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The Mushroom Council convened the Mushrooms and Health Summit in Washington, DC, on 9-10 September 2013. The proceedings are synthesized in this article. Although mushrooms have long been regarded as health-promoting foods, research specific to their role in a healthful diet and in health promotion has advanced in the past decade. The earliest mushroom cultivation was documented in China, which remains among the top global mushroom producers, along with the United States, Italy, The Netherlands, and Poland. Although considered a vegetable in dietary advice, mushrooms are fungi, set apart by vitamin B-12 in very low quantity but in the same form found in meat, ergosterol converted with UV light to vitamin D2, and conjugated linoleic acid. Mushrooms are a rare source of ergothioneine as well as selenium, fiber, and several other vitamins and minerals. Some preclinical and clinical studies suggest impacts of mushrooms on cognition, weight management, oral health, and cancer risk. Preliminary evidence suggests that mushrooms may support healthy immune and inflammatory responses through interaction with the gut microbiota, enhancing development of adaptive immunity, and improved immune cell functionality. In addition to imparting direct nutritional and health benefits, analysis of U.S. food intake survey data reveals that mushrooms are associated with higher dietary quality. Also, early sensory research suggests that mushrooms blended with meats and lower sodium dishes are well liked and may help to reduce intakes of red meat and salt without compromising taste. As research progresses on the specific health effects of mushrooms, there is a need for effective communication efforts to leverage mushrooms to improve overall dietary quality.

Distance education has been at the forefront of forging unique partnerships to facilitate learning. The purpose of this case study was to describe a business-education collaboration between General Nutrition Corporation, Inc. and the University of Florida, involving a series of online courses in introductory nutrition. Utilizing a competency-based approach to assess students' change/gain in career and personal use of nutrition concepts, and use of computer technology, findings indicated that significant growth occurred in all three competency clusters. Overall, participants indicated growth in knowledge and confidence in applying each of the concepts, indicating potential for similar types of business-academic partnerships. (Contains 5 tables and 2 figures.)

All nutrients play a role in maintaining the immune system and providing substrate for the response. [gamma][delta] T cells, on the other hand, seem to have a unique response to certain dietary bioactive components found in the plant family. Although the identification of those components is not well known yet, members of the proanthocyanidin family and the anthocyanin family of compounds are candidates. Because grapes and grape products contain both of these types of compounds, I hypothesized that grapes may help maintain or support the immune response, specifically the [gamma][delta] T cell. Data from intact animal studies show that immune function is supported by grape products. In humans, relatively little research has been conducted using the food as an intervention; however, a study currently in progress showed that Concord grape juice supported circulating [gamma][delta] T cells and maintained immune function, whereas participants receiving the placebo juice had changes associated with reduced immunity. After an overview of immunity, this paper will focus on reviewing the literature on grapes and other food products made from grapes and their potential for interaction with the [gamma][delta] T cell in whole-body systems.

Human [gamma][delta]T lymphocytes are a subset of T cells and are a first line of defense against microbes and tumors. These [gamma][delta] T cells can be primed by nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, and certain short-chain alkylamines. These primed [gamma][delta] T cells have an enhanced capacity to proliferate and to secrete cytokines upon ex vivo exposure to a wide variety of microbes and tumor cells. The largest dietary source of alkylamines is L-theanine, an amino acid unique to tea beverages that is catabolized to ethylamine. Supplementation of subjects with capsules containing L-theanine and catechins has recently been shown to decrease the incidence of cold and flu symptoms, while enhancing [gamma][delta] T cell function.

[gamma] [delta] [TAU] cells are found largely within the epithelium and recognize antigens differently than their [alpha] [beta] [TAU] cell counterparts. TCR [delta] -/- knock out mice exhibit a rapid tumor onset, along with increased tumor incidence. Although limited, research demonstrates that nutrients and bioactive food components can influence [gamma] [delta] [TAU] cell cytotoxicity, cytokine secretion, and proliferative capacity, and the results are nonetheless intriguing. Among other functions, [gamma] [delta] [TAU] cells play a role in immunosurveillance against malignant cells, as shown by the [TAU] cell receptor (TCR) [delta]-/- knock out mice that exhibit a rapid tumor onset and increased tumor incidence. Some common dietary modifiers of [gamma] [delta] [TAU] cell numbers or activity are apple condensed tannins, dietary nucleotides, fatty acids, and dietary alkylamines. A recent clinical study demonstrated that ingesting a fruit and vegetable juice concentrate increased the number of circulating [gamma] [delta] [TAU] cells. Clinical studies also document that the oral consumption of a tea component, L-theanine, enhances [gamma] [delta] [TAU] cell proliferation and interferon-[gamma] secretion. The significance of these studies awaits additional examination of the influence of exposures and duration on these and other food components. Adoptive transfer and TCR[delta] -/- knock out mice models should be used more extensively to determine the physiological impact of the number and activity of these cells as a function of dietary component exposures. While clarifying the diet and 3,S T interrelationship may not be simple, the societal implications are enormous.

The daily consumption of fruits and vegetables is a common dietary recommendation to support good health. We hypothesized that a commercially available encapsulated fruit and vegetable juice powder concentrate (FVJC) could support functional indices of health due to increased intake of various phytonutrients. This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled investigation of 59 healthy law students who consumed either FVJC or placebo capsules for 77 d. Blood was collected on d 1, 35, and 77 to examine the number of circulating [alpha][beta]- and [gamma][delta]-T cells, cytokine production, lymphocyte DNA damage, antioxidant status, and levels of carotenoids and vitamin C. A log of illnesses and symptoms was also kept. The FVJC group tended to have fewer total symptoms than the placebo group (P < 0.076). By d 77 there was a 30% increase in circulating [gamma][delta]-T cells and a 40% reduction in DNA damage in lymphocytes in the FVJC group relative to the placebo group. Plasma levels of vitamin C and of [beta]-carotene, lycopene, and lutein increased significantly from baseline in the FVJC group as did plasma oxygen radical absorptive capacity (50%). Interferon-[gamma] produced by phorbol-stimulated lymphocytes was reduced 70% in the FVJC group, whereas other cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, transforming growth factor [beta]) were unchanged relative to treatment or time. FVJC consumption during this study period resulted in increased plasma nutrients and antioxidant capacity, reduction in DNA strand breaks, and an increase in circulating [gamma][delta]-T cells.

The mango, Mangifera indica L., is a fruit with high levels of phytochemicals, suggesting that it might have chemopreventative properties. In this study, whole mango juice and juice extracts were screened for antioxidant and anticancer activity. Antioxidant activity of the mango juice and juice extracts was measured by 3 standard in vitro methods. The results of the 3 methods were in general agreement, although different radicals were measured in each. Anticancer activity was measured by examining the effect on cell cycle kinetics and the ability to inhibit chemically induced neoplastic transformation of mammalian cell lines. Incubation of HL-60 cells with whole mango juice and mango juice fractions resulted in an inhibition of the cell cycle in the [G.sub.0]/[G.sub.1] phase. A fraction of the eluted mango juice with low peroxyl radical scavenging ability was most effective in arresting cells in the [G.sub.0]/[G.sub.1] phase. Whole mango juice was effective in reducing the number of transformed foci in the neoplastic transformation assay in a dose-dependent manner. These techniques provide valuable screening tools for health benefits derived from mango phytochemicals. KEY WORDS: * antineoplastic transformation * antioxidant * cancer * mango * phytochemicals

Anticarcinogenic effects attributed to polyphenols in fruits may be based on synergistic, additive, or antagonistic interactions of many compounds. In a previous study, it was demonstrated that quercetin and ellagic acid interacted synergistically in the induction of apoptosis in the human leukemia cell line, MOLT-4. To investigate possible cellular mechanisms, this study evaluated whether synergistic effects might be detectable within proapoptotic or antiproliferative signal transduction pathways. We found that quercetin and combinations of quercetin and ellagic acid nonsynergistically increased p53 protein levels. In contrast, ellagic acid potentiated the effects of quercetin for p[21.sup.cip1/waf1] protein levels and p53 phosphorylation at serine 15, possibly explaining the synergistic effect observed in apoptosis induction. Phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, c-jun N-terminal (JNK) 1,2 and p38, was also increased by the combination of ellagic acid and quercetin, whereas quercetin alone induced only p38. We further evaluated whether the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or quercetin stability were influenced by interactions of ellagic acid with quercetin. Quercetin increased the generation of ROS, which was neither potentiated nor inhibited by ellagic acid. The stability of intracellular and extracellular quercetin was not influenced by the presence of ellagic acid. In summary, quercetin and ellagic acid combined increase the activation of p53 and [p21.sup.cip1/waf1] and the MAP kinases, JNK1,2 and p38, in a more than additive manner, suggesting a mechanism by which quercetin and ellagic acid synergistically induce apoptosis in cancer cells. KEY WORDS: * polyphenols * anticancer * synergy * signal transduction

Little information is available regarding possible synergistic or antagonistic biochemical interactions among polyphenols contained in fruits and vegetables. Identifying potential interactions among these compounds may help to define the efficiency of polyphenol-containing foods in cancer prevention as related to structure-function activity of the compounds. The objective of this study was to investigate interactions between quercetin and ellagic acid, two polyphenolics that are present predominantly in small fruits, on cell death and proliferation related variables in the MOLT-4 human leukemia cell line. Assays were performed to determine cell cycle kinetics, proliferation, apoptotic DNA-fragmentation and caspase-3-activity after 12, 24 and 48 h. Ellagic acid significantly potentiated the effects of quercetin (at 5 and 10 [micro]mol/L each) in the reduction of proliferation and viability and the induction of apoptosis. Significant alterations in cell cycle kinetics were also observed. The synergy was confirmed by an isobolographic analysis of the cell proliferation data. The interaction of ellagic acid and quercetin demonstrated an enhanced anticarcinogenic potential of polyphenol combinations, which was not based solely on the additive effect of individual compounds, but rather on synergistic biochemical interactions. KEY WORDS: * phytochemicals * polyphenols * anticancer * apoptosis * potentiation

The objective of this study was to examine the role of copper in neutrophil development and function. Mice were made copper deficient by feeding dams a diet containing 1.05 [[micro]gram] copper starting at parturition. Control mice were fed the same diet containing 6 [[micro]gram] copper. The pups were weaned to the diet and killed when they were 5-6 wk old. Peripheral blood cell counts, margination and cell maturity were measured. The response to an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was also determined. Copper deficiency resulted in twice as many neutrophils and fewer than half the number of lymphocytes. Half as many cells in copper-deficient mice expressed Ly-6G, a granulocytic marker of cell maturity. In addition, copper-deficient cells expressed only half the amount of Ly-6G per cell than was expressed by copper-adequate cells. This suggested that the cells were younger, or arrested in their maturation as a result of copper deficiency. An arrest of maturation has been proposed as the cause of neutropenia in human copper deficiency. Injection of LPS in copper-adequate mice resulted in twice as many Ly-6G-expressing cells in the periphery. LPS injection into copper-deficient mice resulted in a severe leukopenia but did not influence Ly-6G expression any more than did copper deficiency alone. LPS treatment caused an increase in myeloperoxidase activity associated with the lungs of copper-deficient mice. The results suggest that although the neutrophils of copper-deficient mice are immature, they can be sequestered by the lung when stimulated to do so. KEY WORDS: * copper deficiency * mice * neutrophil * differentiation * immunity

In copper deficient humans the blood contains less neutrophils than normal. Since the blood contains the normal amount of promyelocyte, it has been suggested that either the neutrophils die early or the promyelocytes do not differentiate into mature neutrophils. Lack of copper may also damage the neutrophils in the bone marrow or in the circulating blood. Copper deficiency affects the immune system by slowing down the rate of antibody formation. A high zinc diet, malnutrition and copper deficient parenteral fluid prescribed after gastric resection cause copper deficiency in humans.

The objective of this study was to determine how copper influences the ability of HL-60 cells to differentiate into cells of the granulocytic lineage. We hypothesized that granulopoiesis requires copper because copper-deficient humans become neutropenic. Differentiation of HL-60 cells along the granulocytic lineage with retinoic acid was enhanced by copper. The results showed a greater number of cells were more differentiated when copper was added to the medium for 96 h. The respiratory burst activity of retinoic acid-induced cells was increased by copper supplementation, but intracellular superoxide anion generation was not affected. Supplementation with copper resulted in more cell-associated copper in both noninduced and induced cells; however, the induced cells accumulated three times more copper than the noninduced cells. Even though the amount of copper associated with retinoic acid-treated cells was greater than in untreated cells, the activity of a copper-requiring enzyme, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, was significantly lower. Copper supplementation increased the activity of this enzyme in both retinoic acid-treated and untreated cells. Cytochrome c oxidase activity was not affected by retinoic acid treatment or by copper supplementation. Copper seems to play a specific role during the early stages of granulocyte differentiation.

A system for studying copper deficiency was developed in a cell culture model. HL-60 cells were incubated with three chelators known to bind copper. One chelator, tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), reduced cellular copper levels and the activities of two copper-requiring enzymes, Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) and cytochrome c oxidase. The specificity of the chelator was assessed by incubating cells with both copper and TEPA and, in other experiments, with zinc and TEPA. Copper levels, Cu/Zn-SOD activity and cytochrome c oxidase activity were restored to control values when copper and TEPA were added to cultures simultaneously, indicating the TEPA was responsible for reducing these aspects of copper metabolism. Incubating with both zinc and TEPA reduced copper levels relative to the control, but did not reduce Cu/Zn-SOD activity to the same extent as TEPA alone. The chelation of copper was a time-dependent process that was stable for at least 4 d. Cell growth and viability were not affected by TEPA. Respiratory burst activity, an indicator of differentiation, was not affected by TEPA, demonstrating that the reduction of Cu/Zn-SOD activity was due to copper chelation and not due to changes in Cu/Zn-SOD protein levels that occur during differentiation. Loss of copper, as well as a reduction of the activity of two copper-requiring enzymes, provides evidence that TEPA is a useful compound for creating a functional copper deficiency in cell culture. J. Nutr. 122: 2424-2429, 1992.

Studies evaluated mature, green mangos subjected to a simulated quarantine treatment using hot water immersion at 50 degree Celsius for 60 min and subsequent storage at 5 degree Celsius and 20 degree Celsius against their respective controls. Fruit held at 5 degree Celsius are transferred to 20 degree Celsius after 8 d of storage to complete ripening, whereby symptoms of chill injury are observed.