake but not to changes of GLUT-1 membrane localization or mRNA levels. Moreover, caffeic acid countered HG-induced loss of barrier integrity, reducing actin rearrangement and FITC-dextran passage. The decreased flux of glucose associated to caffeic acid affected HG induced apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of initiator (caspase 8 and 9) and effector caspases (caspase 7 and 3) and by increasing the levels of phosphorylated Bcl-2. We also observed that caffeic acid in HG condition was associated to a reduction of p65 subunit nuclear levels with respect to HG alone. NF-κB activation has been shown to lead to apoptosis in HG treated cells and the analysis of the expression of a panel of about 90 genes related to NF-κB signaling pathway revealed that caffeic acid significantly influenced gene expression changes induced by HG. In conclusion, our results suggest that caffeic acid, decreasing the metabolic stress induced by HG, allows the activation of survival mechanisms mediated by a different modulation of NF-κB-related signaling pathways and to the activation of anti-apoptotic proteins.

Co-cultures of enterocytes and hepatocytes for retinoid transport and metabolism.

Dietary retinoid bioavailability involves the interplay of the intestine (transport and metabolism) and the liver (secondary metabolism). To reproduce these processes in vitro, differentiated human intestinal Caco-2/TC7 cells were co-cultured with two hepatocyte cell lines. Murine 3A cells and the more highly differentiated human HepaRG hepatocytes were both shown to respond to ß-carotene (BC) and retinol (ROH) treatment by secreting Retinol Binding Protein 4 (RBP4). In co-culture experiments, Caco-2/TC7 were differentiated on filter inserts and transferred for the time of the experiment to culture wells containing confluent 3A or differentiated HepaRG cells. Functionality of the co-cultures was assayed using as endpoints the retinol-dependent secretion of RBP4 and the retinoic acid-dependent induction of CYP26A1 in hepatocytes. BC and ROH added to intestinal Caco-2/TC7 induced a reduction in intracellular RBP4 levels in the underlying hepatocytes and its secretion into the medium. HepaRG hepatocytes were also shown to up-regulate the expression of CYP26A1 mRNA in response to retinoid treatment. This in vitro model represents a useful tool to analyze the absorption and metabolism of retinoids and could be further developed to investigate other dietary compounds and molecules of pharmacological interest.

The new murine hepatic 3A cell line responds to stress stimuli by activating an efficient Unfolded Protein Response (UPR).

In the present study we have investigated the properties of a novel cell line (3A cells) obtained from the liver of 14.5 days post coitum (dpc) wild-type mouse embryo. 3A cells morphology was characterized by fluorescent localization of F-actin and ß-catenin. The expression of specific genes and proteins essential to liver function in these cells was comparable or even more efficient then in the differentiated hepatocytic cell line MMH-D6. 3A cells also showed the capability to excrete molecules in extracellular spaces resembling functional bile canaliculi, glycogen storage activity and the ability to control retinol-binding protein 4 secretion in response to retinol deprivation. Their response to the exogenous stress stimulus induced by tunicamycin was analysed by PCR Pathway Array containing 84 genes involved in the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). 3A cells were shown to activate the UPR following a typical stressful event, indicating that this cellular model could be further exploited to investigate hepatic proteins secretion and specific reaction to different injuries.

Regulation of HMG-CoA reductase expression by hypoxia.

The ability to maintain O(2) homeostasis is essential to the survival of all invertebrate and vertebrate species. The transcriptional factor, hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), is the principal regulator of oxygen homeostasis. Under hypoxic condition HIF-1 induces the transcription of several hypoxia-responsive genes by binding to hypoxia-response elements (HRE) in their promoters. In recent years it has been demonstrated that hypoxia could be related to metabolic variations such as hyper-cholesterolemia in mouse models. On the basis of this observation, the present study was performed to verify the involvement of HIF-1, and in particular the effect of chemical and environmental induction of HIF-1alpha (the oxygen sensitive isoform) accumulation in 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoAR, the key and rate limiting enzyme of cholesterol biosynthetic pathway) regulation. Our results show that HIF-1alpha accumulation is able to increase level and activity of HMG-CoAR by stimulating its transcription. The raised transcription of the reductase could be related to an induction by HIF-1alpha even if a parallel action of SREBP-2 actively translocated to nucleus by the increased level of SCAP cannot be excluded.