Nutritional immunology
Encyclopedia
Nutritional immunology research is centered around studying the mechanisms underlying the modulation of immune responses by nutritional, naturally occurring and orally active compounds. Some of the leading teams of researchers in nutritional immunology research and discovery include the Immunology Laboratory at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and the Nutritional Immunology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory (NIMML) at Virginia Tech.
Nutritional immunology researchers have discovered novel mechanisms by which naturally occurring compounds such as conjugated linoleic acid
, abscisic acid
, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
, resveratrol
, curcumin
, limonin
, Vitamin E
, Vitamin A
, and Vitamin D
modulate immune responses. Recent advances in nutritional immunology research include applying systems biology, as well as modelling and simulation approaches to accelerate the identification of novel therapeutic targets, biomarkers and the discovery of novel mechanisms of action. In one embodiment Nutritional Immunology relates to the preventive applications of personalized medicine
with particular emphasis on immune modulatory effects of naturally occurring, safe and orally active compounds.
Nutritional immunology researchers have discovered novel mechanisms by which naturally occurring compounds such as conjugated linoleic acid
Linoleic acid
Linoleic acid is an unsaturated n-6 fatty acid. It is a colorless liquid at room temperature. In physiological literature, it has a lipid number of 18:2...
, abscisic acid
Abscisic acid
Abscisic acid , also known as abscisin II and dormin, is a plant hormone. ABA functions in many plant developmental processes, including bud dormancy. It is degraded by the enzyme -abscisic acid 8'-hydroxylase.-Function:...
, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Polyunsaturated fatty acid
Polyunsaturated fatty acids are fatty acids that contain more than one double bond in their backbone. This class includes many important compounds, such as essential fatty acids and those that give drying oils their characteristic property....
, resveratrol
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a stilbenoid, a type of natural phenol, and a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi....
, curcumin
Curcumin
Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid of the popular Indian spice turmeric, which is a member of the ginger family . The other two curcuminoids are desmethoxycurcumin and bis-desmethoxycurcumin. The curcuminoids are natural phenols and are responsible for the yellow color of turmeric...
, limonin
Limonin
Limonin is a limonoid, and a bitter, white, crystalline substance found in citrus and other plants. It is also known as limonoate D-ring-lactone and limonoic acid di-delta-lactone...
, Vitamin E
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is used to refer to a group of fat-soluble compounds that include both tocopherols and tocotrienols. There are many different forms of vitamin E, of which γ-tocopherol is the most common in the North American diet. γ-Tocopherol can be found in corn oil, soybean oil, margarine and dressings...
, Vitamin A
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a vitamin that is needed by the retina of the eye in the form of a specific metabolite, the light-absorbing molecule retinal, that is necessary for both low-light and color vision...
, and Vitamin D
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids. In humans, vitamin D is unique both because it functions as a prohormone and because the body can synthesize it when sun exposure is adequate ....
modulate immune responses. Recent advances in nutritional immunology research include applying systems biology, as well as modelling and simulation approaches to accelerate the identification of novel therapeutic targets, biomarkers and the discovery of novel mechanisms of action. In one embodiment Nutritional Immunology relates to the preventive applications of personalized medicine
Personalized medicine
Personalized medicine is a medical model emphasizing in general the customization of healthcare, with all decisions and practices being tailored to individual patients in whatever ways possible...
with particular emphasis on immune modulatory effects of naturally occurring, safe and orally active compounds.