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5th Anniversary of ‘Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering’ Section—Recent Advances in the Biochemistry of Inflammation

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 2710

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
Interests: cancer metabolism; vitamin D; TGF beta; mitochondrial metabolism; biochemistry; electromagnetic field; cancer growth; dermal wound healing; nutraceuticals
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Guest Editor
Department of Precision Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
Interests: biochemistry and molecular biology of transglutaminases; neurodegeneration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Inflammation is considered a driving force behind many chronic diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Recently, cancer neuroscience has emerged as a new discipline focused on identifying and therapeutically targeting the interactions between the nervous system and cancer cells, both in the tumor microenvironment and at the systemic level. Inflammatory mediators exert a central role in this interplay, as their ability to quench and prevent inflammation can greatly benefit both cancer and neurological pathologies.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight the most recent advances in the biochemical approach to inflammation. This Special Issue will collect studies that cover the investigation of cellular targets and signaling pathway mediators of inflammation, the characterization of new anti-inflammatory agents and novel approaches that can challenge and defeat the chronic inflammatory stimulation that leads to neurodegeneration, pro-oncogenic transformation, and cancer progression. Of particular interest is the discovery and analysis of the neuroprotective effects of natural compounds and nutraceuticals against toxic insults and their antitumor activities through the modulation of genes responsible for inflammation and oxidative stress.

Prof. Dr. Francesca Silvagno
Prof. Dr. Vittorio Gentile
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • inflammation
  • oxidative stress
  • inflammatory mediators
  • cancer
  • neuroscience
  • neurodegenerative disease
  • nutraceuticals

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 1780 KiB  
Article
Inhibitory Effect of Dipeptides Containing Acidic Amino Acid Residue on Degranulation of RBL-2H3 Cells
by Kosuke Nishi, Taiki Hirakawa, Mitsumasa Izumi, Naoki Kageyama, Senri Yurue, Akari Ozaki, Yuki Toga, Momoko Ishida and Takuya Sugahara
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(16), 7048; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14167048 - 11 Aug 2024
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Abstract
Upon degranulation, basophils and mast cells secrete an array of inflammatory mediators, including histamine, which leads to not only allergic inflammation but also other inflammatory diseases. We previously reported that an aqueous extract from enzyme-treated, dried sardine inhibits the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells [...] Read more.
Upon degranulation, basophils and mast cells secrete an array of inflammatory mediators, including histamine, which leads to not only allergic inflammation but also other inflammatory diseases. We previously reported that an aqueous extract from enzyme-treated, dried sardine inhibits the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells and attenuates the symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis in mice. This study evaluated an antiallergic effect of dipeptides containing acidic amino acid residue in an antigen-induced degranulation assay using RBL-2H3 cells. The result showed that acidic amino acid residue-containing dipeptides inhibit the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells without cytotoxicity. Additionally, L-histidyl-L-glutamic acid (His-Glu), one of the acidic amino acid residue-containing dipeptides tested in this study, inhibited calcium ionophore-induced degranulation. We also found that His-Glu suppressed microtubule reorganization in RBL-2H3 cells after antigen stimulation. His-Glu slightly, but not significantly, suppressed the elevation of cytosolic calcium ion concentration leading to degranulation. Immunoblot analysis revealed that His-Glu significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Akt, but not that of Syk or phospholipase Cγ. Overall results suggest that acidic amino acid residue-containing dipeptides can be used as food ingredients with an antiallergic effect. Full article
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11 pages, 1095 KiB  
Article
Endogenous Cannabinoids in Crohn’s Disease
by Michał S. Bochenek, Jan T. Tomasik, Andrzej Wędrychowicz and Przemysław J. Tomasik
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(15), 6646; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14156646 - 30 Jul 2024
Viewed by 554
Abstract
Background: An increasing number of people around the world suffer from Crohn’s disease (CD), one of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Recent evidence suggests that the endogenous cannabinoid system plays an important role in IBD. The main endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), [...] Read more.
Background: An increasing number of people around the world suffer from Crohn’s disease (CD), one of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Recent evidence suggests that the endogenous cannabinoid system plays an important role in IBD. The main endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), are ligands of the CB1 and CB2 receptors that are expressed on immune cells. These receptors as well as endocannabinoids are believed to mediate inflammatory activity and participate in the pathophysiology of CD. Objective: Very little is known about the secretion of endogenous cannabinoids throughout the course of CD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine and analyze the 2-AG and AEA concentrations in children who suffered from CD. Methods: We studied 34 adolescents with CD, mean age 13.5 years ± 2.0. Blood samples were collected three times in the active phase of the disease (during admission to hospital, before treatment), 2–4 weeks later, during the treatment and clinical improvement of the patients, and 3–6 months later, in the period of remission. The control group included 33 healthy teenagers of the same age who were examined once. In all patients, fasting blood samples were collected in the morning. 2AG and AEA concentrations in serum were measured using EIA kits (Abclonal, Woburn, MA, USA and ELK Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Wuhan, China, respectively). Results: The median 2-AG concentration in the study group was stable: acute phase 907.4 [379.3; 1300.5] pg/mL, during treatment 715.1 [416.7; 1302.5] pg/mL; remission 991.1 [381.1; 1652.5] pg/mL, and similar to the values observed in the control group 761.8 [504.3; 1497.0] pg/mL. No significant differences were found between the results obtained at all time points in the study group and compared to the control group (in all cases p > 0.44). In the case of AEA, in the study group before treatment, the median concentration was 2.63 [2.24; 2.79] ng/mL and similar to values obtained during treatment 2.56 [2.33; 3.06] ng/mL, and in remission, with 2.61 [2.46; 2.85] ng/mL. All these concentrations were lower compared to the values measured in the control group of 3.18 [2.57; 3.88] ng/mL (p = 0.023, p = 0.035, p = 0.056, respectively). Conclusions: While 2-AG levels remained stable throughout the disease course and were comparable to controls, AEA concentrations were consistently lower in CD patients. Therefore, therapeutic interventions aimed at increasing AEA-related signaling, such as administration of its analogues or fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors, may improve symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease in children. Full article
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14 pages, 309 KiB  
Article
Potential of Portuguese Viticulture By-Products as Natural Resources of Bioactive Compounds—Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities
by Ana F. Vinha, Carla Sousa, Andreia Vilela, Joana Ferreira, Rui Medeiros and Fátima Cerqueira
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(14), 6278; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14146278 - 18 Jul 2024
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Abstract
Vitis vinifera is the grape variety used in the production of wine and other products. In the wine production process, many of the vine’s by-products are wasted, namely seeds and stems. Given the proportion of wine production worldwide, the quantity of by-products is [...] Read more.
Vitis vinifera is the grape variety used in the production of wine and other products. In the wine production process, many of the vine’s by-products are wasted, namely seeds and stems. Given the proportion of wine production worldwide, the quantity of by-products is beginning to be an environmental problem, making it urgent to take measures for their use to obtain bioactive compounds with health benefits. The aim of this work was to study the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts from the seeds and stems of four Portuguese grape varieties: Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Viosinho, and Tinta Roriz. Total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC) contents present in the different extracts were evaluated, as well as the antioxidant activity, by DPPH and FRAP methods. TPC and TFC values of the stem’s extracts are much higher than those of the seeds of the same grape variety in the same solvent. The antioxidant activity of aqueous and ethanolic stem extracts is higher than that obtained for the seeds, showing that antioxidant activity is related to the content of polyphenols. The antimicrobial activity of different stem and seed extracts was determined against yeasts and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and the effect was determined based on the minimal inhibitory concentrations calculated (MIC). In general, the ethanol:water (1:1) extract of the seeds from the different varieties tested inhibited C. albicans ATCC10231 and C. krusei ATCC6258 growth even at 200 μg/mL, and the effect was fungicidal at 200 μg/mL. The same type of extract showed selective antimicrobial activity, inhibiting S. aureus ATCC29213 growth but having no effect against E. coli ATCC25922 even at 200 μg/mL. The effect against S. aureus was bactericidal (at 200 μg/mL) for Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, and Viosinho. Taking all these results into account, it can be concluded that the by-products of the grape varieties tested are important sources of bioactive products, particularly as antioxidants and antimicrobials. Full article
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