Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-02589, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Hoskin, David (Dalhousie University), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Nova Scotia|Nouvelle-Écosse, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Discovery Grants Program - Individual, program name french : Programme de subventions à la découverte - individuelles, program purpose english : The immune system is responsible for defending against infection by disease-causing microorganisms and eliminating spontaneously-arising cancer cells; however, inappropriate activation of the immune system can lead to potentially harmful uncontrolled inflammation. Interestingly, fruits, vegetables, spices, and some beverages contain a number of potent inflammation-inhibiting substances belonging to a family of plant-derived chemicals known as dietary phytochemicals or phytonutrients. Diets that are rich in phytochemicals are believed to reduce potentially harmful inflammatory responses, at least in part by reducing the production of inflammation-inducing chemical messengers known as cytokines by various cells of the immune system. The mechanism(s) by which these dietary phytochemicals regulate inflammation-promoting cytokine production are not well understood. On the basis of recent evidence that certain dietary phytochemicals are able to modify DNA and thereby regulate the expression of cancer cell genes, we propose that the same epigenetic processes allow certain phytochemicals and/or their major metabolites to control cytokine production by immune cells. Mice are commonly used as a source of immune cells with which to study the molecular basis of processes involved in human immune cell function. We will therefore use a mouse model system to determine the effect of a panel of representative phytonutrients and their major metabolites on the expression and activation of DNA-modifying enzymes in cytokine-producing cells of the innate immune system (macrophages, dendritic cells) and adaptive immune system (T cells). We anticipate that our results will demonstrate a causal effect on inflammation-promoting and inflammation-inhibiting cytokine synthesis by these immune cells. This fundamental immunology research will yield new information on the potential impact of a phytochemical-rich diet on innate and adaptive immune cell function, and inform future studies on the impact of dietary phytochemicals and their major metabolites on immune cell function in vitro and in vivo., program purpose french : The immune system is responsible for defending against infection by disease-causing microorganisms and eliminating spontaneously-arising cancer cells; however, inappropriate activation of the immune system can lead to potentially harmful uncontrolled inflammation. Interestingly, fruits, vegetables, spices, and some beverages contain a number of potent inflammation-inhibiting substances belonging to a family of plant-derived chemicals known as dietary phytochemicals or phytonutrients. Diets that are rich in phytochemicals are believed to reduce potentially harmful inflammatory responses, at least in part by reducing the production of inflammation-inducing chemical messengers known as cytokines by various cells of the immune system. The mechanism(s) by which these dietary phytochemicals regulate inflammation-promoting cytokine production are not well understood. On the basis of recent evidence that certain dietary phytochemicals are able to modify DNA and thereby regulate the expression of cancer cell genes, we propose that the same epigenetic processes allow certain phytochemicals and/or their major metabolites to control cytokine production by immune cells. Mice are commonly used as a source of immune cells with which to study the molecular basis of processes involved in human immune cell function. We will therefore use a mouse model system to determine the effect of a panel of representative phytonutrients and their major metabolites on the expression and activation of DNA-modifying enzymes in cytokine-producing cells of the innate immune system (macrophages, dendritic cells) and adaptive immune system (T cells). We anticipate that our results will demonstrate a causal effect on inflammation-promoting and inflammation-inhibiting cytokine synthesis by these immune cells. This fundamental immunology research will yield new information on the potential impact of a phytochemical-rich diet on innate and adaptive immune cell function, and inform future studies on the impact of dietary phytochemicals and their major metabolites on immune cell function in vitro and in vivo., agreement title english : Impact of phytochemicals on epigenetic regulation of cytokine gene expression and immune cell function, agreement title french : Impact of phytochemicals on epigenetic regulation of cytokine gene expression and immune cell function, agreement number : RGPIN, agreement value : 28000.0, agreement start date : 2017-05-10, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2018-2019), additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2018-2019), owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada