Basic Three-Dimensional (3D) Intestinal Model System with an Immune Component

There has been an increase in the use of in vivo and in vitro intestinal models to study the pathophysiology of inflammatory intestinal diseases, for the ...

Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna

Khorasan wheat is an ancient grain with previously reported health benefits in clinically healthy subjects. The aim of this study was to examine whether a replacement diet, thereby substituting all other cereal grains, with products made with organic khorasan wheat could provide additive protective effects in reducing lipid, oxidative and inflammatory risk factors, in patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) in comparison to a similar replacement diet using products made from organic modern wheat. A randomized double-blinded crossover trial with two intervention phases was conducted on 22 ACS patients (9 F; 13 M). The patients were assigned to consume products (bread, pasta, biscuits and crackers) made either from organic semi-whole khorasan wheat or organic semi-whole control wheat for eight weeks in a random order. On average, patients ingested 62.0 g dry weight (DW) day-1 khorasan or control semolina; and 140.5 g DW day-1 khorasan or control flour, respectively. An eight-week washout period was implemented between the respective interventions. Blood analyses were performed both at the beginning and end of each intervention phase; thereby permitting a comparison of both the khorasan and control intervention phases, respectively, on circulatory risk factors for the same patient. Consumption of products made with khorasan wheat resulted in a significant amelioration in total cholesterol (-6.8%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (-8.1%) glucose (-8%) and insulin (-24.6%) from baseline levels, independently of age, sex, traditional risk factors, medication and diet quality. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipoperoxidation of circulating monocytes and lymphocytes, as well as in the levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha. No significant differences from baseline in the same patients were observed after the conventional control wheat intervention phase. The present results suggest that a replacement diet with cereal products made from organic khorasan wheat provides additional protection in patients with ACS. Circulating cardiovascular risk factors, including lipid parameters, and markers of both oxidative stress and inflammatory status, were reduced, irrespective of the number and combination of medicinal therapies with proven efficacy in secondary prevention.

An organic khorasan wheat-based replacement diet improves risk profile of patients with acute coronary syndrome: a randomized crossover trial.

There is a need to assess the relationship between improved rheological properties and the immunogenic potential of wheat proteins. The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro effects of total protein extracts from three modern and two landrace  commercial flour mixes, with significant differences in gluten strength (GS), on cell lines. Cytotoxicity and innate immune responses induced by wheat proteins were investigated using Caco-2 monocultures, two dimensional (2D) Caco-2/U937 co-cultures, and three dimensional (3D) co-cultures simulating the intestinal mucosa with Caco-2 epithelial cells situated above an extra-cellular matrix containing U937 monocytes and L929 fibroblasts. Modern wheat proteins, with increased GS, significantly reduced Caco-2 cell proliferation and vitality in monoculture and 2D co-cultures than landrace proteins. Modern wheat proteins also augmented Caco-2 monolayer disruption and tight junction protein, occludin, redistribution in 3D co-cultures. Release of interleukin-8 into the cell medium and increased U937 monocyte migration in both 2D and 3D co-cultures were similarly apparent. Immuno-activation of migrating U937 cells was evidenced from cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) staining and CD11b-related differentiation into macrophages. The modern wheat proteins, with gluten polymorphism relatedness and increased GS, were shown to be more cytotoxic and immunogenic than the landrace wheat proteins.

Pro-Inflammatory Effect of Gliadins and Glutenins Extracted from Different Wheat Cultivars on an In Vitro 3D Intestinal Epithelium Model.

Impaired autophagy, responsible for increased inflammation, constitutes a risk factor for the more severe COVID-19 outcomes. Spermidine (SPD) is a known autophagy modulator and supplementation for COVID-19 risk groups (including the elderly) is recommended. However, information on the modulatory effects of eugenol (EUG) is scarce. Therefore, the effects of SPD and EUG, both singularly and in combination, on autophagy were investigated using different cell lines (HBEpiC, SHSY5Y, HUVEC, Caco-2, L929 and U937). SPD (0.3 mM), EUG (0.2 mM) and 0.3 mM SPD + 0.2 mM EUG, significantly increased autophagy using the hallmark measure of LC3-II protein accumulation in the cell lines without cytotoxic effects. Using Caco-2 cells as a model, several crucial autophagy proteins were upregulated at all stages of autophagic flux in response to the treatments. This effect was verified by the activation/differentiation and migration of U937 monocytes in a three-dimensional reconstituted intestinal model (Caco-2, L929 and U937 cells). Comparable benefits of SPD, EUG and SPD + EUG in inducing autophagy were shown by the protection of Caco-2 and L929 cells against lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. SPD + EUG is an innovative dual therapy capable of stimulating autophagy and reducing inflammation in vitro and could show promise for COVID-19 risk groups.

Wheat Germ Spermidine and Clove Eugenol in Combination Stimulate Autophagy In Vitro Showing Potential in Supporting the Immune System against Viral Infections.

Increases in non-communicable and auto-immune diseases, with a shared etiology of defective autophagy and chronic inflammation, have motivated research both on natural products in drug discovery fields and on the interrelationship between autophagy and inflammation. Within this framework, the tolerability and protective effects of a wheat-germ spermidine (SPD) and clove eugenol (EUG) combination supplement (SUPPL) were investigated on inflammation status (after the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) and on autophagy using human Caco-2 and NCM460 cell lines. In comparison to the LPS treatment alone, the SUPPL + LPS significantly attenuated ROS levels and midkine expression in monocultures, as well as occludin expression and mucus production in reconstituted intestinal equivalents. Over a timeline of 2-4 h, the SUPPL and SUPPL + LPS treatments stimulated autophagy LC3-11 steady state expression and turnover, as well as P62 turnover. After completely blocking autophagy with dorsomorphin, inflammatory midkine was significantly reduced in the SUPPL + LPS treatment in a non-autophagy-dependent manner. After a 24 h timeline, preliminary results showed that mitophagy receptor BNIP3L expression was significantly downregulated in the SUPPL + LPS treatment compared to the LPS alone, whereas conventional autophagy protein expression was significantly higher. The SUPPL shows promise in reducing inflammation and increasing autophagy to improve intestinal health.

Anne Whittaker

Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences

Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna

Basic Three-Dimensional (3D) Intestinal Model System with an Immune Component

Anne Whittaker

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences

Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna

Basic Three-Dimensional (3D) Intestinal Model System with an Immune Component

Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences