The human skin is a crucial organ that protects the organism from the outer environment. Skin integrity and health depend on both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors such as aging and genetic background contribute to weakened skin and disease susceptibility. Meanwhile, extrinsic factors including UV radiation, pollution, smoking, humidity, and poor diet also affect skin health and disease. On the other hand, healthy dietary patterns such as plant-based diets have gained popularity as a complementary therapy for skin health. A plant-based diet is defined as all diets based on plant foods, including an abundance of vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, legumes, nuts, seeds, fungi, and whole grains, with limited or no animal products or processed foods. However, some authors also exclude or limit processed foods in the definition. Recent research has shown that these diets have beneficial effects on inflammatory skin diseases. This review explored the beneficial effects of plant-based diets on inflammatory skin diseases and plant-based functional foods on healthy skin. In conclusion, plant-based diets and plant-based functional foods may have beneficial effects on skin health through the gut microbiome.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases worldwide, characterized by variable airflow limitation secondary to airway narrowing, airway wall thickening, and increased mucus resulting from chronic inflammation and airway remodeling. Current epidemiological studies reported that hypovitaminosis D is frequent in patients with asthma and is associated with worsening the disease and that supplementation with vitamin D₃ improves asthma symptoms. However, despite several advances in the field, the molecular mechanisms of asthma have yet to be comprehensively understood. MicroRNAs play an important role in controlling several biological processes and their deregulation is implicated in diverse diseases, including asthma. Evidence supports that the dysregulation of miR-21, miR-27b, miR-145, miR-146a, and miR-155 leads to disbalance of Th1/Th2 cells, inflammation, and airway remodeling, resulting in exacerbation of asthma. This review addresses how these molecular mechanisms explain the development of asthma and its exacerbation and how vitamin D₃ may modulate these microRNAs to improve asthma symptoms.

Keratinocytes, the principal epidermal cells, play a vital role in maintaining the structural integrity and functionality of the skin. Beyond their protective role, keratinocytes are key contributors to the process of wound healing, as they migrate to injury sites, proliferate, and generate new layers of epidermis, facilitating tissue repair and remodeling. Moreover, keratinocytes actively participate in the skin's immune responses, expressing pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to detect microbial components and interact with immune cells to influence adaptive immunity. Keratinocytes express a diverse repertoire of signaling pathways, transcription factors, and epigenetic regulators to regulate their growth, differentiation, and response to environmental cues. Among these regulatory elements, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as essential players in keratinocyte biology. LncRNAs, including MALAT1, play diverse roles in gene regulation and cellular processes, influencing keratinocyte proliferation, differentiation, migration, and response to environmental stimuli. Dysregulation of specific lncRNAs such as MALAT1 can disrupt keratinocyte homeostasis, leading to impaired differentiation, compromised barrier integrity, and contributing to the pathogenesis of various skin disorders. Understanding the intricate interplay between lncRNAs and keratinocytes offers promising insights into the molecular underpinnings of skin health and disease, with potential implications for targeted therapies and advancements in dermatological research. Hence, our objective is to provide a comprehensive summary of the available knowledge concerning keratinocytes and their intricate relationship with MALAT1.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe disease characterized by the loss and obstructive remodeling of the pulmonary arterial wall, causing a rise in pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, which is responsible for right heart failure, functional decline, and death. Although many drugs are available for the treatment of this condition, it continues to be life-threatening, and its long-term treatment is expensive. On the other hand, many natural compounds present in food have beneficial effects on several cardiovascular conditions. Several studies have explored many of the potential beneficial effects of natural plant products on PAH. However, the mechanisms by which natural products, such as nutraceuticals, exert protective and therapeutic effects on PAH are not fully understood. In this review, we analyze the current knowledge on nutraceuticals and their potential use in the protection and treatment of PAH, as well as whether nutraceuticals could enhance the effects of drugs used in PAH through similar mechanisms.