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Molecular Effects of Nutraceuticals and Contaminants in the Endocrine and Neuronal Systems

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2021) | Viewed by 3289

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
Interests: cell cycle; cell proliferation; differentiation; senescence; apoptosis; cancer cell death; cancer-related biochemical pathways; bioactive compounds; cancer biomarkers

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years we have witnessed an increase in pathologies related to the endocrine and neuronal systems—a condition that is certainly linked to a change in the lifestyle and the environment in which we live. The food that we consume on a daily basis has a major influence (food that has changed its organoleptic characteristics and therefore with a different impact on our cells). This increase is also influenced by the air we breathe in our homes, in the workplace, and in the open places of our cities, which contains a whole series of polluting particles.

The endocrine system and the neuronal system interact with each other, and through chemical messages provide the functional coordination among the tissues of the organism that is essential for its survival. There are many molecules that can have a positive or negative impact on the correct functioning of this delicate balance.

This open-access Special Issue will bring together original research and review articles on the molecular effects of the use of nutraceuticals as well as the exposure to pollutants that are widespread both in food and in the products we use for the care of our person, and in the air that we breathe.

The main feature of this Special Issue is that it provides an open-access shared resource comprising significant works that can improve our understanding of different pathologies and lead to the development of targeted therapies.

Topics of interest to this Special Issue include, but are not limited to:

  • How processes such as cell cycle, DNA repair, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and signaling pathways can be influenced
  • Disorders of the endocrine system
  • Neuronal system disorders
  • Effect of molecules on signal transmission
  • Use of nutraceuticals in prevention therapy
  • Effects induced by polluting molecules

Dr. Antonio De Luca
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • nutraceuticals
  • curcumin
  • vitamins
  • antioxidants
  • calcium ions
  • sodium ions
  • contaminants
  • nonylphenol
  • hormones from fatty acids (prostaglandins)
  • steroid hormones (sexual)
  • hormones from amino acids (adrenaline, thyroid)
  • peptide hormones (insulin, glucagon, ADH, ACTH)
  • signal transmission
  • pituitary gland
  • pineal gland
  • thyroid
  • parathyroid
  • thyme
  • adrenal gland
  • pancreas
  • gonads (testicles, ovaries)
  • liver
  • kidney
  • hypothalamic–pituitary system
  • neurons
  • neurotransmitters
  • negative feedback
  • positive feedback
  • neuroglia
  • angiogenesis
  • blood vessels
  • central nervous system
  • peripheral nervous system
  • brain
  • spinal cord
  • cerebellum

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

12 pages, 2889 KiB  
Article
p-Coumaric Acid Enhances Hypothalamic Leptin Signaling and Glucose Homeostasis in Mice via Differential Effects on AMPK Activation
by Linh V. Nguyen, Khoa D. A. Nguyen, Chi-Thanh Ma, Quoc-Thai Nguyen, Huong T. H. Nguyen, Dong-Joo Yang, Trung Le Tran, Ki Woo Kim and Khanh V. Doan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(3), 1431; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22031431 - 31 Jan 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2846
Abstract
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a crucial role in the regulation of energy homeostasis in both peripheral metabolic organs and the central nervous system. Recent studies indicated that p-Coumaric acid (CA), a hydroxycinnamic phenolic acid, potentially activated the peripheral AMPK pathway to [...] Read more.
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a crucial role in the regulation of energy homeostasis in both peripheral metabolic organs and the central nervous system. Recent studies indicated that p-Coumaric acid (CA), a hydroxycinnamic phenolic acid, potentially activated the peripheral AMPK pathway to exert beneficial effects on glucose metabolism in vitro. However, CA’s actions on central AMPK activity and whole-body glucose homeostasis have not yet been investigated. Here, we reported that CA exhibited different effects on peripheral and central AMPK activation both in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, while CA treatment promoted hepatic AMPK activation, it showed an inhibitory effect on hypothalamic AMPK activity possibly by activating the S6 kinase. Furthermore, CA treatment enhanced hypothalamic leptin sensitivity, resulting in increased proopiomelanocortin (POMC) expression, decreased agouti-related peptide (AgRP) expression, and reduced daily food intake. Overall, CA treatment improved blood glucose control, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity. Together, these results suggested that CA treatment enhanced hypothalamic leptin signaling and whole-body glucose homeostasis, possibly via its differential effects on AMPK activation. Full article
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