Muhammad Shamoon

Therapeutic implications of innate immune system in acute pancreatitis

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas encompassing a cascade of cellular and molecular events. It starts from premature activation of zymogens with the involvement of innate immune system to a potential systemic inflammatory response and multiple organ failure. Leukocytes are the major cell population that participate in the propagation of the disease. Current understanding of the course of AP is still far from complete, limiting treatment options mostly to conservative supportive care. Emerging evidence has pointed to modulation of the immune system for strategic therapeutic development, by mitigating the inflammatory response and severity of AP. In the current review, we have focused on the role of innate immunity in the condition and highlighted therapeutics targeting it for treatment of this challenging disease. Areas covered: The current review has aimed to elaborate in-depth understanding of specific roles of innate immune cells, derived mediators and inflammatory pathways that are involved in AP. Summarizing the recent therapeutics and approaches applied experimentally that target immune responses to attenuate AP. Expert opinion: The current state of knowledge on AP, limitations of presently available therapeutic approaches and the promise of therapeutic implications of innate immune system in AP are discussed.

Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide modulates the severity of acute pancreatitis in mice

The present study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of mouse cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) on experimental acute pancreatitis (AP). AP is a common clinical condition characterized by acute abdominal inflammation. Innate immune cells and mediators are intrinsically linked to the pathogenesis of AP. Cathelicidins are innate immunity-derived antimicrobial peptides that exert immunomodulatory effects on various host cells. However, how cathelicidins are involved and modulate the severity and inflammatory responses of AP remains unclear. In the present study, the mouse CRAMP gene-deficient cnlp−/− mice and their wild-type C57BL/6J littermates were induced with AP by multiple hourly injections of supramaximal doses of caerulein. Serum amylase levels, pancreatic myeloperoxidase activity and histological examination were performed in order to determine the disease severity and the levels of inflammatory cytokines. Disease severity and inflammatory markers were subsequently evaluated in the control mice, cnlp−/− C57BL/6J mice with AP, and wild-type C57BL/6J mice with AP. The results demonstrated that cnlp−/− mice exhibited a more severe phenotype and inflammatory response following AP induction compared with the wild-type mice, as evidenced by increased serum amylase levels, pancreatic myeloperoxidase release, and early inflammatory mediator tumor necrosis factor-α production. Histological examination confirmed that CRAMP deficiency worsened the pancreatic inflammatory condition. These results indicate that CRAMP may be considered a novel modulatory mediator in mouse experimental AP.

Proximate composition, functional properties, amino acid, mineral and vitamin contents of a novel food: Alhydwan (Boerhavia elegana Choisy) seed flour

Alhydwan (Boerhavia elegana Choisy) seed flour was evaluated for chemical and nutritional composition, and functional properties in a pursuit to identify an innovative plant with high nutraceuticals value which could be exploited in other food applications. The flour was found to be rich in dietary fiber (30.13%), protein (14.60%), crude fat (11.49%), carbohydrates (30.77%), and ash (6.88%) and encompassed adequate amounts of essential amino acids and minerals, whereas, sucrose constituted 71.3% of total sugar contents. Vitamins analysis revealed that flour is rich in water-soluble vitamins such as Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2) and Niacin (B3), to the amounts of 19.3, 8.2 and 2.3mg/100g, respectively. Results on functional properties demonstrated high water and oil absorption capacities of 6.31 and 2.43g/g, respectively. Foaming capacity, foam stability and emulsion capacity were 9.35%, 6.90%, and 29.60%, respectively. It can be concluded that alhydwan is an excellent food material with a high nutritional value.

Recent Advances on Nutrition in Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common abdominal acute inflammatory disorder and the leading cause of hospital admission for gastrointestinal disorders in many countries. Clinical manifestations of AP vary from self-limiting local inflammation to devastating systemic pathological conditions causing significant morbidity and mortality. To date, despite extensive efforts in translating promising experimental therapeutic targets in clinical trials, disease-specific effective remedy remains obscure, and supportive care has still been the primary treatment for this disease. Emerging evidence, in light of the current state of pathophysiology of AP, has highlighted that strategic initiation of nutrition with appropriate nutrient supplementation are key to limit local inflammation and to prevent or manage AP-associated complications. The current review focuses on recent advances on nutritional interventions including enteral versus parenteral nutrition strategies, and nutritional supplements such as probiotics, glutamine, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins in clinical AP, hoping to advance current knowledge and practice related to nutrition and nutritional supplements in clinical management of AP.

Effects of twenty standard amino acids on biochemical constituents, docosahexaenoic acid production and metabolic activity changes of Crypthecodinium cohnii

The influence of 20 standard amino acids was investigated on growth, lipid accumulation, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production and cell biochemical composition of Crypthecodinium cohnii. C. cohnii efficiently utilize organic nitrogen (predominantly threonine and to a lesser extent tyrosine and serine) as compared to inorganic nitrogen (NH4)2SO4. However, No significant effect was observed on major biochemical composition of C. cohnii (lipids, carbohydrates and proteins) under N limitation or supplementation with different N-sources. Key lipogenic enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, ATP-citrate lyase, fatty acid synthase, malic enzyme, citrate synthase (CS), NAD+ and NADP+ dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase were shown to be vital in lipogenesis of C. cohnii. Our results indicated that the process of lipid accumulation in C. cohnii is growth-associated and does not depend upon the trigger of nitrogen depletion. This unusual behavior would suggest that the metabolism of the cells may not be entirely the same as in other lipid-accumulating microorganisms.

Anti-diabetic Effects of Clostridium butyricum CGMCC0313.1 through Promoting the Growth of Gut Butyrate-producing Bacteria in Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have decreased butyrate-producing bacteria. We hypothesized that supplementation with butyrate-producing bacteria may exert beneficial effects on T2D. The current study investigated the effects of well-characterized butyrate-producing bacteria Clostridium butyricum CGMCC0313.1 (CB0313.1) on hyperglycemia and associated metabolic dysfunction in two diabetic mouse models. CB0313.1 was administered daily by oral gavage to leptindb/db mice for 5 weeks starting from 3 weeks of age, and to HF diabetic mice induced by high fat diet (HFD) plus streptozotocin (STZ) in C57BL/6J mice for 13 weeks starting from 4 weeks of age. CB0313.1 improved diabetic markers (fasting glucose, glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, GLP-1 and insulin secretion), and decreased blood lipids and inflammatory tone. Furthermore, CB0313.1 reversed hypohepatias and reduced glucose output. We also found that CB0313.1 modulated gut microbiota composition, characterized by a decreased ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, reduced Allobaculum bacteria that were abundant in HF diabetic mice and increased butyrate-producing bacteria. Changes in gut microbiota following CB0313.1 treatment were associated with enhanced peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), insulin signaling molecules and mitochondrial function markers. Together, our study suggests that CB0313.1 may act as a beneficial probiotic for the prevention and treatment of hyperglycemia and associated metabolic dysfunction.

Corrigendum: Recent Advances on Nutrition in Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis

[This corrects the article on p. 762 in vol. 8, PMID: 28713382.].

An update on hypoallergenicity of peanut and soybean: where are we now?

Legumes are considered as one of the major sources of protein as well as providing other vital components of the diet. At the same time, unfortunately, the leguminous crops peanut and soybean also possess food allergens. The majority of legume allergens originate from four protein families and superfamilies ((i) cupins, (ii) prolamins, (iii) profilins and (iv) pathogenic related proteins larger group) and mainly induce IgE-mediated allergenic reactions. The ace strategy to manage the food allergy strictly encompasses avoiding the food allergens. Apart from numerous other alternative approaches for the treatment of food hypersensitivity, elimination of allergens from food crop(s) is a recent direction of research. Two important approaches have been successfully exploited to develop hypoallergenic leguminous crops: (i) lowering or removing the contents of allergy related proteins via germplasm lines screening and (ii) silencing the allergenic proteins encoding native genes via genetic transformation. Both of these strategies have yielded promising results in the production of peanut and soybean cultivars with low levels of allergic proteins. This current review will elaborate the efforts which have been made to develop hypoallergenic peanut and soybean cultivars to manage the legume allergy with a brief concluding debate on the challenges which still need to be addressed before such products could be launched for consumers in the market place.

Current Advances and Prospects on Implementation of Highly Sensitive Aptamer-based Dual System for Melamine Detection: New Promising Tool of Great Affinity

Much attention has been devoted to melamine (MA) analysis in food products in accordance with the food safety standards. Aptamer-based analytical techniques thrived with the improvements in latest tools, analytical reagents and methods and most importantly iterative in vitro selection process known as systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Aptamer-based techniques possess very high affinity and specificity towards contaminants and play a pivotal role in MA detection. However, success depends on the starting aptamer, selection of appropriate nanoparticle, target molecule(s) and characterization of advances in aptamer selection, strategies of preparing, treating the nanoparticles analytical system methods. Current review has focused to elaborate the key recent innovation in aptamer-based dual system construction for MA detection. We have also highlighted the promising types of aptamer-conjugated nanomaterial for the specific recognition of some other potential adulterants and food hazards. Finally, we proposed future directives in developing novel aptamer and further condition optimizations that could give high-throughput food-safety analysis method and melamine “zero tolerance” towards food safety incidents.