Fabiana Galland

S100B, a homodimeric Ca²⁺-binding protein, is produced and secreted by astrocytes, and its extracellular levels have been used as a glial marker in brain damage and neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases; however, its mechanism of secretion is elusive. We used primary astrocyte cultures and calcium measurements from real-time fluorescence microscopy to investigate the role of intracellular calcium in S100B secretion. In addition, the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) effect on S100B was investigated in vitro and in vivo using Wistar rats. We found that DMSO, a widely used vehicle in biological assays, is a powerful S100B secretagogue, which caused a biphasic response of Ca²⁺ mobilization. Our data show that astroglial S100B secretion is triggered by the increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ and indicate that this increase is due to Ca²⁺ mobilization from the endoplasmic reticulum. Also, blocking plasma membrane Ca²⁺ channels involved in the Ca²⁺ replenishment of internal stores decreased S100B secretion. The DMSO-induced S100B secretion was confirmed in vivo and in ex vivo hippocampal slices. Our data support a nonclassic vesicular export of S100B modulated by Ca²⁺, and the results might contribute to understanding the mechanism underlying the astroglial release of S100B.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and African palm kernel (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) are among the most cultivated in the world regarding oil extraction. The oil industry generates a large amount of meal as a by-product, which can be a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. However, the physiological effects of bioactive compounds in such matrices are only valid if they remain bioavailable and bioactive after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. This study evaluated the chemical composition and antioxidant and prebiotic potential of de-oiled sunflower (DS) and de-oiled palm kernel (DP) meal after in vitro digestion. The DS sample had the highest protein content and the best chemical score, in which lysine was the limiting amino acid. Digested samples showed increased antioxidant activity, measured by in vitro methods. The digested DS sample showed a better antioxidant effect compared to DP. Moreover, both samples managed to preserve DNA supercoiling in the presence of the oxidizing agent. The insoluble fractions after digestion stimulated the growth of prebiotic bacterium, similar to inulin. In conclusion, simulated gastrointestinal digestion promoted in both matrices an increase in protein bioaccessibility and antioxidant capacity, pointing to a metabolic modulation favorable to the organism.

Sunflowers are among the world’s most widely cultivated oilseeds with an interesting nutritional composition. A biomass composed mainly of carbohydrates, fibers, and proteins is generated from sunflower oil production. In this context, the objective of this study was to investigate the application of emerging technologies to sunflower biomass to obtain an edible protein-rich flour with the potential to be exploited in the food industry. The effects of the optimized conditions for the sequential processing of sunflower meal using supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO₂) and high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) were investigated. The protein structure was preserved even after the application of HIUS to the flour as verified through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the electrophoresis curves. The fact that the HIUS treatment did not modify the protein structure demonstrates that this emerging technology could be incorporated into the processing chain of this new food ingredient (sunflower flour) without promoting damage to the nutritional value of the product regarding its protein content. At a pH of 7.0, the flour showed only 30% solubility, and HIUS application improved both the formation and the stability of the emulsion when compared to the other samples. The preliminary evaluation of cell viability (caco₂ cells) showed its protective potential against reactive oxygen species. Therefore, the flour resulting from the green processes presented the potential to be employed as an ingredient in the food industry, presenting a technological and nutritional potential when considering its chemical composition. In addition to the novel edible flour, the phenolic compounds obtained a present potential as a functional ingredient to be incorporated into foods.

Objective: To assess differences in blood inflammatory cytokines between people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and healthy controls (HC).Methods: Searches were performed from inception through April 14, 2021. Meta-analyses with random-effects models were used to calculate the standardized mean difference ([SMD], 95%CI), and potential sources of heterogeneity were explored trough meta-regressions and subgroup analysis.Results: The meta-analysis included 23 studies on the following 14 cytokines: tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, IL-1, IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, IL15, interferon (IFN)-g and sCD14. There were significantly higher concentrations of IL-6 (n=462 AUD and 408 HC; SMD = 0.523; 95%CI 0.136-0.909; p = 0.008) in AUD than HC. No significant differences were found in the other 13 cytokines. Conclusion: We found that IL-6 levels were significantly higher in individuals with AUD than HC and that other cytokines were not altered. This can be explained by the small number of studies, their methodological heterogeneity, and confounding factors (active use, abstinence, quantity, and physical or psychiatric illnesses, for example). Despite a great deal of evidence about alcohol and inflammatory diseases, studies assessing the role of neuroimmune signaling in the development and severity of AUD are still lacking.