Immunomodulatory Effects of Dietary Polyphenols

Dear Colleagues,

Inflammation and related immune disorders place a heavy burden on the healthcare system.

It can contribute to a range of chronic pathologies such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cancer, and autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. To date, treatments to reduce inflammation and related disorders are not completely satisfactory. Moreover, the estimated prevalence has been rising in recent years. Under this context, alternative approaches need to be evaluated. A better understanding of the key nutritional mechanisms involved in such immune responses will likely be vital for disease control and prevention.

Plant polyphenols are a large and diverse class of secondary metabolites, ranging from simple phenolic acids to more complex molecules including stilbene, flavonoids, and tannins, all of which contain multiple phenolic units in their structures. They are widely distributed in different plant species, where they exert diverse structural, metabolic, and defense functions and mediate biotic and abiotic interactions, and they have beneficial properties such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anticancer, and antibacterial activities.

Accumulating data suggest that polyphenols have shown several potential biological activities, especially antitumor activity dependent on immune function. Polyphenols can modulate immunity by interfering with immune cell regulation, the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and gene expression, or can affect dendritic cells and have immunomodulatory effects on macrophages. A better understanding of the body's interactions with polyphenols is critical to the more effective use of these phytochemicals for disease prevention and treatment. However, the existing studies have not been able to elucidate the immunomodulatory effects of polyphenols and the underlying mechanisms of stimulating immune responses.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the role of plant polyphenols in immune and inflammatory responses. Topics can include the results of polyphenols on the modulation of immune inflammation or original articles and review papers on the mechanisms of the immune modulation of polyphenols and their clinical relevance. We welcome comprehensive reviews and original research papers.

Dr. Hammad Ullah
Dr. María Rosa Pérez-Gregorio
Guest Editors

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• polyphenols
• inflammasomes
• anti-inflammation
• immunomodulation
• alternative therapies