scholarly journals The Role of Oat Nutrients in the Immune System: A Narrative Review

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1048
Author(s):  
Oliver Chen ◽  
Eunice Mah ◽  
ElHadji Dioum ◽  
Ankita Marwaha ◽  
Shobana Shanmugam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Nutrient Deficiency ◽  
Immune Defense ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
System A ◽  
Hidden Hunger

Optimal nutrition is the foundation for the development and maintenance of a healthy immune system. An optimal supply of nutrients is required for biosynthesis of immune factors and immune cell proliferation. Nutrient deficiency/inadequacy and hidden hunger, which manifests as depleted nutrients reserves, increase the risk of infectious diseases and aggravate disease severity. Therefore, an adequate and balanced diet containing an abundant diversity of foods, nutrients, and non-nutrient chemicals is paramount for an optimal immune defense against infectious diseases, including cold/flu and non-communicable diseases. Some nutrients and foods play a larger role than others in the support of the immune system. Oats are a nutritious whole grain and contain several immunomodulating nutrients. In this narrative review, we discuss the contribution of oat nutrients, including dietary fiber (β-glucans), copper, iron, selenium, and zinc, polyphenolics (ferulic acid and avenanthramides), and proteins (glutamine) in optimizing the innate and adaptive immune system’s response to infections directly by modulating the innate and adaptive immunity and indirectly by eliciting changes in the gut microbiota and related metabolites.

scholarly journals Prenatal and Perinatal Environmental Influences Shaping the Neonatal Immune System: A Focus on Asthma and Allergy Origins

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 3962
Author(s):  
Azahara María García-Serna ◽  
Elena Martín-Orozco ◽  
Trinidad Hernández-Caselles ◽  
Eva Morales
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Mode Of Delivery ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
System A ◽  
Neonatal Immune System ◽  
Chemical Factors ◽  
Asthma And Allergy

It is suggested that programming of the immune system starts before birth and is shaped by environmental influences acting during critical windows of susceptibility for human development. Prenatal and perinatal exposure to physiological, biological, physical, or chemical factors can trigger permanent, irreversible changes to the developing immune system, which may be reflected in cord blood of neonates. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the evidence on the role of the prenatal and perinatal environment, including season of birth, mode of delivery, exposure to common allergens, a farming environment, pet ownership, and exposure to tobacco smoking and pollutants, in shaping the immune cell populations and cytokines at birth in humans. We also discuss how reported disruptions in the immune system at birth might contribute to the development of asthma and related allergic manifestations later in life.

scholarly journals MicroRNAs: Biological Regulators in Pathogen–Host Interactions

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Maia Acuña ◽  
Lucile Maria Floeter-Winter ◽  
Sandra Marcia Muxel
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Small Rnas ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Host Interactions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Biological Aspects

An inflammatory response is essential for combating invading pathogens. Several effector components, as well as immune cell populations, are involved in mounting an immune response, thereby destroying pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. In the past decade, microRNAs (miRNAs), a group of noncoding small RNAs, have emerged as functionally significant regulatory molecules with the significant capability of fine-tuning biological processes. The important role of miRNAs in inflammation and immune responses is highlighted by studies in which the regulation of miRNAs in the host was shown to be related to infectious diseases and associated with the eradication or susceptibility of the infection. Here, we review the biological aspects of microRNAs, focusing on their roles as regulators of gene expression during pathogen–host interactions and their implications in the immune response against Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Toxoplasma, and Plasmodium infectious diseases.

scholarly journals Emerging Role of Exosomes in Tuberculosis: From Immunity Regulations to Vaccine and Immunotherapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin-Fu Sun ◽  
Jiang Pi ◽  
Jun-Fa Xu
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Delivery System ◽  
Immune Modulation ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Immune Defense ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Recent Research Progress

Exosomes are cell-derived nanovesicles carrying protein, lipid, and nucleic acid for secreting cells, and act as significant signal transport vectors for cell-cell communication and immune modulation. Immune-cell-derived exosomes have been found to contain molecules involved in immunological pathways, such as MHCII, cytokines, and pathogenic antigens. Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), remains one of the most fatal infectious diseases. The pathogen for tuberculosis escapes the immune defense and continues to replicate despite rigorous and complicate host cell mechanisms. The infected-cell-derived exosomes under this circumstance are found to trigger different immune responses, such as inflammation, antigen presentation, and activate subsequent pathways, highlighting the critical role of exosomes in anti-MTB immune response. Additionally, as a novel kind of delivery system, exosomes show potential in developing new vaccination and treatment of tuberculosis. We here summarize recent research progress regarding exosomes in the immune environment during MTB infection, and further discuss the potential of exosomes as delivery system for novel anti-MTB vaccines and therapies.

scholarly journals Immunotoxicity of Xenobiotics in Fish: A Role for the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR)?

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (17) ◽  
pp. 9460
Author(s):  
Helmut Segner ◽  
Christyn Bailey ◽  
Carolina Tafalla ◽  
Jun Bo
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor ◽  
Disease Susceptibility ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Immune Gene ◽  
Immune Systems ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon ◽  
The Impact

The impact of anthropogenic contaminants on the immune system of fishes is an issue of growing concern. An important xenobiotic receptor that mediates effects of chemicals, such as halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Fish toxicological research has focused on the role of this receptor in xenobiotic biotransformation as well as in causing developmental, cardiac, and reproductive toxicity. However, biomedical research has unraveled an important physiological role of the AhR in the immune system, what suggests that this receptor could be involved in immunotoxic effects of environmental contaminants. The aims of the present review are to critically discuss the available knowledge on (i) the expression and possible function of the AhR in the immune systems of teleost fishes; and (ii) the impact of AhR-activating xenobiotics on the immune systems of fish at the levels of immune gene expression, immune cell proliferation and immune cell function, immune pathology, and resistance to infectious disease. The existing information indicates that the AhR is expressed in the fish immune system, but currently, we have little understanding of its physiological role. Exposure to AhR-activating contaminants results in the modulation of numerous immune structural and functional parameters of fish. Despite the diversity of fish species studied and the experimental conditions investigated, the published findings rather uniformly point to immunosuppressive actions of xenobiotic AhR ligands in fish. These effects are often associated with increased disease susceptibility. The fact that fish populations from HAH- and PAH-contaminated environments suffer immune disturbances and elevated disease susceptibility highlights that the immunotoxic effects of AhR-activating xenobiotics bear environmental relevance.

scholarly journals Neuroinflammation and Its Impact on the Pathogenesis of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed M. Almutairi ◽  
Farzane Sivandzade ◽  
Thamer H. Albekairi ◽  
Faleh Alqahtani ◽  
Luca Cucullo
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Cell Infiltration ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Cytokine Levels

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The clinical manifestations of COVID-19 include dry cough, difficult breathing, fever, fatigue, and may lead to pneumonia and respiratory failure. There are significant gaps in the current understanding of whether SARS-CoV-2 attacks the CNS directly or through activation of the peripheral immune system and immune cell infiltration. Although the modality of neurological impairments associated with COVID-19 has not been thoroughly investigated, the latest studies have observed that SARS-CoV-2 induces neuroinflammation and may have severe long-term consequences. Here we review the literature on possible cellular and molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 induced-neuroinflammation. Activation of the innate immune system is associated with increased cytokine levels, chemokines, and free radicals in the SARS-CoV-2-induced pathogenic response at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). BBB disruption allows immune/inflammatory cell infiltration into the CNS activating immune resident cells (such as microglia and astrocytes). This review highlights the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in COVID-19-induced neuroinflammation, which may lead to neuronal death. A better understanding of these mechanisms will help gain substantial knowledge about the potential role of SARS-CoV-2 in neurological changes and plan possible therapeutic intervention strategies.

Hormonal modulation of the immune system — A spotlight on the role of progestogens

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 536-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene J. Tan ◽  
Elena Peeva ◽  
Gisele Zandman-Goddard
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
System A ◽  
Hormonal Modulation

scholarly journals Sexual dimorphism in immune function: The role of sex steroid hormones

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 02007
Author(s):  
Anna Mihailova ◽  
Indrikis Krams
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
Steroid Hormones ◽  
Adaptive Immunity ◽  
Gonadal Hormones ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Innate And Adaptive Immunity

There is evidence of the relation of sex steroid hormones and sexual dimorphism in immune system response to infectious diseases. The aim of this review was to identify the role of sex hormones in immune function and sexual dimorphism of immune reactions. Gonadal hormones together with the immune system play an important role in process of immune responses to the disease [1]. Estrogens, progesterone and testosterone have different impacts on immune cells and different gonadal hormones are of high importance for responses of innate and adaptive immunity [1, 2]. Estrogens mainly enhance immune function while testosterone has a suppressive role. Higher progesterone during pregnancy leads to autoimmune disease remission and an elevated susceptibility toward certain infectious diseases [2, 3, 4]. The intensity and prevalence of viral infections are typically higher in males, whereas disease outcome could be worse for females [5]. Sexual dimorphism of immune function is based on different concentrations of sex hormones in males and females and on a specific mediating role of these hormones in immune function and response along with differences in innate and adaptive immunity.

scholarly journals A Narrative Review of the Role of Economic Crisis on Health and Healthcare Infrastructure in Three Disparate National Environments

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1252
Author(s):  
David M. Claborn
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Marginalized Populations ◽  
Healthcare Workforce ◽  
National Economies

The collapse of a country’s economy can have significant impacts on the health and healthcare infrastructure of the country. This paper compares the collapse of three national economies from widely separated regions: Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and the countries of the former Soviet Union. Despite significant differences in the environments and cultures of these countries, there are some common variables and outcomes shared by most of the countries including effects on healthcare workforce, disproportionate effects on marginalized populations, and resurgence of certain infectious diseases.

scholarly journals The Gut Microbiota in Multiple Sclerosis: An Overview of Clinical Trials

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 1507-1527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Schepici ◽  
Serena Silvestro ◽  
Placido Bramanti ◽  
Emanuela Mazzon
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ◽  
Fecal Microbiota ◽  
System A ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Review Reports

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating, and degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system. A recent study showed that interaction between the immune system and the gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the development of MS. This review reports the clinical studies carried out in recent years that aimed to evaluate the composition of the microbiota in patients with relapsing–remitting MS (RR-MS). We also report what is available in the literature regarding the effectiveness of fecal microbiota transplantation and the role of the diet in restoring the intestinal bacterial population. Studies report that patients with RR-MS have a microbiota that, compared with healthy controls, has higher amounts of Pedobacteria, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Mycoplana, Acinetobacter, Eggerthella, Dorea, Blautia, Streptococcus and Akkermansia. In contrast, MS patients have a microbiota with impoverished microbial populations of Prevotella, Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Haemophilus, Sutterella, Adlercreutzia, Coprobacillus, Lactobacillus, Clostridium, Anaerostipes and Faecalibacterium. In conclusion, the restoration of the microbial population in patients with RR-MS appears to reduce inflammatory events and the reactivation of the immune system.

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