1.
Signaling from Intestine to the Host: How Bile Acids Regulate Intestinal and Liver Immunity.
Biagioli, M, Carino, A
Handbook of experimental pharmacology. 2019;:95-108
Abstract
Primary bile acids (BAs) are generated in the liver as the end products of cholesterol catabolism; they are then conjugated and accumulated in the gallbladder. After a meal ingestion, BAs are reversed into the duodenum to facilitate the lipid absorption. At the intestinal level, the 95% of BAs are reabsorbed and redirected into enterohepatic circulation; indeed only a small amount of them are then subjected to chemical modifications by the intestinal microbiota, which plays a very important role in the generation of secondary bile acids and in regulating host's metabolism and activity of the immune system. Behind their role in nutrients absorption, bile acids act as signaling molecules, activating several receptors, known as bile acid-activated receptors (BARs), including the farnesoid-X-receptor (FXR) and the G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1 or Takeda G-protein receptor 5). Both receptors appear to contribute to maintain the tolerogenic state of the liver and intestine immunity. In particular, FXR and GPBAR1 are highly expressed in cells of innate immunity including intestinal and liver macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer T cells. In this chapter, we provide an overview on mechanisms through which FXR and GPBAR1 modulate the signaling between microbiota and intestinal and liver innate immune system. This overview could help to explain beneficial effects exerted by GPBAR1 and FXR agonists in the treatment of metabolic and immuno-mediated diseases.
2.
Interplay between early-life malnutrition, epigenetic modulation of the immune function and liver diseases.
Campisano, S, La Colla, A, Echarte, SM, Chisari, AN
Nutrition research reviews. 2019;(1):128-145
Abstract
Early-life nutrition plays a critical role in fetal growth and development. Food intake absence and excess are the two main types of energy malnutrition that predispose to the appearance of diseases in adulthood, according to the hypothesis of 'developmental origins of health and disease'. Epidemiological data have shown an association between early-life malnutrition and the metabolic syndrome in later life. Evidence has also demonstrated that nutrition during this period of life can affect the development of the immune system through epigenetic mechanisms. Thus, epigenetics has an essential role in the complex interplay between environmental factors and genetics. Altogether, this leads to the inflammatory response that is commonly seen in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. In conjunction, DNA methylation, covalent modification of histones and the expression of non-coding RNA are the epigenetic phenomena that affect inflammatory processes in the context of NAFLD. Here, we highlight current understanding of the mechanisms underlying developmental programming of NAFLD linked to epigenetic modulation of the immune system and environmental factors, such as malnutrition.
3.
[An overview of bile acid synthesis and its physiological and pathological functions].
Liu, X, Wang, Y
Yi chuan = Hereditas. 2019;(5):365-374
Abstract
Bile acids are a class of cholesterol derivatives that play important roles in cholesterol and energy homeostasis and intestinal nutrition absorption. Bile acids are mainly synthesized in the liver. During fasting, bile acids are secreted from the liver and stored in the gallbladder. After a meal, the stored bile acids are released into small intestines. In the intestine, about 95% of bile acids will be re-absorbed and travel back into the liver through port veins, which is called bile acid enterohepatic circulation. This enterohepatic circulation of bile acids plays important roles in the emulsification and intestinal absorption of lipids and other nutrition. On the other hand, bile acids function as ligands for a number of receptors, such as farnesoid X receptor (FXR), proterane X receptor (PXR), vitamin D receptor (VDR) and cell membrane surface receptor-G protein coupled receptor (TGR5), which play important roles from metabolic homeostasis to innate immunity. A number of cytokines such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) regulate the homeostasis of bile acids. In the current review, we will summarize the recent progress in the regulation of bile acid synthesis and its physiological and pathological functions from energy homeostasis to innate immunity and cancer progression to provide a reference for the study of bile acid metabolism.
4.
Nutrition, inflammation and liver-spleen axis.
Barrea, L, Di Somma, C, Muscogiuri, G, Tarantino, G, Tenore, GC, Orio, F, Colao, A, Savastano, S
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. 2018;(18):3141-3158
Abstract
Chronic low-grade systemic inflammation represents a mechanism common to many diseases linked to atherosclerosis-related pathways. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that the combination of food quantity and quality along with genetic susceptibility are able to induce the aberrant activation of innate immune signalling, which initially contributes to chronic low-grade inflammation. Liver represents the central player to inflammatory response. Dietary/metabolic factors contribute to the pathogenesis of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), the main causes of liver disease in the Western world. Enlargement of the spleen, central organ in regulating the inflammation-related immune response, is commonly seen in patients with of NAFLD, depicting the so called "liver-spleen axis." The aim of this review was to provide an at-a-glance overview of the possible bi-directional mechanisms linking nutrition and inflammation, particularly pinpointing the inflammatory effects stemmed by nutrition on "liver-spleen axis." In particular, the role of unhealthy diet, healthy dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet style, dietary vitamins and micronutrients, such as vitamin D or Magnesium, and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, a well-known incretin released in response to meal intake, will be discussed. The highly variability of the inflammatory response highlights the role of expert nutritionists in refining methodologies apt to assess nutritional epidemiology and to apply appropriate dietary intervention to counteract diet-induced inflammation mechanisms.
5.
Zinc and Sepsis.
Alker, W, Haase, H
Nutrients. 2018;(8)
Abstract
Sepsis, defined as a "life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host-response to infection" is a major health issue worldwide and still lacks a fully elucidated pathobiology and uniform diagnostic tests. The trace element zinc is known to be crucial to ensure an appropriate immune response. During sepsis a redistribution of zinc from serum into the liver has been observed and several studies imply a correlation between zinc and sepsis outcome. Therefore the alterations of zinc concentrations in different tissues might serve as one part of the host's defense mechanism against pathogens during sepsis by diverse mechanisms. It has been suggested that zinc is involved in nutritional immunity, acts as a hepatoprotective agent, or a differentiation signal for innate immune cells, or supports the synthesis of acute phase proteins. Further knowledge about these events could help in the evaluation of how zinc could be optimally applied to improve treatment of septic patients. Moreover, the changes in zinc homeostasis are substantial and correlate with the severity of the disease, suggesting that zinc might also be useful as a diagnostic marker for evaluating the severity and predicting the outcome of sepsis.