Natural Compounds Modulate Apolipoprotein E Gene and Protein Expression in Fibroblasts Derived from Young and Old Female Alzheimer’s Patients

G. Lopez, A. Goc, M. Rath, A. Niedzwiecki

American Journal of Food and Nutrition. 2024, 12(2), 49-58. DOI: 10.12691/ajfn-12-2-1

Abstract:
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for approximately 60–80% of all dementia cases. Among the genetic risk factors identified, the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene remains the strongest and most prevalent, impacting more than half of all Alzheimer’s disease cases. Targeting the APOE gene with nutrients and natural compounds could potentially benefit Alzheimer’s disease patients. In the search for such natural-derived compounds, we evaluated the effects of soy-derived estrogenic compounds such as genistein and daidzein, phospholipid precursors such as inositol and choline, phospholipid phosphatidylserine, and vitamins C and E as potent antioxidants on APOE gene transcription as well as APOE, APOE4, and Tau proteins expression in cells cultured in non-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory conditions.

Read more: Natural Compounds Modulate Apolipoprotein E Gene and Protein Expression in Fibroblasts Derived from Young and Old Female Alzheimer’s Patients

L-lysine and vitamin C work better in synergy against Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumanniis

W. Sumera, A. Niedzwiecki

Journal of Cellular Medicine and Natural Health, Jun 22, 2023

Abstract:
For centuries various plants and their natural compounds were used as antimicrobial agents. Most research work in this field has been done with individual compounds and directed towards their mechanisms of action or clinical applications.…

Read more: L-lysine and vitamin C work better in synergy against Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumanniis

Inhibitory effect of theaflavin-3,30 -digallate can involve its binding to the “stem” domain of α-hemolysin of Staphylococcus aureus

A. Goc, W. Sumera, M. Rath, A. Niedzwiecki

European Journal of Microbiology and Immunology (published online ahead of print 2023). https://doi.org/10.1556/1886.2023.00032

Abstract:
Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are currently a worldwide threat affecting millions of individuals. The pathogenicity of S. aureus is associated with numerous virulence factors, including cell surface proteins, polysaccharides, and secreted toxins.…

Read more: Inhibitory effect of theaflavin-3,30 -digallate can involve its binding to the “stem” domain of α-hemolysin of Staphylococcus aureus

Inhibition of α-hemolysin activity of Staphylococcus aureus by theaflavin 3,3’-digallate

A. Goc, W. Sumera, M. Rath, A. Niedzwiecki

PLoS ONE 18(8): e0290904. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290904

Abstract:
The ongoing rise in antibiotic resistance, and a waning of the introduction of new antibiotics, has resulted in limited treatment options for bacterial infections, including these caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, leaving the world in a post-antibiotic era.…

Read more: Inhibition of α-hemolysin activity of Staphylococcus aureus by theaflavin 3,3’-digallate

Phytochemicals and micronutrients in suppressing infectivity caused by SARS-CoV-2 virions and seasonal coronavirus HCoV-229E in vivo

A. Goc, W. Sumera, M. Rath, A. Niedzwiecki

European Journal of Microbiology and Immunology, June 2023


Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection still poses health threats especially to older and immunocompromised individuals. New emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, including Omicron and Arcturus, have been challenging the effectiveness of humoral immunity resulting from repeated vaccination and infection. With recent study implying a wave of new mutants in vaccinated people making them more susceptible to the newest variants and fueling a rapid viral evolution, there is a need for alternative or adjunct approaches against coronavirus infections other than vaccines. Our earlier work indicated that a specific combination of micronutrients and phytochemicals can inhibit key infection mechanisms shared by SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in vitro. Here we demonstrate in vivo that an intake of this micronutrient combination before and during infection of mice with engineered SARS-CoV-2 virions and HCoV-229E virus results in a significant decrease in viral load and level of spike protein in the lungs. This was accompanied by decreased inflammatory response, including TNFα, IL1β, ILα, and IL17. These and our earlier results confirm that by targeting multiple mechanisms simultaneously by a combination treatment we can effectively and safely challenge SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-229E virus. If clinically confirmed, such an approach could complement already in-use preventive and therapeutic strategies against coronavirus infections.…

Read more: Phytochemicals and micronutrients in suppressing infectivity caused by SARS-CoV-2 virions and seasonal coronavirus HCoV-229E in vivo