PMID: 

J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2020 Mar 20. Epub 2020 Mar 20. PMID: 32238764

Abstract Title: 

Immune-stimulating Effect ofLn1 Isolated from the Traditional Korean Fermented Food, Kimchi.

Abstract: 

This study aimed to determine the immune-stimulating effects of heat-killedLn1 (HK-Ln1) through the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokine achieved by inducing NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-signaling pathways in macrophages. HK-Ln1 showed higher NO and cytokine production compared to control (non-stimulated lipopolysaccharide); in addition, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was induced through HK-Ln1treatment. The phosphorylation of IκB-α and p65 increased following treatment by HK-Ln1, which implicates IκB-α degradation and the translocation of p65 to nucleus. In addition, the phosphorylation of MAPKs, ERK 1/2, JNK, and p38 was induced following HK-Ln1 treatment.

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PMID: 

J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2020 Mar 24. Epub 2020 Mar 24. PMID: 32238771

Abstract Title: 

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effect of ProbioticKU15149 Derived from Korean Homemade Diced-Radish Kimchi.

Abstract: 

KU15149 was demonstrated to have probiotic behavior and functions, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.KU15149 obtained from homemade diced-radish kimchi and has a high survival rate under artificial gastric acid (pH 2.5, 0.3% pepsin) and bile salt (0.3% oxgall) conditions. However,KU15149 did not produceβ-glucuronidase, which is known to be a carcinogenic enzyme with resistance to several antibiotics, such as gentamycin, kanamycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin.KU15149 strongly adhered to HT-29 cells and had a high antioxidant activity in terms of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging andβ-carotene bleaching assays.KU15149 also exhibited a pronounced inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production, along with expression of nitric oxide synthase () and cyclooxygenase -2 () as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as,, and, when RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS. Therefore,KU15149 was demonstrated to have pharmaceutical functionality as a potential probiotic.

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The Corona Simulation Machine: Why the Inventor of The “Corona Test” Would Have Warned Us Not To Use It To Detect A Virus

PMID: 

Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2020 Mar 14. Epub 2020 Mar 14. PMID: 32170938

Abstract Title: 

Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated From Korean Kimchi Activate the Vitamin D Receptor-autophagy Signaling Pathways.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been used in the anti-inflammation and anti-infection process of various diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays an essential role in pathogenesis of IBD and infectious diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated that the human VDR gene is a key host factor to shape gut microbiome. Furthermore, intestinal epithelial VDR conditional knockout (VDRΔIEC) leads to dysbiosis. Low expressions of VDR is associated with impaired autophagy, accompanied by a reduction of ATG16L1 and LC3B. The purpose of this study is to investigate probiotic effects and mechanism in modulating the VDR-autophagy pathways.METHODS: Five LAB strains were isolated from Korean kimchi. Conditional medium (CM) from these strains was used to treat a human cell line HCT116 or intestinal organoids to measure the expression of VDR and autophagy. Mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells with or without VDR were used to investigate the dependence on the VDR signaling. To test the role of LAB in anti-inflammation, VDR+/+ organoids were treated with 121-CM before infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. In vivo, the role of LAB in regulating VDR-autophagy signaling was examined using LAB 121-CM orally administrated to VDRLoxp and VDRΔIEC mice.RESULTS: The LAB-CM-treated groups showed higher mRNA expression of VDR and its target genes cathelicidin compared with the control group. LAB treatment also enhanced expressions of Beclin-1 and ATG16L1 and changed the ratio of LC3B I and II, indicating the activation of autophagic responses. Furthermore, 121-CM treatment before Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis infection dramatically increased VDR and ATG16L1 and inhibited the inflammation. Administration of 121-CM to VDRLoxp and VDRΔIEC mice for 12 and 24 hours resulted in an increase of VDR and LC3B II:I ratio. Furthermore, we identified that probiotic proteins P40 and P75 in the LAB-CM contributed to the anti-inflammatory function by increasing VDR.CONCLUSIONS: Probiotic LAB exert anti-inflammation activity and induces autophagy. These effects depend on the VDR expression. Our data highlight the beneficial effects of these 5 LAB strains isolated from food in anti-infection and anti-inflammation.

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PMID: 

Cell Metab. 2020 Mar 3 ;31(3):445-447. PMID: 32130878

Abstract Title: 

Microbiome Modulation of the Host Adaptive Immunity through Bile Acid Modification.

Abstract: 

The microbiome is well known to influence the immune response of the host. Song et al. now show that the microbiome modulates adaptive immunity in mice through formation of bile acid species acting on RORγregulatory T cells via the Vitamin D Receptor, thereby lowering the vulnerability for chemically induced colitis.

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PMID: 

J Clin Med. 2020 Mar 16 ;9(3). Epub 2020 Mar 16. PMID: 32188088

Abstract Title: 

Acute Phase Proteins and Vitamin D Seasonal Variation in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients.

Abstract: 

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency due to impaired renal hydroxylation, low dietary intake and inadequate sun exposure. Vitamin D plays a role in innate and adaptive immunity and its seasonal variation has been linked to mortality. ESRD is associated with inadequate removal of pro-inflammatory cytokines regulating acute phase protein (APP) synthesis. Our aim was to look for associations between lifestyle factors, diet, and vitamin D seasonal variation and their relationship with selected APPs and calcium-phosphate metabolism. The study included 59 ESRD patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis. A 24-hour dietary recall was conducted in the post-summer (November 2018, PS) and post-winter (February/March 2019, PW) period, and blood was collected for the measurements of serum total vitamin D,α-acid glycoprotein (AGP), C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, prealbumin (PRE), parathormone, calcium and phosphate. A self-constructed questionnaire gathered information on vitamin D supplementation, sun exposure and physical activity. Higher caloric intake was observed PW compared PS. Less than 15% of participants met the dietary recommendations for energy, protein, fiber, vitamin D and magnesium intake. Vitamin D supplementation was associated with higher serum vitamin D regardless of season. AGP, PRE, albumin, and vitamin D presented seasonal changes (higher values PS). In patients with serum vitamin D below 25 ng/mL, vitamin D seasonal change correlated with CRP and prealbumin change. Phosphate and Ca× P correlated positively with AGP. A low vitamin D serum level could impact the inflammatory process; however, more studies are needed to confirm the relationship.

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The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated more than $21 million towards developing a vaccine technology that uses a tattoo-like mechanism which injects invisible nanoparticles under the skin

PMID: 

Exp Ther Med. 2020 May ;19(5):3419-3424. Epub 2020 Mar 12. PMID: 32266042

Abstract Title: 

Correlation of vitamin D with inflammatory factors, oxidative stress and T cell subsets in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

Abstract: 

Correlation of vitamin D with inflammatory factors, oxidative stress and T cell subsets in patients with autoimmune hepatitis were investigated. Patients with liver diseases (n=635) treated in The Sixth People's Hospital of Qingdao City from March 2015 to January 2018 were selected, among which 80 cases diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis were included into observation group, and 80 healthy cases were included into control group. Patients with autoimmune hepatitis were further divided into normal 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH) D] group (n=40) and abnormal 25-(OH) D group (n=40) according to the level of 25-(OH) D, and divided into normal liver function group (n=40) and abnormal liver function group (n=40). 25-(OH) D, liver function, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress level and T cell subsets were compared. In the observation group, levels of 25-(OH) D, superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity, and T cell subsets were lower than those in the control group (P

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PMID: 

Am J Reprod Immunol. 2020 Apr 10:e13243. Epub 2020 Apr 10. PMID: 32277536

Abstract Title: 

Potential impact of maternal vitamin D status on peripheral blood and endometrium cellular immunity in women with recurrent implantation failure.

Abstract: 

PROBLEM: This study aims to evaluate the modulatory effects of vitamin D on peripheral blood and endometrial cellular immunity in women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF).METHOD OF STUDY: One hundred and fifty-four women with RIF were identified at a fertility center from January 2018 and March 2019. Blood and endometrium samples were collected during the mid-luteal phase before IVF treatment or pregnancy. The serum vitamin D status, NK cell cytotoxicity, Th1 cytokine production and endometrial immune cells were detected before and after vitamin D supplementation.RESULTS: The NK cell cytotoxicity at an effector-to-target (E:T) ratio of 50:1 or 25:1 was significantly higher in vitamin D insufficiency group (VDI) than those in vitamin D normal group (VDN) (P

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John Stuart Reid, explains how Music Medicine can banish the blues (and fear) associated with the corona virus, while boosting our immune system to help vanquish any pathogen