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Biomolecules
Special Issues
Diet and Immune Response
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Diet and Immune Response

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 4722

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hanne Frøkiær

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Interests: the intersection between diet and microbes and the immune system

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue on diet and immune responses.

During the past decades, it has become increasingly clear that diet influences our immune systems in various ways, both directly and indirectly. Both macronutrients (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (minerals and vitamins) may affect the strength of an immune reaction towards microbes or how efficiently an inflammation is resolved. Moreover, some food components may, on their own, induce an inflammatory response or increase immune protection. Even though our understanding of how nutrients and food-related components interact with the immune system has grown dramatically,  many questions regarding both mechanisms of action and the action of specific molecules (naturally occurring or formed as a result of food processing) are yet to be answered. Such knowledge is imperative for producing healthy and sustainable food in the future.

This Special Issue aims to increase our knowledge and understanding of how nutrients or their derivatives interact with immune system cells and how this may impact immune responses induced by microorganisms or tissue damage.

In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and reviews. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • The action of a specific nutrient on immune system cells.
  • Comparison of the immunomodulating action of different molecules within a group of nutrients (e.g., lipids).
  • Unraveling specific molecular mechanisms that are affected by a dietary component.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Hanne Frøkiær
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 809 KiB  
Article
Supplementation with Bioactive Compounds Improves Health and Rejuvenates Biological Age in Postmenopausal Women
by Estefanía Díaz-Del Cerro, Judith Félix, Mª Carmen Martínez-Poyato and Mónica De la Fuente
Biomolecules 2025, 15(5), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050739 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 182
Abstract
Aging involves immune system deterioration (immunosenescence) and increased oxidative stress, both associated with morbidity and mortality. Menopause accelerates aging, highlighting the need for strategies to mitigate its effects in postmenopausal women. This study assessed the impact of daily oral supplementation for one month [...] Read more.
Aging involves immune system deterioration (immunosenescence) and increased oxidative stress, both associated with morbidity and mortality. Menopause accelerates aging, highlighting the need for strategies to mitigate its effects in postmenopausal women. This study assessed the impact of daily oral supplementation for one month with 39 bioactive compounds (UNAMINA)—including amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants—on immune function, redox parameters, stress-related hormones, and biological age in healthy postmenopausal women. Peripheral blood samples were collected before and after supplementation to analyze lymphocyte and neutrophil functions (adherence, chemotaxis, natural killer cell antitumor capacity, and lymphoproliferative response to mitogens), oxidative stress markers (antioxidant defenses such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reductase activities, reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations, as well as oxidants such as oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and lipid peroxidative damage) in blood cells, and stress-related hormones (dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and cortisol) in plasma. Supplementation improved all immune cell functions and decreased oxidative stress (increasing antioxidants defenses such as GPx activity and GSH concentration and decreasing GSSG amount) and cortisol concentrations, whereas those of DHEA increased. The biological age also decreased. The results suggest that these bioactive compounds may be a beneficial strategy for promoting healthier aging in postmenopausal women by enhancing immune function, reducing biological age, improving redox balance, and regulating stress hormones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet and Immune Response)
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17 pages, 1005 KiB  
Article
Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Pediatric Pneumococcus and Hepatitis A Vaccinations With or Without a High-Dose Oral Vitamin A Supplement
by Nehali Patel, Sherri L. Surman, Bart G. Jones, Rhiannon R. Penkert, Karen Ringwald-Smith, Kim DeLuca, Julie Richardson, Ying Zheng, Li Tang and Julia L. Hurwitz
Biomolecules 2025, 15(4), 540; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15040540 - 7 Apr 2025
Viewed by 513
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that high-dose vitamin supplements can improve vaccine-induced immune responses and pathogen protection in the context of vitamin deficiencies. To further elucidate the influence of vitamin supplements on immune responses toward pediatric vaccines, we performed a randomized controlled clinical trial [...] Read more.
Previous studies have shown that high-dose vitamin supplements can improve vaccine-induced immune responses and pathogen protection in the context of vitamin deficiencies. To further elucidate the influence of vitamin supplements on immune responses toward pediatric vaccines, we performed a randomized controlled clinical trial (PCVIT) of 20 healthy children 1–4 years of age in Memphis, Tennessee. Study participants received a booster vaccine for pneumococcus and a primary vaccine for hepatitis A virus with or without a high-dose, oral, liquid supplement of 10,000 IU retinyl palmitate. We found that the children enrolled in PCVIT had higher baseline vitamin levels than previously described older children and adults living in Memphis. Only one child in PCVIT had a serum retinol level of less than 0.3 µg/mL. The children frequently consumed milk and baby foods that were likely vitamin-fortified, providing an explanation for the relatively high vitamin levels. Most children in PCVIT responded well to pneumococcus and hepatitis A vaccines by pathogen-specific antibody upregulation. The one child with a serum retinol level below 0.3 µg/mL did not receive a vitamin supplement and exhibited the lowest fold-change in antibody responses toward pneumococcal serotypes. A correlation matrix encompassing demographics, vitamin levels, vaccine-induced immune responses, C-reactive protein, and total serum immunoglobulin isotypes, including IgG2 and IgA, identified variables associated with vaccination outcomes. Perhaps because children were predominantly retinol-sufficient at baseline, the high-dose vitamin A supplement exhibited no benefit to vaccine-induced immune responses. In fact, when vitamin supplemented and vitamin unsupplemented groups were compared among participants with the highest baseline retinol levels, there was a trend toward weaker vaccine-induced immune responses in the vitamin supplemented group. Results encourage the performance of larger clinical studies before high-dose vitamin supplements are recommended for populations that are otherwise vitamin-replete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet and Immune Response)
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25 pages, 17475 KiB  
Article
Small Spleen Peptides (SSPs) Shape Dendritic Cell Differentiation through Modulation of Extracellular ATP Synthesis Profile
by Viktor Wixler, Rafael Leite Dantas, Georg Varga, Yvonne Boergeling and Stephan Ludwig
Biomolecules 2024, 14(4), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14040469 - 11 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2261
Abstract
Restoring peripheral immune tolerance is crucial for addressing autoimmune diseases. An ancient mechanism in maintaining the balance between inflammation and tolerance is the ratio of extracellular ATP (exATP) and adenosine. Our previous research demonstrated the effectiveness of small spleen peptides (SSPs) in inhibiting [...] Read more.
Restoring peripheral immune tolerance is crucial for addressing autoimmune diseases. An ancient mechanism in maintaining the balance between inflammation and tolerance is the ratio of extracellular ATP (exATP) and adenosine. Our previous research demonstrated the effectiveness of small spleen peptides (SSPs) in inhibiting psoriatic arthritis progression, even in the presence of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα, by transforming dendritic cells (DCs) into tolerogenic cells and fostering regulatory Foxp3+ Treg cells. Here, we identified thymosins as the primary constituents of SSPs, but recombinant thymosin peptides were less efficient in inhibiting arthritis than SSPs. Since Tβ4 is an ecto-ATPase-binding protein, we hypothesized that SSPs regulate exATP profiles. Real-time investigation of exATP levels in DCs revealed that tolerogenic stimulation led to robust de novo exATP synthesis followed by significant degradation, while immunogenic stimulation resulted in a less pronounced increase in exATP and less effective degradation. These contrasting exATP profiles were crucial in determining whether DCs entered an inflammatory or tolerogenic state, highlighting the significance of SSPs as natural regulators of peripheral immunological tolerance, with potential therapeutic benefits for autoimmune diseases. Finally, we demonstrated that the tolerogenic phenotype of SSPs is mainly influenced by adenosine receptors, and in vivo administration of SSPs inhibits psoriatic skin inflammation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet and Immune Response)
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Review

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23 pages, 2309 KiB  
Review
STAT Signature Dish: Serving Immunity with a Side of Dietary Control
by Hozaifa Metwally
Biomolecules 2025, 15(4), 487; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15040487 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 285
Abstract
Immunity is a fundamental aspect of animal biology, defined as the host’s ability to detect and defend against harmful pathogens and toxic substances to preserve homeostasis. However, immune defenses are metabolically demanding, requiring the efficient allocation of limited resources to balance immune function [...] Read more.
Immunity is a fundamental aspect of animal biology, defined as the host’s ability to detect and defend against harmful pathogens and toxic substances to preserve homeostasis. However, immune defenses are metabolically demanding, requiring the efficient allocation of limited resources to balance immune function with other physiological and developmental needs. To achieve this balance, organisms have evolved sophisticated signaling networks that enable precise, context-specific responses to internal and external cues. These networks are essential for survival and adaptation in multicellular systems. Central to this regulatory architecture is the STAT (signal transducer and activator of Transcription) family, a group of versatile signaling molecules that govern a wide array of biological processes across eukaryotes. STAT signaling demonstrates remarkable plasticity, from orchestrating host defense mechanisms to regulating dietary metabolism. Despite its critical role, the cell-specific and context-dependent nuances of STAT signaling remain incompletely understood, highlighting a significant gap in our understanding. This review delves into emerging perspectives on immunity, presenting dynamic frameworks to explore the complexity and adaptability of STAT signaling and the underlying logic driving cellular decision-making. It emphasizes how STAT pathways integrate diverse physiological processes, from immune responses to dietary regulation, ultimately supporting organismal balance and homeostasis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diet and Immune Response)
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