Virgin coconut oil supplementation in diet modulates immunity mediated through survival signaling pathways in rats

AbstractBackgroundVirgin coconut oil (VCO), a cold processed form of coconut oil, is traditionally consumed in Asian countries owing to its nutritional and medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the health benefits of VCO involve alterations in immune responses that are regulated by intracellular signaling molecules in the spleens of rats.MethodsYoung male Wistar rats were fed with three doses of VCO in diet for 30 days. At the end of the treatment period, spleens were isolated and in vitro effects on immune responses (Concanavalin A [Con A]-induced lymphoproliferation and cytokine production), and direct effects of VCO treatment on intracellular signaling molecules and antioxidant status were examined. Serum was collected to measure glucose, lipid levels, and leptin.ResultsVCO supplementation in diet enhanced Con A-induced splenocyte proliferation and Th1 cytokine production while it suppressed the proinflammatory cytokine production. VCO increased the expression of mechanistic target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), sirtuin1 (SIRT1), liver kinase B1 (p-LKB1) p-ERK, and p-CREB in spleen. Similarly, VCO increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes while it suppressed lipid peroxidation in the spleen. VCO diet had hypolipidemic effects on the rats: an increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels while lowering triacylglycerol (TAG) levels.ConclusionThe health benefits of VCO may be mediated through enhanced Th1 immunity through the upregulation of survival signaling pathways and inhibition of free radical generation in the spleen besides its capacity to induce hypolipidemia.

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Sex-Based Differences in the Cytokine Production and Intracellular Signaling Pathways in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Archives of Rheumatology ◽

10.46497/archrheumatol.2020.7481 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 545-557

Author(s):

Uday P. PRATAP ◽

Lalgi HIMA ◽

Thangamani KANNAN ◽

Chadrasekaran THYAGARAJAN ◽

Hannah P. PRIYANKA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Intracellular Signaling ◽

Cytokine Production ◽

Intracellular Signaling Pathways

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Interleukin-4 (IL-4) receptor expression on human T cells is affected by different intracellular signaling pathways and by IL-4 at transcriptional and posttranscriptional level

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v80.11.2721.bloodjournal80112721 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 80 (11) ◽

pp. 2721-2728

Author(s):

WH Dokter ◽

P Borger ◽

D Hendriks ◽

I van der Horst ◽

MR Halie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Protein Synthesis ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Intracellular Signaling ◽

Interleukin 4 ◽

Transcription Rate ◽

Con A ◽

Mrna Accumulation ◽

Intracellular Signaling Pathways ◽

Human T Cells

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) modulates the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of a variety of hematopoietic cells. The effects are mediated through a single class of high-affinity receptors for IL-4. To understand the biologic effects of IL-4 on human T cells, we studied the regulation of IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) gene expression. We showed that IL-4R mRNA accumulation in human T cells is enhanced fourfold after activation of different secondary signaling pathways by concanavalin A (Con A), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), the calcium ionophore A23187, and combinations of these factors. This could be ascribed to an increase in the IL-4R transcription rate and to stabilization of IL-4R mRNA resulting in a half-life of 80 to 90 minutes (v 35 to 40 minutes in resting T cells). IL-4 did enhance the IL-4R mRNA accumulation by a factor 10, which was caused by an increase in the IL-4R transcription rate and prolonging the half-life of IL-4R transcripts to 140 to 160 minutes. Finally, it was shown that A23187 induced IL-4R mRNA expression is a protein synthesis-dependent process. In contrast, Con A- , PMA-, Con A + PMA-, and Con A + A23187-induced expression of IL-4R mRNA is protein-synthesis independent. Cyclosporine A inhibited the A23187- and Con A + A23187-induced IL-4R mRNA accumulation, whereas Con A-, PMA-, and Con A + PMA-induced IL-4R mRNA expression was not affected by this drug. These data indicate that expression of IL-4 receptors on human T cells can be modulated by different intracellular signaling pathways at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels.

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Switching Off Key Signaling Survival Molecules to Switch On the Resolution of Inflammation

Mediators of Inflammation ◽

10.1155/2014/829851 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Denise Alves Perez ◽

Juliana Priscila Vago ◽

Rayssa Maciel Athayde ◽

Alesandra Corte Reis ◽

Mauro Martins Teixeira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intracellular Signaling ◽

Physiological Response ◽

Cytokine Production ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Signaling Molecules ◽

Active Process ◽

Resolution Of Inflammation ◽

Chronic Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Intracellular Signaling Molecules

Inflammation is a physiological response of the immune system to injury or infection but may become chronic. In general, inflammation is self-limiting and resolves by activating a termination program named resolution of inflammation. It has been argued that unresolved inflammation may be the basis of a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases. Resolution of inflammation is an active process that is fine-tuned by the production of proresolving mediators and the shutdown of intracellular signaling molecules associated with cytokine production and leukocyte survival. Apoptosis of leukocytes (especially granulocytes) is a key element in the resolution of inflammation and several signaling molecules are thought to be involved in this process. Here, we explore key signaling molecules and some mediators that are crucial regulators of leukocyte survivalin vivoand that may be targeted for therapeutic purposes in the context of chronic inflammatory diseases.

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Interleukin-4 (IL-4) receptor expression on human T cells is affected by different intracellular signaling pathways and by IL-4 at transcriptional and posttranscriptional level

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v80.11.2721.2721 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 80 (11) ◽

pp. 2721-2728 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

WH Dokter ◽

P Borger ◽

D Hendriks ◽

I van der Horst ◽

MR Halie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Protein Synthesis ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Intracellular Signaling ◽

Interleukin 4 ◽

Transcription Rate ◽

Con A ◽

Mrna Accumulation ◽

Intracellular Signaling Pathways ◽

Human T Cells

Abstract Interleukin-4 (IL-4) modulates the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of a variety of hematopoietic cells. The effects are mediated through a single class of high-affinity receptors for IL-4. To understand the biologic effects of IL-4 on human T cells, we studied the regulation of IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) gene expression. We showed that IL-4R mRNA accumulation in human T cells is enhanced fourfold after activation of different secondary signaling pathways by concanavalin A (Con A), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), the calcium ionophore A23187, and combinations of these factors. This could be ascribed to an increase in the IL-4R transcription rate and to stabilization of IL-4R mRNA resulting in a half-life of 80 to 90 minutes (v 35 to 40 minutes in resting T cells). IL-4 did enhance the IL-4R mRNA accumulation by a factor 10, which was caused by an increase in the IL-4R transcription rate and prolonging the half-life of IL-4R transcripts to 140 to 160 minutes. Finally, it was shown that A23187 induced IL-4R mRNA expression is a protein synthesis-dependent process. In contrast, Con A- , PMA-, Con A + PMA-, and Con A + A23187-induced expression of IL-4R mRNA is protein-synthesis independent. Cyclosporine A inhibited the A23187- and Con A + A23187-induced IL-4R mRNA accumulation, whereas Con A-, PMA-, and Con A + PMA-induced IL-4R mRNA expression was not affected by this drug. These data indicate that expression of IL-4 receptors on human T cells can be modulated by different intracellular signaling pathways at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels.

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Virgin Coconut Oil and its Cardiovascular Health Benefits

Natural Product Communications ◽

10.1177/1934578x1601100829 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 1934578X1601100 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zheng Feei Ma ◽

Yeong Yeh Lee

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Intervention Studies ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Coconut Oil ◽

Limited Data ◽

Virgin Coconut Oil ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Biochemical Measurements ◽

Care Costs ◽

Reduced Risk

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is known as the number one cause of death worldwide. It is associated with huge health care costs and loss of productivity in the population. Poor diet is an important risk factor in CVD. Diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as virgin coconut oil (VCO), has been associated with a reduced risk of CVD. This systematic review focused on studies that reported the association between VCO and the biochemical measurements associated with CVD. These studies conclude that VCO shows promising effects in improving the biochemical derangements associated with CVD, thus lowering the CVD risk. However, most of these studies were performed in animals with very limited data from human. Future investigations are needed to examine the health benefits of VCO in human intervention studies.

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