Effect of Homocysteine on the Differentiation of CD4(+) T Cells into Th17 Cells

Effects of Aerobic Treadmill Training on Oxidative Stress Parameters, Metabolic Enzymes, and Histomorphometric Changes in Colon of Rats with Experimentally Induced Hyperhomocysteinemia

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic treadmill training regimen of four weeks duration on oxidative stress parameters, metabolic enzymes, and histomorphometric changes in the colon of hyperhomocysteinemic rats. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 10, per group): C, 0.9% NaCl 0.2 mL/day subcutaneous injection (s.c.) 2x/day; H, homocysteine 0.45 µmol/g b.w./day s.c. 2x/day; CPA, saline (0.9% NaCl 0.2 mL/day s.c. 2x/day) and an aerobic treadmill training program; and HPA, homocysteine (0.45 µmol/g b.w./day s.c. 2x/day) and an aerobic treadmill training program. The HPA group had an increased level of malondialdehyde (5.568 ± 0.872 μmol/mg protein, p = 0.0128 vs. CPA (3.080 ± 0.887 μmol/mg protein)), catalase activity (3.195 ± 0.533 U/mg protein, p < 0.0001 vs. C (1.467 ± 0.501 U/mg protein), p = 0.0012 vs. H (1.955 ± 0.293 U/mg protein), and p = 0.0003 vs. CPA (1.789 ± 0.256 U/mg protein)), and total superoxide dismutase activity (9.857 ± 1.566 U/mg protein, p < 0.0001 vs. C (6.738 ± 0.339 U/mg protein), p < 0.0001 vs. H (6.015 ± 0.424 U/mg protein), and p < 0.0001 vs. CPA (5.172 ± 0.284 U/mg protein)) were detected in the rat colon. In the HPA group, higher activities of lactate dehydrogenase (2.675 ± 1.364 mU/mg protein) were detected in comparison to the CPA group (1.198 ± 0.217 mU/mg protein, p = 0.0234) and higher activities of malate dehydrogenase (9.962 (5.752-10.220) mU/mg protein) were detected in comparison to the CPA group (4.727 (4.562-5.299) mU/mg protein, p = 0.0385). Subchronic treadmill training in the rats with hyperhomocysteinemia triggers the colon tissue antioxidant response (by increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase) and elicits an increase in metabolic enzyme activities (lactate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase). This study offers a comprehensive assessment of the effects of aerobic exercise on colonic tissues in a rat model of hyperhomocysteinemia, evaluating a range of biological indicators including antioxidant enzyme activity, metabolic enzyme activity, and morphometric parameters, which suggested that exercise may confer protective effects at both the physiological and morphological levels.

Impact of Folate Intake on Bone Mineral Density in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Decreased bone mineral density (BMD) is a common problem among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We hypothesised that an insufficient intake of folate might affect BMD.

METHODS

The study subjects included 26 with Crohn's disease-CD, 30 with ulcerative colitis-UC, and 31 healthy adults (control group-CG) aged 18-50 years. Participants were asked to follow their usual diet, and dietary intake was assessed by a 4-day, 24 h dietary recall. All the participants filled in a questionnaire referring to folic acid supplementation. The BMD, T-score, and Z-score of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and femoral neck (FN) were assessed.

RESULTS

We found significant differences in the body mass, BMI (body mass index), CRP (C-reactive protein), BMD, Z-score, and T-score of the L1-L4 and FN between groups. There were no differences in energy and folate intake or the percentage coverage of recommended dietary allowances (RDA) of folate in all groups. Moreover, 70% of patients with UC, 92% of patients with CD, and 77% of CG patients showed insufficient folate intake. Folic acid was supplemented with a similar frequency in patients covering and not covering the RDA of folate. The intake of folate per 1000 kcal correlated positively with the CD group's BMD and T-score of L1-L4.

CONCLUSIONS

Insufficient folate intake is common in patients with IBD and healthy individuals. The impact of folate on BMD in IBD is not clear. We need more studies on the association between folate intake, folic acid concentration, and BMD in IBD.

Role of micronutrients in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune intestinal disease that includes ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and indeterminate colitis. Patients with IBD are often at risk for malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies, due to dietary restrictions and poor intestinal absorption. Micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals, play an important role in the human body's metabolism and maintenance of tissue functions. This article reviews the role of micronutrients in IBD. Micronutrients can affect the occurrence and progression of IBD by regulating immunity, intestinal flora, oxidative stress, intestinal barrier function, and other aspects. Monitoring and timely supplementation of micronutrients are important to delay progression and improve clinical symptoms in IBD patients.

Differential Roles of Cystathionine Gamma-Lyase and Mercaptopyruvate Sulfurtransferase in Hapten-Induced Colitis and Contact Dermatitis in Mice

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has been shown to act as both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory mediators. Application of H₂S donors generally protects against inflammation; however, experimental results using mice lacking endogenous H₂S-producing enzymes, such as cystathionine γ-lyase (CTH) and mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST), are often contradictory. We herein examined two types of model hapten-induced inflammation models, colitis (an inflammatory bowel disease model of mucosal immunity) and contact dermatitis (a type IV allergic model of systemic immunity), in CTH-deficient (Cth^-/-) and MPST-deficient (Mpst^-/-) mice. Both mice exhibited no significant alteration from wild-type mice in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (Th1-type hapten)-induced colitis (a Crohn's disease model) and oxazolone (Th1/Th2 mix-type; Th2 dominant)-induced colitis (an ulcerative colitis model). However, Cth^-/- (not Mpst^-/-) mice displayed more exacerbated phenotypes in trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB; Th1-type)-induced contact dermatitis, but not oxazolone, at the delayed phase (24 h post-administration) of inflammation. CTH mRNA expression was upregulated in the TNCB-treated ears of both wild-type and Mpst^-/- mice. Although mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) was upregulated in both early (2 h) and delayed phases of TNCB-triggered dermatitis in all genotypes, that of Th2 (IL-4) and Treg cytokines (IL-10) was upregulated only in Cth^-/- mice, when that of Th1 cytokines (IFNγ and IL-2) was upregulated in wild-type and Mpst^-/- mice at the delayed phase. These results suggest that (upregulated) CTH or H₂S produced by it helps maintain Th1/Th2 balance to protect against contact dermatitis.

Regulation of immune cell metabolism in health and disease: Special focus on T and B cell subsets

Metabolism is a dynamic process and keeps changing from time to time according to the demand of a particular cell to meet its bio-energetic requirement. Different immune cells rely on distinct metabolic programs which allow the cell to balance its requirements for energy, molecular biosynthesis, and effector activity. In the aspect of infection and cancer immunology, effector T and B cells get exhausted and help tumor cells to evade immunosurveillance. On the other hand, T cells become hyperresponsive in the scenario of autoimmune diseases. In this article, we have explored the uniqueness and distinct metabolic features of key CD4⁺ T and B helper cell subsets, CD4⁺ T, B regulatory cell subsets and CD8⁺ T cells regarding health and disease. Th1 cells rely on glycolysis and glutaminolysis; inhibition of these metabolic pathways promotes Th1 cells in Treg population. However, Th2 cells are also dependent on glycolysis but an abundance of lactate within TME shifts their metabolic dependency to fatty acid metabolism. Th17 cells depend on HIF-1α mediated glycolysis, ablation of HIF-1α reduces Th17 cells but enhance Treg population. In contrast to effector T cells which are largely dependent on glycolysis for their differentiation and function, Treg cells mainly rely on FAO for their function. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to understand the metabolic fates of immune cells and how it facilitates their differentiation and function for different disease models. Targeting metabolic pathways to restore the functionality of immune cells in diseased conditions can lead to potent therapeutic measures.

Crohn's Disease and Female Infertility: Can Nutrition Play a Supporting Role?

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease (IBD) that can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract in a non-continuous mode. CD is generally diagnosed most commonly between 15 and 35 years of age and may affect female fertility. The role of diet in supporting wellbeing outcome and reproductive potential in women is well-known; however, no effective efforts have been made to improve women's awareness in CD. Our review aims to describe the burden of CD on women's fertility, reporting the most relevant nutrients that support reproductive function to ensure women diagnosed with IBD an adequate health-related quality of life.

Preliminary analysis of immunoregulatory mechanism of hyperhomocysteinemia-induced brain injury in Wistar-Kyoto rats

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) can be used as an independent risk factor for predicting cardiovascular disease, stroke and vitamin B12 deficiency. Patients with HHcy have elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations. Enhancing cerebrovascular permeability of substances such as Hcy and brain damage will synergistically increase the symptoms of hypertension, but the specific immune regulation mechanism is still not clear. The purpose of the present study was to preliminarily explore the immunomodulatory mechanism of brain damage caused by HHcy in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. A total of 60 WKYs were randomly divided into three groups: WKY control group (WKY-C group), WKY methionine group (WKY-M group) and WKY treatment group (WKY-T group; vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid were used as treatment), with 20 rats in each group. Physical examination of body weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and plasma Hcy content was performed routinely. The concentration of cytokines, including IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A and TGF-β, associated with T helper cell 17 (Th17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells and key regulator genes, including retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γ t (RORγt) and forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), were detected by ELISA, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. Th17/Treg lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry. MRI scan was preliminarily used to detect the changes characteristic of the ischemic stroke. The results revealed that high methionine diets might have a significant effect on the body weight and SBP. The inflammatory response effect of Treg cells was significantly inhibited in the WKY-M group, and that of Th17 cells was upregulated when compared to the WKY-T group. Compared with the WKY-T group, the expression levels of IL-17A and RORγt in the WKY-M group were significantly upregulated, while the mRNA levels of FoxP3 in the WKY-M group were significantly downregulated. The diet intervention (including vitamins B6 and B12 and folic acid) could reduce the level of Hcy in the blood, but also reduce the inflammatory response and rectify the Treg/Th17 immune imbalance to ameliorate the brain tissue damage. In conclusion, the present study indicated that HHcy can promote inflammation by triggering Treg/Th17 immune imbalance to ameliorate the brain tissue damage.

Homocysteine and psoriasis

Psoriasis is caused by a complex interplay among the immune system, genetic background, autoantigens, and environmental factors. Recent studies have demonstrated that patients with psoriasis have a significantly higher serum homocysteine (Hcy) level and a higher prevalence of hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy). Insufficiency of folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ can be a cause of HHcy in psoriasis. Hcy may promote the immuno-inflammatory process in the pathogenesis of psoriasis by activating Th1 and Th17 cells and neutrophils, while suppressing regulatory T cells. Moreover, Hcy can drive the immuno-inflammatory process by enhancing the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines in related to psoriasis. Hcy can induce nuclear factor kappa B activation, which is critical in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis. There may be a link between the oxidative stress state in psoriasis and the effect of HHcy. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) may play a protective role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and the deficiency of H₂S in psoriasis may be caused by HHcy. As the role of Hcy in the pathogenesis of psoriasis is most likely established, Hcy can be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of psoriasis. Systemic folinate calcium, a folic acid derivative, and topical vitamin B12 have found to be effective in treating psoriasis.

Hyperhomocysteinemia and Endothelial Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis

Endothelial dysfunction is recognized as one of the leading factors in the pathogenesis of diseases of the central nervous system of various etiologies. Numerous studies have shown the role of hyperhomocysteinemia in the development of endothelial dysfunction and the prothrombogenic state. The most important condition in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) is a dysregulation of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and transendothelial leukocyte migration. It has been proven that homocysteine also contributes to the damage of neurons by the mechanism of excitotoxicity and the induction of the apoptosis of neurons. These processes can be one of the factors of neurodegenerative brain damage, which plays a leading role in the progression of MS. This review describes the pleiotropic effect of homocysteine on these processes and its role in MS pathogenesis.

Micronutrient Absorption and Related Outcomes in People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Review

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder associated with immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. While it is poorly understood, the role of nutrition and nutrient status in the etiology of IBD and its associated outcomes has led to increased research relating to micronutrient deficiency. This review offers an overview of recent literature related to micronutrient absorption and outcomes in adults with IBD. Although the absorption and IBD-related outcomes of some micronutrients (e.g., vitamin D and iron) are well understood, other micronutrients (e.g., vitamin A) require further research. Increased research and clinician knowledge of the relationship between micronutrients and IBD may manifest in improved nutrient screening, monitoring, treatment, and outcomes for people living with IBD.