Influence of olive oil and its components on mesenchymal stem cell biology

Extra virgin olive oil is characterized by its high content of unsaturated fatty acid residues in triglycerides,mainly oleic acid,and the presence of bioactive and antioxidant compounds.Its consumption is associated with lower risk of suffering chronic diseases and unwanted processes linked to aging,due to the antioxidant capacity and capability of its components to modulate cellular signaling pathways.Consumption of olive oil can alter the physiology of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs).This may explain part of the healthy effects of olive oil consumption,such as prevention of unwanted aging processes.To date,there are no specific studies on the action of olive oil on MSCs,but effects of many components of such food on cell viability and differentiation have been evaluated.The objective of this article is to review existing literature on how different compounds of extra virgin olive oil,including residues of fatty acids,vitamins,squalene,triterpenes,pigments and phenols,affect MSC maintenance and differentiation,in order to provide a better understanding of the healthy effects of this food.Interestingly,most studies have shown a positive effect of these compounds on MSCs.The collective findings support the hypothesis that at least part of the beneficial effects of extra virgin olive oil consumption on health may be mediated by its effects on MSCs.

Natural and Semi-Synthetic Pseudoguaianolides as Inhibitors of NF-κB

Damsin (1) is a natural pseudoguaianolide sesquiterpene that inhibits NF-κB, a protein complex that controls the transcription of DNA in mammalian cells, and has a potential for standing model for the development of new anti-cancer lead structures. In order to do a preliminary structure-activity study and improve the anti-cancer activity, fourteen derivatives and analogs were prepared and evaluated. These were chosen to represent both structural diversity and structural novelty. The importance of α methylene-γ-lactone moiety for the anti-cancer activity was confirmed, even though other features in the scaffold were shown to be important for the activity. In some cases a new substitution negatively affected the initial activity, however, two analogues, indolo [3,2-c]-4-desoxydamsin (5) and ambrosin (6), were found to be more potent.

Oral administration of the cannabigerol derivative VCE-003.2 promotes subventricular zone neurogenesis and protects against mutant huntingtin-induced neurodegeneration

Background:The administration of certain cannabinoids provides neuroprotection in models of neurodegenerative diseases by acting through various cellular and molecular mechanisms.Many cannabinoid actions in the nervous system are mediated by CB1 receptors,which can elicit psychotropic effects,but other targets devoid of psychotropic activity,including CB2 and nuclear PPARγreceptors,can also be the target of specific cannabinoids.Methods:We investigated the pro-neurogenic potential of the synthetic cannabigerol derivative,VCE-003.2,in striatal neurodegeneration by using adeno-associated viral expression of mutant huntingtin in vivo and mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation in vitro.Results:Oral administration of VCE-003.2 protected striatal medium spiny neurons from mutant huntingtin-induced damage,attenuated neuroinflammation and improved motor performance.VCE-003.2 bioavailability was characterized and the potential undesired side effects were evaluated by analyzing hepatotoxicity after chronic treatment.VCE-003.2 promoted subventricular zone progenitor mobilization,increased doublecortin-positive migrating neuroblasts towards the injured area,and enhanced effective neurogenesis.Moreover,we demonstrated the proneurogenic activity of VCE-003.2 in embryonic stem cells.VCE-003.2 was able to increase neuroblast formation and striatal-like CTIP2-mediated neurogenesis.Conclusions:The cannabigerol derivative VCE-003.2 improves subventricular zone-derived neurogenesis in response to mutant huntingtin-induced neurodegeneration,and is neuroprotective by oral administration.