scholarly journals Role of Zinc in Immune System and Anti-Cancer Defense Mechanisms

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorota Skrajnowska ◽  
Barbara Bobrowska-Korczak
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cell Structure ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Zinc Content ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Enzyme Activation ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Risk Of Cancer

The human body cannot store zinc reserves, so a deficiency can arise relatively quickly, e.g., through an improper diet. Severe zinc deficiency is rare, but mild deficiencies are common around the world. Many epidemiological studies have shown a relationship between the zinc content in the diet and the risk of cancer. The anti-cancer effect of zinc is most often associated with its antioxidant properties. However, this is just one of many possibilities, including the influence of zinc on the immune system, transcription factors, cell differentiation and proliferation, DNA and RNA synthesis and repair, enzyme activation or inhibition, the regulation of cellular signaling, and the stabilization of the cell structure and membranes. This study presents selected issues regarding the current knowledge of anti-cancer mechanisms involving this element.

scholarly journals Diversity of molecular mechanisms used by anti-CRISPR proteins: the tip of an iceberg?

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 507-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Hardouin ◽  
Adeline Goulet
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Structure Function ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Arms Race ◽  
Allosteric Inhibitors ◽  
Fundamental Knowledge ◽  
Attack And Defense ◽  
Fine Tune

Bacteriophages (phages) and their preys are engaged in an evolutionary arms race driving the co-adaptation of their attack and defense mechanisms. In this context, phages have evolved diverse anti-CRISPR proteins to evade the bacterial CRISPR–Cas immune system, and propagate. Anti-CRISPR proteins do not share much resemblance with each other and with proteins of known function, which raises intriguing questions particularly relating to their modes of action. In recent years, there have been many structure–function studies shedding light on different CRISPR–Cas inhibition strategies. As the anti-CRISPR field of research is rapidly growing, it is opportune to review the current knowledge on these proteins, with particular emphasis on the molecular strategies deployed to inactivate distinct steps of CRISPR–Cas immunity. Anti-CRISPR proteins can be orthosteric or allosteric inhibitors of CRISPR–Cas machineries, as well as enzymes that irreversibly modify CRISPR–Cas components. This repertoire of CRISPR–Cas inhibition mechanisms will likely expand in the future, providing fundamental knowledge on phage–bacteria interactions and offering great perspectives for the development of biotechnological tools to fine-tune CRISPR–Cas-based gene edition.

scholarly journals Squalene: More than a Step toward Sterols

Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Micera ◽  
Alfonso Botto ◽  
Federica Geddo ◽  
Susanna Antoniotti ◽  
Cinzia Margherita Bertea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Free Radicals ◽  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Metabolic Intermediate ◽  
Cellular Models

Squalene (SQ) is a natural triterpene widely distributed in nature. It is a metabolic intermediate of the sterol biosynthetic pathway and represents a possible target in different metabolic and oxidative stress-related disorders. Growing interest has been focused on SQ’s antioxidant properties, derived from its chemical structure. Strong evidence provided by ex vivo models underline its scavenging activity towards free radicals, whereas only a few studies have highlighted its effect in cellular models of oxidative stress. Given the role of unbalanced free radicals in both the onset and progression of several cardiovascular diseases, an in depth evaluation of SQ’s contribution to antioxidant defense mechanisms could represent a strategic approach in dealing with these pathological conditions. At present experimental results overall show a double-edged sword role of squalene in cardiovascular diseases and its function has to be better elucidated in order to establish intervention lines focused on its features. This review aims to summarize current knowledge about endogenous and exogenous sources of SQ and to point out the controversial role of SQ in cardiovascular physiology.

scholarly journals Anti-Cancer and Cardiovascular Properties of Phenolic Compounds Present in Virgin Olive Oil

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed El Haouari
Keyword(s):  
Phenolic Compounds ◽  
Olive Oil ◽  
Lower Risk ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Virgin Olive Oil ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Action Mechanisms ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Fatty Component

Cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Furthermore, current cardiovascular and cancer therapy is accompanied by various side effects, which considerably reduce the quality of life. Epidemiological studies suggest that the Mediterranean diet has been related to a lower risk of non-communicable diseases such as CVD and cancer. This lower incidence has been partially attributed to the regular intake of virgin olive oil (VOO) which is the main fatty component of the traditional Mediterranean die. In addition to monounsaturated fatty acid, VOO contains various phenolic compounds, which have shown a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties due to their antioxidant activity. This chapter summarizes current knowledge on the effects of the main phenolic compounds isolated from VOO on different cancers and CVD as well as the plausible action mechanisms involved.

scholarly journals An Update on Anti-CD137 Antibodies in Immunotherapies for Cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinh-Toi Chu ◽  
Nguyen Duy Bac ◽  
Khanh-Hoang Nguyen ◽  
Nguyen Le Bao Tien ◽  
Vo Van Thanh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Cancer Immunotherapy ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Selective Expression

The selective expression of CD137 on cells of the immune system (e.g., T and DC cells) and oncogenic cells in several types of cancer leads this molecule to be an attractive target to discover cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, specific antibodies against CD137 are being studied and developed aiming to activate and enhance anti-cancer immune responses as well as suppress oncogenic cells. Accumulating evidence suggests that anti-CD137 antibodies can be used separately to prevent tumor in some cases, while in other cases, these antibodies need to be co-administered with other antibodies or drugs/vaccines/regents for a better performance. Thus, in this work, we aim to update and discuss current knowledge about anti-cancer effects of anti-CD137 antibodies as mono- and combined-immunotherapies.

CRISPR/Cas, the Immune System of Bacteria and Archaea

Science ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 327 (5962) ◽  
pp. 167-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Horvath ◽  
Rodolphe Barrangou
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Viral Resistance ◽  
Acquired Immunity ◽  
Specific Manner ◽  
Hypervariable Loci ◽  
Over Time

Microbes rely on diverse defense mechanisms that allow them to withstand viral predation and exposure to invading nucleic acid. In many Bacteria and most Archaea, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) form peculiar genetic loci, which provide acquired immunity against viruses and plasmids by targeting nucleic acid in a sequence-specific manner. These hypervariable loci take up genetic material from invasive elements and build up inheritable DNA-encoded immunity over time. Conversely, viruses have devised mutational escape strategies that allow them to circumvent the CRISPR/Cas system, albeit at a cost. CRISPR features may be exploited for typing purposes, epidemiological studies, host-virus ecological surveys, building specific immunity against undesirable genetic elements, and enhancing viral resistance in domesticated microbes.

scholarly journals A Review of Component and Pharmacology Activities of Black Garlic

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 178
Author(s):  
Novitaria Br Sembiring ◽  
Yoppi Iskandar
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Maillard Reaction ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Sweet Taste ◽  
Enzymatic Browning ◽  
Future Prospects ◽  
Browning Reaction ◽  
Aging Period ◽  
Anti Cancer

Black garlic is garlic fermented in high temperature and humidity, and the fermentation compound chemical in garlic changes to new chemicals, such as S-allyl cysteine (SAC), S-allylmercapto-cysteine, and arginine. The color changed to dark brown during the aging period because of the Maillard reaction, known as non-enzymatic browning reaction. Black garlic has 57.14% of fructose, 6.78% of glucose, and 7.62% of sucrose, which were mainly saccharides in black garlic to answer for its sweet taste. It is such a pharmacological activity which contains antioxidant, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, can improve the immune system, reduce hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and anti-allergic. We summarize the current knowledge of a change in the components, bioactivity, production, and applications of black garlic, as well as the proposed future prospects on their possible applications as a functional pharmacy product.

Resveratrol: A new potential therapeutic agent for melanoma?

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Hossein Pourhanifeh ◽  
Kazem Abbaszadeh-Goudarzi ◽  
Mohammad Goodarzi ◽  
Sara G.M. Piccirillo ◽  
Alimohammad Shafiee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Therapeutic Agent ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Treatment Resistance ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Apoptosis Inducer ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
First Time

: Melanoma is the most life-threatening and aggressive class of skin malignancies. The incidence of melanoma has steadily increased. Metastatic melanoma is greatly resistant to standard anti-melanomatreatments such as chemotherapy, and 5-year survival rate of cases with melanoma who have metastatic form of disease is less than 10%. The contributing role of apoptosis, angiogenesis and autophagy in the pathophysiology of melanoma has been previously demonstrated. Thus, it is extremely urgent to search for complementary therapeutic approachesthat couldenhance the quality of life of subjects and reduce treatment resistance and adverse effects. Resveratrol, known as a polyphenol component present in grapes and some plants, has anti-cancer properties due to its function as an apoptosis inducer in tumor cells, and anti-angiogenic agent to prevent metastasis. However, more clinical trials should be conducted to prove resveratrol efficacy. : Herein, for first time, we summarize current knowledge of anti-cancerous activities of resveratrol in melanoma.

The Immune System Regulation in Sepsis: From Innate to Adaptive

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 799-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Qiu ◽  
Guo-wei Tu ◽  
Min-jie Ju ◽  
Cheng Yang ◽  
Zhe Luo
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ◽  
Inflammatory Response ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Systemic Inflammatory Response ◽  
Immune System Regulation

Sepsis, which is a highly heterogeneous syndrome, can result in death as a consequence of a systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The activation and regulation of the immune system play a key role in the initiation, development and prognosis of sepsis. Due to the different periods of sepsis when the objects investigated were incorporated, clinical trials often exhibit negative or even contrary results. Thus, in this review we aim to sort out the current knowledge in how immune cells play a role during sepsis.

Kinetic Aspects of the Interplay of Cancer and the Immune System

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (02) ◽  
pp. 101-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir P. Zhdanov
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Kinetic Model ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Lifetime Risk ◽  
Risk Of Cancer

The understanding of the interplay between cancer and the immune system is still limited. Herein, I focus on two aspects of this interplay. First, I propose a kinetic model describing the likely role of the immune system in the lifetime risk of cancer at the level of the whole human population. For each tissue, the risk is predicted to be influenced by the heterogeneity of the population and to depend exponentially on time. The expression for the risk does not, however, depend explicitly on the total number of divisions of the corresponding stem cells. For this reason, the correlation with the latter number can only be indirect. Second, using another kinetic framework, I describe how the growth of a few tumors can depend on their interaction via the immune system. The analysis shows that depending on specific details, the tumors of different sizes tend either to reach the same size or remain to be of different sizes.

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