MyMedR

Fulltext Persistent Brainstem Dysfunction in Long-COVID: A Hypothesis

Yong SJ

ACS Chem Neurosci, 2021 Feb 17;12(4):573-580.

PMID: 33538586 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00793

Long-COVID is a postviral illness that can affect survivors of COVID-19, regardless of initial disease severity or age. Symptoms of long-COVID include fatigue, dyspnea, gastrointestinal and cardiac problems, cognitive impairments, myalgia, and others. While the possible causes of long-COVID include long-term tissue damage, viral persistence, and chronic inflammation, the review proposes, perhaps for the first time, that persistent brainstem dysfunction may also be involved. This hypothesis can be split into two parts. The first is the brainstem tropism and damage in COVID-19. As the brainstem has a relatively high expression of ACE2 receptor compared with other brain regions, SARS-CoV-2 may exhibit tropism therein. Evidence also exists that neuropilin-1, a co-receptor of SARS-CoV-2, may be expressed in the brainstem. Indeed, autopsy studies have found SARS-CoV-2 RNA and proteins in the brainstem. The brainstem is also highly prone to damage from pathological immune or vascular activation, which has also been observed in autopsy of COVID-19 cases. The second part concerns functions of the brainstem that overlap with symptoms of long-COVID. The brainstem contains numerous distinct nuclei and subparts that regulate the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and neurological processes, which can be linked to long-COVID. As neurons do not readily regenerate, brainstem dysfunction may be long-lasting and, thus, is long-COVID. Indeed, brainstem dysfunction has been implicated in other similar disorders, such as chronic pain and migraine and myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Gut bacteria characteristic of the infant microbiota down-regulate inflammatory transcriptional responses in HT-29 cells

Pathmanathan SG, Lawley B, McConnell M, Baird MA, Tannock GW

Anaerobe, 2020 Feb;61:102112.

PMID: 31629806 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2019.102112

Immuno-modulatory effects of infant gut bacteria were tested on poly(I:C) stimulated HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells. Blautia producta, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron decreased transcription of poly(I:C)-induced inflammatory genes. Modulation of basal level and poly(I:C)-induced IL-8 secretion varied between bacterial species, and between heat treated and non-heat treated bacterial cells.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Tocotrienols: inflammation and cancer

Nesaretnam K, Meganathan P

Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2011 Jul;1229:18-22.

PMID: 21793834 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06088.x

Inflammation is an organism's response to environmental assaults. It can be classified as acute inflammation that leads to therapeutic recovery or chronic inflammation, which may lead to the development of cancer and other ailments. Genetic changes that occur within cancer cells themselves are responsible for many aspects of cancer development but are dependent on ancillary processes for tumor promotion and progression. Inflammation has long been associated with the development of cancer. The distinct characteristics of cancer cells to proliferate, metastasize, evade apoptotic signals, and develop chemoresistance have been linked to the inflammatory response. Due to the involvement of multiple genes and various pathways, current drugs that target single genes have not been effective in providing a therapeutic cure. On the other hand, natural products target multiple genes and therefore have better success compared to drugs. Tocotrienols, the potent isoforms of vitamin E, are such a natural product. This review will discuss the relationship between cancer and inflammation with particular focus on the roles played by NF-κB, STAT3, and COX-2.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

In Vivo Anti-Tumor Effects of Flavokawain A in 4T1 Breast Cancer Cell-Challenged Mice

Abu N, Mohamed NE, Yeap SK, Lim KL, Akhtar MN, Zulfadli AJ, et al.

Anticancer Agents Med Chem, 2015;15(7):905-15.

PMID: 26179368

Flavokawain A is a chalcone that can be found in the kava-kava plant (Piper methsyticum) extract. The kava-kava plant has been reported to possess anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. The state of the immune system, and the inflammatory process play vital roles in the progression of cancer. The immunomodulatary effects and the anti-inflammatory effects of flavokawain A in a breast cancer murine model have not been studied yet. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the basic mechanism as to how flavokawain A regulates and enhance the immune system as well as impeding the inflammatory process in breast cancer-challenged mice. Based on our study, it is interesting to note that flavokawain A increased the T cell population; both Th1 cells and CTLs, aside from the natural killer cells. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 were also elevated in the serum of flavokawain A-treated mice. Apart from that, flavokawain A also decreased the weight and volume of the tumor, and managed to induce apoptosis in them. In terms of inflammation, flavokawain A-treated mice had reduced level of major pro-inflammatory mediators; NO, iNOS, NF-KB, ICAM and COX-2. Overall, flavokawain A has the potential to not only enhance antitumor immunity, but also prevents the inflammatory process in a cancer-prone microenvironment.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) expression on the nerve fibers of human dental pulp is upregulated under inflammatory condition

Bakri MM, Yahya F, Munawar KMM, Kitagawa J, Hossain MZ

Arch Oral Biol, 2018 May;89:94-98.

PMID: 29499561 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2018.02.011

OBJECTIVE: Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) has been considered as a mechano-, thermo- and osmo-receptor. Under inflammatory conditions in dental pulp, teeth can become sensitive upon exposure to a variety of innocuous stimuli. The objective of the present study was to investigate the expression of the TRPV4 channel on nerve fibers in human dental pulp of non-symptomatic and symptomatic teeth associated with inflammatory conditions.

DESIGN: Dental pulp from extracted human permanent teeth was processed for fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Ten asymptomatic (normal) and 10 symptomatic (symptoms associated with pulpitis) teeth were used in this study. Nerve fibers were identified by immunostaining for a marker, protein gene product 9.5, and the cells were counterstained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. An anti-TRPV4 antibody was used to trace TRPV4 expression.

RESULTS: TRPV4 expression was co-localized with the nerve fiber marker. Immunoreactivity for TRPV4 was more intense (p 

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Diabetes-induced testicular oxidative stress, inflammation, and caspase-dependent apoptosis: the protective role of metformin

Nna VU, Bakar ABA, Ahmad A, Mohamed M

Arch Physiol Biochem, 2020 Dec;126(5):377-388.

PMID: 30513216 DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2018.1543329

Context: Metformin's effect on glycaemic control is well documented, but its effect on diabetes-induced testicular impairment has been scarcely reported.Objective: To investigate the effects of metformin on testicular oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, which largely contribute to fertility decline in diabetic state.Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 6/group) namely: normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), and metformin (300 mg/kg b.w./d)-treated diabetic groups. Metformin was administrated for 4 weeks.Results: Decreased mRNA expressions and activities of antioxidant enzymes were seen in the testes of DC group. mRNA and protein expressions of pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic markers increased, while interleukin-10 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) decreased in the testes of DC group. Treatment with metformin up-regulated antioxidant enzymes, down-regulated inflammation, and apoptosis and increased PCNA immunoexpression in the testes.Conclusions: Metformin protects the testes from diabetes-induced impairment and may improve male reproductive health in diabetic state.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Gelam and Nenas honeys inhibit proliferation of HT 29 colon cancer cells by inducing DNA damage and apoptosis while suppressing inflammation

Wen CT, Hussein SZ, Abdullah S, Karim NA, Makpol S, Mohd Yusof YA

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2012;13(4):1605-10.

PMID: 22799375

Gelam and Nenas monofloral honeys were investigated in this study for their chemopreventive effects against HT 29 colon cancer cells. MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H- tetrazolim) assays showed more effective inhibition of colon cancer cells proliferation by Gelam honey with IC₅₀ values of 39.0 mg/ml and 85.5 mg/ml respectively after 24 hours of treatment. Alkali comet assays revealed both honeys increased DNA damage significantly in a dose dependent manner. In addition, annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry demonstrated that at IC₅₀ concentrations and above, both Gelam and Nenas honeys induced apoptosis significantlyat values higher than for necrosis (p<0.05). Measurement of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) confirmed that Gelam and Nenas honeys reduced its production in H₂O₂ inflammation-induced colon cancer cells. In conclusion, our study indicated and confirmed that both Gelam and Nenas honeys are capable of suppressing the growth of HT 29 colon cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and suppressing inflammation.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Fulltext Ardisia crispa roots inhibit cyclooxygenase and suppress angiogenesis

Hamsin DE, Hamid RA, Yazan LS, Taib CN, Yeong LT

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2014;14:102.

PMID: 24641961 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-102

In our previous studies conducted on Ardisia crispa roots, it was shown that Ardisia crispa root inhibited inflammation-induced angiogenesis in vivo. The present study was conducted to identify whether the anti-angiogenic properties of Ardisia crispa roots was partly due to either cyclooxygenase (COX) or/and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity inhibition in separate in vitro studies.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Fulltext Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and anti-ulcerogenic effects of red algae Gracilaria changii (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) extract

Shu MH, Appleton D, Zandi K, AbuBakar S

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2013;13:61.

PMID: 23497105 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-61

Gracilaria changii (Xia et Abbott) Abbott, Zhang et Xia, a red algae commonly found in the coastal areas of Malaysia is traditionally used for foods and for the treatment of various ailments including inflammation and gastric ailments. The aim of the study was to investigate anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and anti-ulcerogenic activities of a mass spectrometry standardized methanolic extract of Gracilaria changii.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Fulltext 1'-Acetoxychavicol acetate inhibits growth of human oral carcinoma xenograft in mice and potentiates cisplatin effect via proinflammatory microenvironment alterations

In LL, Arshad NM, Ibrahim H, Azmi MN, Awang K, Nagoor NH

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2012;12:179.

PMID: 23043547 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-12-179

Oral cancers although preventable, possess a low five-year survival rate which has remained unchanged over the past three decades. In an attempt to find a more safe, affordable and effective treatment option, we describe here the use of 1'S-1'-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA), a component of Malaysian ginger traditionally used for various medicinal purposes.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism*

Fulltext Chemical constituents and antihistamine activity of Bixa orellana leaf extract

Yong YK, Zakaria ZA, Kadir AA, Somchit MN, Ee Cheng Lian G, Ahmad Z

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2013;13:32.

PMID: 23410184 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-32

Bixa orellana L. has been traditionally used in Central and South America to treat a number of ailments, including internal inflammation, and in other tropical countries like Malaysia as treatment for gastric ulcers and stomach discomfort. The current study aimed to determine the major chemical constituents of the aqueous extract of B. orellana (AEBO) and to evaluate the antihistamine activity of AEBO during acute inflammation induced in rats.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Fulltext Antifungal, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity activities of three varieties of labisia pumila benth: from microwave obtained extracts

Karimi E, Jaafar HZ, Ahmad S

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2013;13:20.

PMID: 23347830 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-20

Labisia pumila, locally known as Kacip Fatimah, is a forest-floor plant that has tremendous potential in the herbal industry. It is one of the five herbal plants identified by the government as one of the national key economic areas to be developed for commercial purposes. There are three varieties of L. pumila namely, L. pumila var. pumila, L. pumila var. alata and L. pumila var. lanceolata and each has its own use.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Fulltext The hexane fraction of Ardisia crispa Thunb. A. DC. roots inhibits inflammation-induced angiogenesis

Hamsin DE, Hamid RA, Yazan LS, Taib CN, Ting YL

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2013;13:5.

PMID: 23298265 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-5

Ardisia crispa (Myrsinaceae) is used in traditional Malay medicine to treat various ailments associated with inflammation, including rheumatism. The plant's hexane fraction was previously shown to inhibit several diseases associated with inflammation. As there is a strong correlation between inflammation and angiogenesis, we conducted the present study to investigate the anti-angiogenic effects of the plant's roots in animal models of inflammation-induced angiogenesis.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Fulltext Malaysian endophytic fungal extracts-induced anti-inflammation in Lipopolysaccharide-activated BV-2 microglia is associated with attenuation of NO production and, IL-6 and TNF-α expression

Harun A, Vidyadaran S, Lim SM, Cole AL, Ramasamy K

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2015;15:166.

PMID: 26047814 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-015-0685-5

Excessive production of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and proinflammatory cytokines like tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) from activated microglia contributes to uncontrolled inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigated the protective role of five endophytic extracts (HAB16R12, HAB16R13, HAB16R14, HAB16R18 and HAB8R24) against LPS-induced inflammatory events in vitro. These endophytic extracts were previously found to exhibit potent neuroprotective effect against LPS-challenged microglial cells.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Fulltext Coconut water vinegar ameliorates recovery of acetaminophen induced liver damage in mice

Mohamad NE, Yeap SK, Beh BK, Ky H, Lim KL, Ho WY, et al.

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2018 Jun 25;18(1):195.

PMID: 29940935 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2199-4

BACKGROUND: Coconut water has been commonly consumed as a beverage for its multiple health benefits while vinegar has been used as common seasoning and a traditional Chinese medicine. The present study investigates the potential of coconut water vinegar in promoting recovery on acetaminophen induced liver damage.

METHODS: Mice were injected with 250 mg/kg body weight acetaminophen for 7 days and were treated with distilled water (untreated), Silybin (positive control) and coconut water vinegar (0.08 mL/kg and 2 mL/kg body weight). Level of oxidation stress and inflammation among treated and untreated mice were compared.

RESULTS: Untreated mice oral administrated with acetaminophen were observed with elevation of serum liver profiles, liver histological changes, high level of cytochrome P450 2E1, reduced level of liver antioxidant and increased level of inflammatory related markers indicating liver damage. On the other hand, acetaminophen challenged mice treated with 14 days of coconut water vinegar were recorded with reduction of serum liver profiles, improved liver histology, restored liver antioxidant, reduction of liver inflammation and decreased level of liver cytochrome P450 2E1 in dosage dependent level.

CONCLUSION: Coconut water vinegar has helped to attenuate acetaminophen-induced liver damage by restoring antioxidant activity and suppression of inflammation.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Fulltext Edible Bird's Nest attenuates high fat diet-induced oxidative stress and inflammation via regulation of hepatic antioxidant and inflammatory genes

Yida Z, Imam MU, Ismail M, Hou Z, Abdullah MA, Ideris A, et al.

BMC Complement Altern Med, 2015;15:310.

PMID: 26341858 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-015-0843-9

Edible Bird's nest (EBN) is an antioxidant-rich supplement that is popular in many parts of Asia. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have been reported using in vitro system. This paper aimed to determine the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of EBN in in high fat diet induced rats model.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism*

Fulltext Honey and its nutritional and anti-inflammatory value

Ranneh Y, Akim AM, Hamid HA, Khazaai H, Fadel A, Zakaria ZA, et al.

BMC Complement Med Ther, 2021 Jan 14;21(1):30.

PMID: 33441127 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-020-03170-5

Inflammation is the main key role in developing chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases which possess a huge challenge for treatment. With massively compelling evidence of the role played by nutritional modulation in preventing inflammation-related diseases, there is a growing interest into the search for natural functional foods with therapeutic and preventive actions. Honey, a nutritional healthy product, is produced mainly by two types of bees: honeybee and stingless bee. Since both types of honey possess distinctive phenolic and flavonoid compounds, there is recently an intensive interest in their biological and clinical actions against inflammation-mediated chronic diseases. This review shed the light specifically on the bioavailability and bioaccessibility of honey polyphenols and highlight their roles in targeting inflammatory pathways in gastrointestinal tract disorders, edema, cancer, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and gut microbiota.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Fulltext The Role of Neuroinflammation in Cellular Damage in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Muthuraju S, Zakaria R, Karuppan MKM, Al-Rahbi B

Biomed Res Int, 2020 03 05;2020:9231452.

PMID: 32219147 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9231452

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Fulltext Molecular modulators of celastrol as the keystones for its diverse pharmacological activities

Ng SW, Chan Y, Chellappan DK, Madheswaran T, Zeeshan F, Chan YL, et al.

Biomed Pharmacother, 2019 Jan;109:1785-1792.

PMID: 30551432 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.051

In the recent years, much attention has been focused on identifying bioactive compounds from medicinal plants that could be employed in therapeutics, which is attributed to their potent pharmacological actions and better toxicological profile. One such example that has come into the light with considerable interest is the pentacyclic triterpenoid, celastrol, which has been found to provide substantial therapeutic properties in a variety of diseases. In an effort to further accelerate its potential to be utilized in clinical practice in the future; along with advancing technologies in the field of drug discovery and development, different researchers have been investigating on the various mechanisms and immunological targets of celastrol that underlie its broad spectrum of pharmacological properties. In this review, we have collated the various research findings related to the molecular modulators responsible for different pharmacological activities shown by celastrol. Our review will be of interest to the herbal, biological, molecular scientist and by providing a quick snapshot about celastrol giving a new direction in the area of herbal drug discovery and development.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Fulltext Irigenin treatment alleviates doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity by suppressing apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress via the increase of miR-425

Guo L, Zheng X, Wang E, Jia X, Wang G, Wen J

Biomed Pharmacother, 2020 May;125:109784.

PMID: 32092815 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109784

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an eﬀ ;ective chemotherapeutic drug to suppress the progression of various types of tumors. However, its clinical application has been largely limited due to its potential cardiotoxicity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerged as critical regulators of cardiac injury. This study was aimed to explore the effects of irigenin (IR), as an isoflavonoid isolated from the rhizome of Belamcanda chinensis, on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity using the in vivo and in vitrostudies. The results indicated that DOX-induced fibrosis, cardiac dysfunction and injury were markedly attenuated by IR through reducing apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation in heart tissue samples. Importantly, DOX resulted in a remarkable decrease of miR-425 in heart tissues and cells, which was significantly rescued by IR. Receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) was discovered to be a direct target of miR-425. DOX induced over-expression of RIPK1 both in vivo and in vitro, which were greatly decreased by IR. Transfection with miR-425 mimic could inhibit RIPK1 expression, whereas reducing miR-425 increased RIPK1 expression levels. In parallel to miR-425 over-expression, RIPK1 knockdown could attenuate apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and inflammation in HL-1 cells. However, over-expression of RIPK1 markedly abolished miR-425 mimic-induced apoptosis, ROS accumulation and inflammatory response in DOX-exposed cells. Herein, miR-425 could ameliorate cardiomyocyte injury through directly targeting RIPK1. Furthermore, activation of miR-425 by IR markedly improved DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, and therefore IR could be considered as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of cardiac injury.

Matched MeSH terms: Inflammation/metabolism

Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 107 in total