title: Regulation of Dendritic Cell Function by Dietary Polyphenols.
abstract: Marked changes in socioeconomic status, cultural traditions, population growth, and agriculture have been affecting diets worldwide. Nutrition is known to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases, and the use of bioactive food compounds at pharmacologic doses is emerging as a preventive and/or therapeutic approach to target metabolic dysregulations occurring in aging, obesity-related chronic diseases, and cancer. Only recently have data on the effects of specific nutrients or food on the immune system become available, and studies regarding the human immune system are still in their infancy. Beyond providing essential nutrients, diet can actively influence the immune system. Understanding how diet and nutritional status influence the innate and adaptive arms of our immune system represents an area of scientific need, opportunity, and challenge. The insights gleaned should help to address several pressing global health problems. Recently, biologically active polyphenols, which are widespread constituents of fruit and vegetables, have gained importance as complex regulators of various cellular processes, critically involved in the maintenance of body homeostasis. This review outlines the potential effects of polyphenols on the function of dendritic cells (DCs), key players in the orchestration of the immune response. Their effects on different aspects of DC biology including differentiation, maturation, and DC capacity to shift immune response toward tolerance or immune activation will be outlined.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology , Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: del Cornò
authors.affiliation: b Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety , Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scazzocchio
authors.affiliation: b Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety , Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Masella
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology , Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gessani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004032:Diet; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000737:chemistry*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D059808:Polyphenols
keywords: Cell activation; dendritic cell; flavonoids; immune regulation; polyphenols