β-glucans: ex vivo inflammatory and oxidative stress results after pasta intake

Background

It is well known that Mediterranean Diet can positively influence the health of each individual, in particular it is know that fibers have an important role. However, in Mediterranean cities most people do not have a close adherence to Mediterranean diet. Thus, in our study, we considered fibers like β-glucans that have been added to pasta with a percentage of 6 %. Our study aimed to evaluate the capacity of β-glucans intake on oxidative stress and inflammation in a cohort of middle aged slightly overweight subjects.

Methods

We used a longitudinal study design. The study lasted 30 days during which time, each participant acted with no food restriction. Participants underwent morning fasting blood venous sample for blood chemistry and other biological parameters at the beginning of the study and after 30 days of pasta supplemented with 6 % of β-glucan intake 4 times a week. We performed anthropometric, biochemical, oxidative stress and cytokine analysis at the beginning and the end of study.

Results

After the 30 days of pasta intake we obtained a significant decrease of LDL-cholesterol, IL-6 and AGEs levels.

Conclusion

The results confirmed a capacity of β-glucans intake to lower oxidative stress. Additional longitudinal observation on community-based cohorts are needed to confirm these data and investigate the biological mechanisms through which effects are induced, and to fully explore the therapeutic potential of β-glucans.

     

Nutrigerontology: a key for achieving successful ageing and longevity

During the last two centuries the average lifespan has increased at a rate of approximately 3 months/year in both sexes, hence oldest old people are becoming the population with the fastest growth in Western World. Although the average life expectancy is increasing dramatically, the healthy lifespan is not going at the same pace. This underscores the importance of studies on the prevention of age-related diseases, in order to satisfactorily decrease the medical, economic and social problems associated to advancing age, related to an increased number of individuals not autonomous and affected by invalidating pathologies. In particular, data from experimental studies in model organisms have consistently shown that nutrient signalling pathways are involved in longevity, affecting the prevalence of age-related loss of function, including age-related diseases. Accordingly, nutrigerontology is defined as the scientific discipline that studies the impact of nutrients, foods, macronutrient ratios, and diets on lifespan, ageing process, and age-related diseases. To discuss the potential relevance of this new science in the attainment of successful ageing and longevity, three original studies performed in Sicily with local foods and two reviews have been assembled in this series. Data clearly demonstrate the positive effects of nutraceuticals, functional foods and Mediterranean Diet on several biological parameters. In fact, they could represent a prevention for many age-related diseases, and, although not a solution for this social plague, at least a remedy to alleviate it. Thus, the possibility to create a dietary pattern, based on the combined strategy of the use of both nutraceuticals and functional foods should permit to create a new therapeutic strategy, based not only on a specific bioactive molecule or on a specific food but on a integrated approach that, starting from the local dietary habits, can be led to a “nutrafunctional diet” applicable worldwide.     

Pathophysiology of ageing, longevity and age related diseases

On April 18, 2007 an international meeting on Pathophysiology of Ageing, Longevity and Age-Related Diseases was held in Palermo, Italy. Several interesting topics on Cancer, Immunosenescence, Age-related inflammatory diseases and longevity were discussed. In this report we summarize the most important issues. However, ageing must be considered an unavoidable end point of the life history of each individual, nevertheless the increasing knowledge on ageing mechanisms, allows envisaging many different strategies to cope with, and delay it. So, a better understanding of pathophysiology of ageing and age-related disease is essential for giving everybody a reasonable chance for living a long and enjoyable final part of the life.     

HHV-6 infection in Italy: characterization of an endemic isolate and seroepidemiologic analysis

A biologic, immunologic and molecular characterization of an HHV-6 isolate (BA92) rescued by the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a child affected by Exanthem subitum is reported. The comparison with the known HHV-6 prototype strains showed that BA92 is indistinguishable from the Z29 isolate, and can be included in the variant B group of HHV-6. A seroepidemiologic analysis of the antibody response to BA92 of normal individuals as well as patients affected by diseases potentially associated to HHV-6 infection has shown an overall seroprevalence of 81%, and that no variations in seroprevalence or in antibody geometric mean titer are observed assaying the sera also against G.S., U1102, or Z29 infected cells, respectively. These findings indicate: (1) HHV-6 infection is widely diffuse in Italy; (2) it is not possible to discriminate between the viral variants by the currently available IF assays, and (3) no conclusions can be drawn on the potential association of HHV-6 with any of the diseases examined.     

Stage-specific expression of a Schistosoma mansoni polypeptide similar to the vertebrate regulatory protein stathmin

The ubiquitous vertebrate protein stathmin is expressed and phosphorylated in response to a variety of external and internal signals. Stathmin, in turn, controls cell growth and differentiation through its capacity to regulate microtubule assembly dynamics. This is the first report on the molecular cloning and characterization of a stathmin-like protein (SmSLP) in an invertebrate, the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. SmSLP is first synthesized at high levels in the intermediate molluscan host and completely disappears 48 h after penetration into the mammalian host. The protein is preferentially iodinated in intact immature parasites using the Bolton-Hunter reagent, can be quantitatively extracted in high salt buffers, and remains soluble after boiling. Native SmSLP was partially sequenced, and its complete structure was derived from the cloning and sequencing of its cDNA. The sequence is up to 26% identical to vertebrate stathmin sequences and contains two potential phosphorylation sites. Native SmSLP is indeed phosphorylated because phosphatase digestion shifts its mobility in electrofocusing gels. SmSLP associates with tubulin, as suggested by immune co-precipitation results. In vitro experiments demonstrated that SmSLP inhibits tubulin assembly and causes the depolymerization of preassembled microtubules, thus probably fulfilling regulatory roles in critical steps of schistosome development.     

Pharmacological blockade of mGlu2/3 metabotropic glutamate receptors reduces cell proliferation in cultured human glioma cells

Glial cell proliferation in culture is under the control of metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors. We have examined whether this control extends to human glioma cells. Primary cultures were prepared from surgically removed human glioblastomas. RT-PCR combined with western blot analysis showed that most of the cultures (eight out of 11) expressed group-II mGlu receptors. In two selected cultures (MZC-12 and FCN-9), the mGlu2/3 receptor antagonist, LY341495, slowed cell proliferation when applied to the growth medium from the second day after plating. This effect was reversible because linear cell growth was restored after washing out the drug. LY341495 reduced glioma cell proliferation at concentrations lower than 100 nm, which are considered as selective for mGlu2/3 receptors. In addition, its action was mimicked by the putative mGlu2/3 receptor antagonist (2S)-alpha-ethylglutamate. The anti-proliferative effect of LY341495 was confirmed by measuring [methyl-3H]-thymidine incorporation in cultures arrested in G0 phase of the cell cycle and then stimulated to proliferate by the addition of 10% fetal calf serum or 100 ng/mL of epidermal growth factor (EGF). In cultures treated with EGF, LY341495 was also able to reduce the stimulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, as well as the induction of cyclin D1. Both effects, as well as decreased [methyl-3H]-thymidine incorporation, were partially reduced by co-addition of the potent mGlu2/3 receptor agonist, LY379268. We conclude that activation of group-II mGlu receptors supports the growth of human glioma cells in culture and that antagonists of these receptors should be tested for their ability to reduce tumour growth in vivo.     

Microarray probe expression measures, data normalization and statistical validation

DNA microarray technology is a high-throughput method for gaining information on gene function. Microarray technology is based on deposition/synthesis, in an ordered manner, on a solid surface, of thousands of EST sequences/genes/oligonucleotides. Due to the high number of generated datapoints, computational tools are essential in microarray data analysis and mining to grasp knowledge from experimental results. In this review, we will focus on some of the methodologies actually available to define gene expression intensity measures, microarray data normalization, and statistical validation of differential expression.     

Reinitiation of protein synthesis in Escherichia coli can be induced by mRNA cis-elements unrelated to canonical translation initiation signals

In Eubacteria, de novo translation of some internal cistrons may be inefficient or impossible unless the 5' neighboring cistron is also translated (translational coupling). Translation reinitiation is an extreme case of translational coupling in which translation of a message depends entirely on the presence of a nearby terminating ribosome. In this work, the characteristics of mRNA cis-elements inducing the reinitiation process in Escherichia coli have been investigated using a combinatorial approach. A number of novel translational reinitiation sequences (TRSs) were thus identified, which show a wide range of reinitiation activities fully dependent on a translational coupling event and unrelated to the presence/absence of secondary structure or mRNA stability. Moreover, some of the isolated TRSs are similar to intercistronic sequences present in the E. coli genome.