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The major aim of this controlled, randomised, open-labelled, parallel-grouped, clinical trial was to investigate whether supplementation with different dosages of omega-3 fatty acids (0.5 g/d and 1 g/d) from a plant-based fatty acid supplement affected omega-3-indices (O3I) in well-nourished, healthy people. In addition, the combined ingestion of the plant-based fatty acid supplement, together with an encapsulated fruit, vegetable and berry (FVB) juice powder concentrate, was applied in order to observe the absorption of certain micronutrients and to examine some aspects related to the safe consumption of the products. The data demonstrate that the intake of only 0.5 g/day of omega-3 fatty acids from of a vegan supplement was able to increase the O3I significantly after 8 and 16 weeks. The combined ingestion with the FVB supplement concurrently increased serum concentrations of specific vitamins and carotenoids without effects on hepatic, kidney and thyroid function or changes in blood lipids.

Background Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the TGF-β family that signal via the BMP receptor (BMPR) signaling cascade, distinct from canonical TGF-β signaling. BMP downstream signaling is strongly induced within epidermal keratinocytes in cutaneous psoriatic lesions, and BMP7 instructs monocytic cells to acquire characteristics of psoriasis-associated Langerhans dendritic cells (DCs). Regulatory T (Treg)-cell numbers strongly increase during psoriatic skin inflammation and were recently shown to limit psoriatic skin inflammation. However, the factors mediating Treg-cell accumulation in psoriatic skin currently remain unknown. Objective We sought to investigate the role of BMP signaling in Treg-cell accumulation in psoriasis. Methods The following methods were used: immunohistology of patients and healthy controls; ex vivo models of Treg-cell generation in the presence or absence of Langerhans cells; analysis of BMP versus canonical TGF-β signaling in DCs and Treg cells; and modeling of psoriatic skin inflammation in mice lacking the BMPR type 1a in CD11c+ cells. Results We here demonstrated a positive correlation between Treg-cell numbers and epidermal BMP7 expression in cutaneous psoriatic lesions and show that unlike Treg cells from healthy skin, a portion of inflammation-associated Treg cells exhibit constitutive-active BMP signaling. We further found that BMPR signaling licenses inflammation-associated Langerhans cell/DC to gain an enhanced capacity to promote Treg cells via BMPR-mediated CD25 induction and that this effect is associated with reduced skin inflammation. Conclusions Psoriatic lesions are marked by constitutive high BMP7/BMPR signaling in keratinocytes, which instructs inflammatory DCs to gain enhanced Treg-cell–stimulatory activity. Locally secreted BMP7 can directly promote Treg-cell generation through the BMP signaling cascade.

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family ligands are key regulators of dendritic cell (DC) differentiation and activation. Epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) require TGF-β family signaling for their differentiation, and canonical TGF-β1 signaling secures a non-activated LC state. LCs reportedly control skin inflammation and are replenished from peripheral blood monocytes, which also give rise to pro-inflammatory monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs). By studying mechanisms in inflammation, we previously screened LCs versus moDCs for differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs). This revealed that miR-424/503 is the most strongly inversely regulated (moDCs > LCs). We here demonstrate that miR-424/503 is induced during moDC differentiation and promotes moDC differentiation in human and mouse. Inversely, forced repression of miR-424 during moDC differentiation facilitates TGF-β1-dependent LC differentiation. Mechanistically, miR-424/503 deficiency in monocyte/DC precursors leads to the induction of TGF-β1 response genes critical for LC differentiation. Therefore, the miR-424/503 gene cluster plays a decisive role in anti-inflammatory LC versus pro-inflammatory moDC differentiation from monocytes.

OBJECTIVES: Via a randomized controlled clinical trial we evaluated whether 0.5 g or 1 g of omega-3-fatty acids from a plant-based food supplement (Juice Plus+® OMEGA Blend) could increase erythrocyte omega-3-index in healthy adult subjects. METHODS: After a 4-week wash out from food supplements and a 4-week run in to harmonize intake of dietary w-3 fatty acids, we conducted a controlled, randomized, open-labelled, parallel-grouped, clinical trial. 80 healthy adults from Austria, Europe, were randomized to four groups: a) control group, just adhering to the habitual diet; b) two capsules/day of the plant-based fatty acid supplement matching 0.5 g of w-3-fatty acids; c) four capsules/day of the plant-based fatty acid supplement matching 1 g of w-3-fatty acids; and d) four capsules of the plant-based fatty acid supplement and 6 capsules/day of a powdered, encapsulated, fruit, berry and vegetable juice concentrate (Juice Plus+® PREMIUM). Blood samples were collected at baseline, after 8 weeks, and after 16 weeks intervention with the food supplement(s). RESULTS: 68 subjects (39.43 ± 12.28 years, 33 female, 35 male) completed the intervention. Baseline data on w-3-index revealed that the average w-3-index of the investigated groups was already higher than expected (mean value: 7.8%). Nevertheless, the intervention with the commercially available and plant-based fatty acid food supplement increased erythrocyte w-3-index significantly in all intervention groups (p