Integrative Molecular Phenotyping
INTEGRATIVE MOLECULAR
PHENOTYPING
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL
BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
WHEELOCK LABORATORY

PubMed

ATAC-Me simultaneously decodes chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Trends Plant Sci. 2023 Jun 17:S1360-1385(23)00170-X. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.05.013. Online ahead of print.NO ABSTRACTPMID:37336692 | DOI:10.1016/j.tplants.2023.05.013

Yueju volatile oil plays an integral role in the antidepressant effect by up-regulating ERK/AKT-mediated GLT-1 expression to clear glutamate

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Fitoterapia. 2023 Jun 17:105583. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105583. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPhytochemical investigation of the volatile oil of Yueju (YJVO) and its constituent herbs induced the detection of 52 compounds in YJVO, mainly monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes as well as a small amount of aromatic and aliphatic compounds. 5 of these compounds were found only in the YJVO instead of the volatile oil of its constituent herbs. The anti-depressant effect of YJVO was proved by behavioral tests in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice. An acute oral toxicity evaluation determined the LD50 of YJVO was 5.780 mL/kg. Doppler ultrasound and laser speckle imaging have detected that the YJVO could improve depression-related cerebral blood flow. In addition, related neurotransmitters and proteins were analyzed through targeted metabolomics and immunofluorescence. The potential antidepressant mechanisms of YJVO related to significantly decreasing Glu in CUMS mice by up-regulating the ERK/AKT-mediated expression of GLT-1.PMID:37336418 | DOI:10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105583

Multiomics reveals new biomarkers and mechanistic insights into the combined toxicity effects of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl and atrazine exposures in MCF-7 cells

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Environ Pollut. 2023 Jun 17:122030. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122030. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTHumans are constantly exposed to complicated chemical mixtures from the environment and food rather than being exposed to a single pollutant. The underlying mechanisms of the complicated combined toxicity of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are still mainly unexplored. In this study, two representative EDCs, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB153) and atrazine (ATZ), were selected to explore their combined effects on MCF-7 cell proliferation at environmental exposure concentrations by an integrated analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics. The results showed that 1 μM ATZ and PCB153 combined exposure significantly accelerated MCF-7 cell growth by 18.2%. More than 400 metabolites detected by UHPLC-QTOF/MS were used to observe metabolism differences induced by binary mixtures. Metabolomics analysis verified that ATZ and PCB153 exposure alone or in combination could have an additive effect on metabolism and induce significant disruption to glycolysis, purine metabolism and the TCA cycle, which provide energy demand and biosynthetic substrates for cell proliferation. Compared to PCB153 and ATZ exposure alone, a combined effect was observed in purine and pyrimidine metabolic pathways. Hexokinase 3 (HK3) and cytochrome P450 19 subfamily A1 (CYP19A1) were identified as differentially expressed genes based on transcriptomic analysis. By integrating metabolome and transcriptome analysis, the proliferation effects of ATZ and PCB153 were induced at low doses in MCF-7 cells through potential interference with the downstream transcription signaling of CYP19A1. Furthermore, molecular docking indicated that PCB153 and ATZ directly affected CYP19A1. Altogether, the regulation of pivotal metabolites and differentially expressed genes could provide helpful information to reveal the mechanism by which PCB153 and ATZ affect MCF-7 cell proliferation.PMID:37336346 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122030

Sex differences in plasma lipid profiles of accelerated brain aging

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Neurobiol Aging. 2023 May 26;129:178-184. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.05.013. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTLipids are essential components of brain structure and shown to affect brain function. Previous studies have shown that aging men undergo greater brain atrophy than women, but whether the associations between lipids and brain atrophy differ by sex is unclear. We examined sex differences in the associations between circulating lipids by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and the progression of MRI-derived brain atrophy index Spatial Patterns of Atrophy for Recognition of Brain Aging (SPARE-BA) over an average of 4.7 (SD = 2.3) years in 214 men and 261 women aged 60 or older who were initially cognitively normal using multivariable linear regression, adjusted for age, race, education, and baseline SPARE-BA. We found significant sex interactions for beta-oxidation rate, short-chain acylcarnitines, long-chain ceramides, and very long-chain triglycerides. Lower beta-oxidation rate and short-chain acylcarnitines in women and higher long-chain ceramides and very long-chain triglycerides in men were associated with faster increases in SPARE-BA (accelerated brain aging). Circulating lipid profiles of accelerated brain aging are sex-specific and vary by lipid classes and structure. Mechanisms underlying these sex-specific lipid profiles of brain aging warrant further investigation.PMID:37336172 | DOI:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.05.013

Maternal transfer of resorcinol-bis(diphenyl)-phosphate perturbs gut microbiota development and gut metabolism of offspring in rats

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Environ Int. 2023 Jun 15;178:108039. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108039. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTResorcinol-bis(diphenyl)-phosphate (RDP), an emerging organophosphate flame retardant, is increasingly used as a primary alternative for decabromodiphenyl ether and is frequently detected in global environmental matrices. However, the long-term effects of its exposure to humans remain largely unknown. To investigate its intergenerational transfer capacity and health risks, female Sprague Dawley rats were orally exposed to RDP from the beginning of pregnancy to the end of the lactation period. The RDP content, gut microbiota homeostasis, and metabolic levels were determined. RDP accumulation occurred in the livers of maternal rats and offspring and increased with exposure time. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that exposure to RDP during pregnancy and/or lactation significantly disrupted gut microbiota homeostasis, as evidenced by decreased abundance and diversity. In particular, the abundance of Turicibacter, Adlercreutzia, and YRC22 decreased, correlating significantly with glycollipic metabolism. This finding was consistent with the reduced levels of short-chain fatty acids, the crucial gut microbial metabolites. Meanwhile, RDP exposure resulted in changes in gut microbiome-related metabolism. Nine critical overlapping KEGG metabolic pathways were identified, and the levels of related differential metabolites decreased. Our results suggest that the significant adverse impacts of RDP on gut microbiota homeostasis and metabolic function may increase the long-term risks related to inflammation, obesity, and metabolic diseases.PMID:37336026 | DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2023.108039

Autophagy during Maize Endosperm Development Dampens Oxidative Stress and Promotes Mitochondrial Clearance

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Plant Physiol. 2023 Jun 19:kiad340. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiad340. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe selective turnover of macromolecules by autophagy provides a critical homeostatic mechanism for recycling cellular constituents and for removing superfluous and damaged organelles, membranes, and proteins. To better understand how autophagy impacts seed maturation and nutrient storage, we studied maize (Zea mays) endosperm in its early and middle developmental stages via an integrated multi-omics approach using mutants impacting the core macroautophagy factor AUTOPHAGY (ATG)-12 required for autophagosome assembly. Surprisingly, the mutant endosperm in these developmental windows accumulated normal amounts of starch and Zein storage proteins. However, the tissue acquired a substantially altered metabolome, especially for compounds related to oxidative stress and sulfur metabolism, including increases in cystine, dehydroascorbate, cys-glutathione disulfide, glucarate and galactarate, and decreases in peroxide and the anti-oxidant glutathione. While changes in the associated transcriptome were mild, the proteome was strongly altered in the atg12 endosperm, especially for increased levels of mitochondrial proteins without a concomitant increase in mRNA abundances. Although fewer mitochondria were seen cytologically, a heightened number appeared dysfunctional based on the accumulation of dilated cristae, consistent with attenuated mitophagy. Collectively, our results confirm that macroautophagy plays a minor role in the accumulation of starch and storage proteins during maize endosperm development, but likely helps protect against oxidative stress and clears unneeded/dysfunctional mitochondria during tissue maturation.PMID:37335933 | DOI:10.1093/plphys/kiad340

Metabolomic differences in connective tissue disease-associated versus idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension in the PVDOMICS cohort

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023 Jun 19. doi: 10.1002/art.42632. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: Patients with connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) experience worse survival and derive less benefit from pulmonary vasodilator therapies than patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH). We sought to identify differential metabolism in CTD-PAH versus IPAH patients that might underlie these observed clinical differences.METHODS: Adult subjects with CTD-PAH (n=141) and IPAH (n=165) from the PVDOMICS (Pulmonary Vascular Disease Phenomics) Study were included. Detailed clinical phenotyping was performed at cohort enrollment, including broad-based global metabolomic profiling of plasma samples. Subjects were followed prospectively for ascertainment of outcomes. Supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms and regression models were used to compare CTD-PAH versus IPAH metabolomic profiles and to measure metabolite-phenotype associations and interactions. Gradients across the pulmonary circulation were assessed using paired mixed venous and wedged samples in a subset of 115 subjects.RESULTS: Metabolomic profiles distinguished CTD-PAH from IPAH, with CTD-PAH patients demonstrating aberrant lipid metabolism, with lower circulating levels of sex steroid hormones and higher free fatty acids (FA) and FA intermediates in CTD-PAH. Acylcholines were taken up by the right ventricular-pulmonary vascular circulation, particularly in CTD-PAH, while free FAs and acylcarnitines were released. In both PAH subtypes, dysregulated lipid metabolites, among others, were associated with hemodynamic and right ventricular measurements and with transplant-free survival.CONCLUSIONS: CTD-PAH is characterized by aberrant lipid metabolism that may signal shifted metabolic substrate utilization. Abnormalities in RV-pulmonary vascular FA metabolism may imply reduced capacity for mitochondrial beta oxidation within the diseased pulmonary circulation.PMID:37335853 | DOI:10.1002/art.42632

Changes of intestinal flora in children with febrile seizure

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 May 19;102(20):e33730. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033730.ABSTRACTFebrile seizure (FS) is a highly recurrent neuro-system disorder in children that affects their nervous system development and quality of life. However, the pathogenesis of febrile seizures remains unclear. Our study aims to investigate the potential differences in the intestinal flora and metabolomics between healthy children and those with FS. By examining the relationship between specific flora and different metabolites, we hope to shed light on the pathogenesis of FS. Fecal specimens were collected from healthy children (n = 15) and children with febrile seizures (n = 15), and 16S rDNA sequencing was conducted to characterize intestinal flora. Subsequently, fecal samples from healthy (n = 6) and febrile seizure children (n = 6) were used to characterize metabolomics using linear discriminant analysis of effect size, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (pathway enrichment analysis), and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes topology analysis. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify metabolites in the fecal samples. The intestinal microbiome in the febrile seizure children significantly differed from that in the healthy children at the phylum level. Ten differentially accumulated metabolites (xanthosine, (S)-abscisic acid, N-palmitoylglycine, (+/-)-2-(5-methyl-5-vinyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-yl) propionaldehyde, (R)-3-hydroxybutyrylcarnitine, lauroylcarnitine, oleoylethanolamide, tetradecyl carnitine, taurine, and lysoPC [18:1 (9z)/0:0] were considered the potential febrile seizure markers. Three metabolic pathways (taurine metabolism; glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism; and arginine biosynthesis) were found essential in febrile seizure. Bacteroides were significantly correlated with the 4 differential metabolites. Adjusting the balance of intestinal flora may be an effective method for preventing and treating febrile seizures.PMID:37335742 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000033730

Serum metabolomics analysis revealed metabolic disorders in Parkinson's disease

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Jun 9;102(23):e33715. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033715.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is by now the second of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases in the world, and its incidence is increasing rapidly as the global population ages, with 14.2 million PD patients expected worldwide by 2040.METHODS: We gathered a completion of 45 serum samples, including 15 of healthy controls and 30 from the PD group. We used non-targeted metabolomics analysis based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify the molecular changes in PD patients, and conducted bioinformatics analysis on this basis to explore the possible pathogenesis of PD.RESULTS: We found significant metabolomics changes in the levels of 30 metabolites in PD patients compared with healthy controls.CONCLUSION: Lipids and lipid-like molecules accounted for the majority of the 30 differentially expressed metabolites. Also, pathway enrichment analysis showed significant enrichment in sphingolipid metabolic pathway. These assessments can improve our perception on the underlying mechanism of PD as well as facilitate a better targeting on therapeutic interventions.PMID:37335671 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000033715

Metabolic and transcriptomic study of pennycress natural variation identifies targets for oil improvement

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Plant Biotechnol J. 2023 Jun 19. doi: 10.1111/pbi.14101. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.), a member of the Brassicaceae family, produces seed oil high in erucic acid, suitable for biodiesel and aviation fuel. Although pennycress, a winter annual, could be grown as a dedicated bioenergy crop, an increase in its seed oil content is required to improve its economic competitiveness. The success of crop improvement relies upon finding the right combination of biomarkers and targets, and the best genetic engineering and/or breeding strategies. In this work, we combined biomass composition with metabolomic and transcriptomic studies of developing embryos from 22 pennycress natural variants to identify targets for oil improvement. The selected accession collection presented diverse levels of fatty acids at maturity ranging from 29% to 41%. Pearson correlation analyses, weighted gene co-expression network analysis and biomarker identifications were used as complementary approaches to detect associations between metabolite level or gene expression and oil content at maturity. The results indicated that improving seed oil content can lead to a concomitant increase in the proportion of erucic acid without affecting the weight of embryos. Processes, such as carbon partitioning towards the chloroplast, lipid metabolism, photosynthesis, and a tight control of nitrogen availability, were found to be key for oil improvement in pennycress. Besides identifying specific targets, our results also provide guidance regarding the best timing for their modification, early or middle maturation. Thus, this work lays out promising strategies, specific for pennycress, to accelerate the successful development of lines with increased seed oil content for biofuel applications.PMID:37335591 | DOI:10.1111/pbi.14101

Metabolomics Analysis of Electroacupuncture Pretreatment Induced Neuroprotection on Mice with Ischemic Stroke

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Am J Chin Med. 2023 Jun 17:1-25. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X23500520. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe brain metabolic changes caused by the interruption of blood supply are the initial factors of brain injury in ischemic stroke. Electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment has been shown to protect against ischemic stroke, but whether its neuroprotective mechanism involves metabolic regulation remains unclear. Based on our finding that EA pretreatment significantly alleviated ischemic brain injury in mice by reducing neuronal injury and death, we performed a gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF/MS) to investigate the metabolic changes in the ischemic brain and whether EA pretreatment influenced these changes. First, we found that some glycolytic metabolites in the normal brain tissues were reduced by EA pretreatment, which may lay the foundation of neuroprotection for EA pretreatment against ischemic stroke. Then, 6[Formula: see text]h of cerebral ischemia-induced brain metabolic changes, especially the enhanced glycolysis, were partially reversed by EA pretreatment, which was manifested by the brain levels of 11 of 35 up-regulated metabolites and 18 of 27 down-regulated metabolites caused by cerebral ischemia significantly decreasing and increasing, respectively, due to EA pretreatment. A further pathway analysis showed that these 11 and 18 markedly changed metabolites were mainly involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, purine metabolism, aspartate metabolism, and the citric acid cycle. Additionally, we found that EA pretreatment raised the levels of neuroprotective metabolites in both normal and ischemic brain tissues. In conclusion, our study revealed that EA pretreatment may attenuate the ischemic brain injury by inhibiting glycolysis and increasing the levels of some neuroprotective metabolites.PMID:37335209 | DOI:10.1142/S0192415X23500520

Longitudinal Lipidomic Profile of Hypertension in American Indians: Findings From the Strong Heart Family Study

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Hypertension. 2023 Jun 19. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.123.21144. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Standard lipid panel cannot reflect the complexity of blood lipidome. The associations of individual lipid species with hypertension remain to be determined in large-scale epidemiological studies, especially in a longitudinal setting.METHODS: Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we repeatedly measured 1542 lipid species in 3699 fasting plasma samples at 2 visits (1905 at baseline, 1794 at follow-up, ~5.5 years apart) from 1905 unique American Indians in the Strong Heart Family Study. We first identified baseline lipids associated with prevalent and incident hypertension, followed by replication of top hits in Europeans. We then conducted repeated measurement analysis to examine the associations of changes in lipid species with changes in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure. Network analysis was performed to identify lipid networks associated with the risk of hypertension.RESULTS: Baseline levels of multiple lipid species, for example, glycerophospholipids, cholesterol esters, sphingomyelins, glycerolipids, and fatty acids, were significantly associated with both prevalent and incident hypertension in American Indians. Some lipids were confirmed in Europeans. Longitudinal changes in multiple lipid species, for example, acylcarnitines, phosphatidylcholines, fatty acids, and triacylglycerols, were significantly associated with changes in blood pressure measurements. Network analysis identified distinct lipidomic patterns associated with the risk of hypertension.CONCLUSIONS: Baseline plasma lipid species and their longitudinal changes are significantly associated with hypertension development in American Indians. Our findings shed light on the role of dyslipidemia in hypertension and may offer potential opportunities for risk stratification and early prediction of hypertension.PMID:37334699 | DOI:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.123.21144

Omics Signatures of Tissue Injury and Hemorrhagic Shock in Swine

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Ann Surg. 2023 Jun 19. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000005944. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: Advanced mass spectrometry methods were leveraged to analyze both proteomics and metabolomics signatures in plasma upon controlled tissue injury and hemorrhagic shock - isolated or combined - in a swine model, followed by correlation to viscoelastic measurements of coagulopathy via thrombelastography.SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: TI and HS cause distinct molecular changes in plasma in both animal models and trauma patients. However, the contribution to coagulopathy of trauma, the leading cause of preventable mortality in this patient population remains unclear. The recent development of a swine model for isolated or combined TI + HS facilitated the current study.METHODS: Male swine (n=17) were randomized to either isolated or combined tissue injury and hemorrhagic shock. Coagulation status was analyzed by thrombelastography during the monitored time course. The plasma fractions of the blood draws (at baseline, end of shock and at 30 min, 1, 2 and 4h after shock) were analyzed by mass spectrometry-based proteomics and metabolomics workflows.RESULTS: HS- isolated or combined with TI - caused the most severe omic alterations during the monitored time course. While isolated TI delayed the activation of coagulation cascades. Correlation to TEG parameters of clot strength (MA) and breakdown (LY30) revealed signatures of coagulopathy which were supported by analysis of gene ontology enriched biological pathways.CONCLUSION: The current study provides a comprehensive characterization of proteomic and metabolomic alterations to combined or isolated TI and HS in a swine model, and identifies early and late omics correlates to viscoelastic measurements in this system.PMID:37334680 | DOI:10.1097/SLA.0000000000005944

SAPrIm, a semi-automated protocol for mid-throughput immunopeptidomics

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Front Immunol. 2023 Jun 2;14:1107576. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1107576. eCollection 2023.ABSTRACTHuman leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules play a crucial role in directing adaptive immune responses based on the nature of their peptide ligands, collectively coined the immunopeptidome. As such, the study of HLA molecules has been of major interest in the development of cancer immunotherapies such as vaccines and T-cell therapies. Hence, a comprehensive understanding and profiling of the immunopeptidome is required to foster the growth of these personalised solutions. We herein describe SAPrIm, an Immunopeptidomics tool for the Mid-Throughput era. This is a semi-automated workflow involving the KingFisher platform to isolate immunopeptidomes using anti-HLA antibodies coupled to a hyper-porous magnetic protein A microbead, a variable window data independent acquisition (DIA) method and the ability to run up to 12 samples in parallel. Using this workflow, we were able to concordantly identify and quantify ~400 - 13000 unique peptides from 5e5 - 5e7 cells, respectively. Overall, we propose that the application of this workflow will be crucial for the future of immunopeptidome profiling, especially for mid-size cohorts and comparative immunopeptidomics studies.PMID:37334365 | PMC:PMC10272402 | DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1107576

The therapeutic role and potential mechanism of EGCG in obesity-related precocious puberty as determined by integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Jun 2;14:1159657. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1159657. eCollection 2023.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has preventive effects on obesity-related precocious puberty, but its underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to integrate metabolomics and network pharmacology to reveal the mechanism of EGCG in the prevention of obesity-related precocious puberty.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was used to analyze the impact of EGCG on serum metabolomics and associated metabolic pathways in a randomized controlled trial. Twelve weeks of EGCG capsules were given to obese girls in this trail. Additionally, the targets and pathways of EGCG in preventing obesity-related precocious puberty network pharmacology were predicted using network pharmacology. Finally, the mechanism of EGCG prevention of obesity-related precocious puberty was elucidated through integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology.RESULTS: Serum metabolomics screened 234 endogenous differential metabolites, and network pharmacology identified a total of 153 common targets. These metabolites and targets mainly enrichment pathways involving endocrine-related pathways (estrogen signaling pathway, insulin resistance, and insulin secretion), and signal transduction (PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and Jak-STAT signaling pathways). The integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology indicated that AKT1, EGFR, ESR1, STAT3, IGF1, and MAPK1 may be key targets for EGCG in preventing obesity-related precocious puberty.CONCLUSION: EGCG may contribute to preventing obesity-related precocious puberty through targets such as AKT1, EGFR, ESR1, STAT3, IGF1, and MAPK1 and multiple signaling pathways, including the estrogen, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and Jak-STAT pathways. This study provided a theoretical foundation for future research.PMID:37334310 | PMC:PMC10272822 | DOI:10.3389/fendo.2023.1159657

Plasma metabolomics in male primary and functional hypogonadism

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 May 26;14:1165741. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1165741. eCollection 2023.ABSTRACTMetabolomics proposes to unveil the molecular machinery involved in each specific disease by the comprehensive analysis of low-molecular-weight metabolites in a biological sample. This narrative mini-review analyzes previous studies applying ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-based metabolomics to highlight different metabolic pathways involved in male hypogonadism and testosterone replacement therapy, both in the case of insulin-sensitive patients with primary hypogonadism and in the case of insulin-resistant patients with functional hypogonadism. In functional hypogonadism, metabolomics revealed that different biochemical pathways are affected. In detail, glycolysis is the most important biochemical process involved in these patients. Glucose metabolism is fueled by amino acid degradation, and gluconeogenesis is widely stimulated. Some important pathways, including glycerol, are compromised. Furthermore, mitochondrial electron transport is influenced, namely, by a decrease in ATP production. On the contrary, beta-oxidation of short- and medium-chain fatty acids does not represent an energy source in hypogonadal patients. Both lactate and acetyl-CoA are converted into ketone bodies, which increased immensely. However, carnosine and β-alanine are greatly reduced. These metabolic changes are associated with increased fatigue and mental confusion. After testosterone replacement therapy, a complete restoration is achieved for only a part of the metabolites. It is of note that only in patients with functional hypogonadism treated with testosterone are ketone bodies produced at high levels, so the symptoms sometimes reported by these patients after the beginning of the therapy (difficulty in concentrating, depressed mood, brain fog, and memory impairment) might represent a specific "keto flu-like" syndrome, related to the metabolic ketonic state.PMID:37334300 | PMC:PMC10273261 | DOI:10.3389/fendo.2023.1165741

Bovine neonatal microbiome origins: a review of proposed microbial community presence from conception to colostrum

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Transl Anim Sci. 2023 May 27;7(1):txad057. doi: 10.1093/tas/txad057. eCollection 2023 Jan.ABSTRACTIn recent years, there has been an influx of research evaluating the roles of the reproductive tract microbiota in modulating reproductive performance. These efforts have resulted in a breadth of research exploring the bovine reproductive tract microbiota. The female reproductive tract microbiota has been characterized during the estrus cycle, at timed artificial insemination, during gestation, and postpartum. Additionally, there are recently published studies investigating in-utero inoculation of the bovine fetus. However, critical review of the literature to understand how the microbial shifts during a dam's lifecycle could impact neonatal outcomes is limited. This review demonstrates a consistency at the phyla level throughout both the maternal, paternal, and neonatal microbiomes. Moreover, this review challenges the current gestational inoculation hypothesis and suggests instead a maturation of the resident uterine microbiota throughout gestation to parturition. Recent literature is indicative of microbial composition influencing metabolomic parameters that have developmental programming effects in feed utilization and metabolic performance later in life. Thus, this review enumerates the potential origins of neonatal microbial inoculation from conception, through gestation, parturition, and colostrum consumption while introducing clear paucities where future research is needed to better understand the ramifications of the reproductive microbiome on neonates.PMID:37334245 | PMC:PMC10276551 | DOI:10.1093/tas/txad057

Integrated Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology to Reveal the Mechanisms of Gandouling Tablets Against Copper-Overload-Induced Neuronal Injury in Rats with Wilson's Disease

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Drug Des Devel Ther. 2023 Jun 13;17:1763-1782. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S409691. eCollection 2023.ABSTRACTPURPOSE: Gandouling Tablets (GDL), a proprietary Chinese medicine, have shown a preventive effect against Wilson's disease (WD)-induced neuronal damage in previous studies. However, the potential mechanisms need additional investigation. Combining metabonomics and network pharmacology revealed the GDL pathway against WD-induced neuronal damage.METHODS: The WD rat model with a high copper load was developed, and nerve damage was assessed. Total metabonomics was used to identify distinct hippocampus metabolites and enriched metabolic pathways in MetaboAnalyst. The GDL's possible targets against WD neuron damage were then determined by network pharmacology. Cytoscape constructed compound metabonomics and pharmacology networks. Moreover, molecular docking and Real-Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) validated key targets.RESULTS: GDL reduced WD-induced neuronal injury. Twenty-nine GDL-induced metabolites may protect against WD neuron injury. According to network pharmacology, we identified three essential gene clusters, of which genes in cluster 2 had the most significant impact on the metabolic pathway. A comprehensive investigation identified six crucial targets, including UGT1A1, CYP3A4, CYP2E1, CYP1A2, PIK3CB, and LPL, and their associated core metabolites and processes. Four targets reacted strongly with GDL active components. GDL therapy improved five targets' expression.CONCLUSION: This collaborative effort revealed the mechanisms of GDL against WD neuron damage and a way to investigate the potential pharmacological mechanisms of other Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).PMID:37333964 | PMC:PMC10276572 | DOI:10.2147/DDDT.S409691

Administration of <em>Bifidobacterium animalis</em> subsp. <em>lactis</em> strain BB-12<sup>®</sup> in healthy children: characterization, functional composition, and metabolism of the gut microbiome

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Front Microbiol. 2023 May 12;14:1165771. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1165771. eCollection 2023.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: The consumption of probiotics may influence children's gut microbiome and metabolome, which may reflect shifts in gut microbial diversity composition and metabolism. These potential changes might have a beneficial impact on health. However, there is a lack of evidence investigating the effect of probiotics on the gut microbiome and metabolome of children. We aimed to examine the potential impact of a two (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii; S2) vs. three (S2 + Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strain BB-12) strain-supplemented yogurt.METHODS: Included in this study were 59 participants, aged one to five years old, recruited to phase I of a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Fecal samples were collected at baseline, after the intervention, and at twenty days post-intervention discontinuation, and untargeted metabolomics and shotgun metagenomics were performed.RESULTS: Shotgun metagenomics and metabolomic analyses showed no global changes in either intervention group's gut microbiome alpha or beta diversity indices, except for a lower microbial diversity in the S2 + BB12 group at Day 30. The relative abundance of the two and three intervention bacteria increased in the S2 and S2 + BB12 groups, respectively, from Day 0 to Day 10. In the S2 + BB12 group, the abundance of several fecal metabolites increased at Day 10, including alanine, glycine, lysine, phenylalanine, serine, and valine. These fecal metabolite changes did not occur in the S2 group.DISCUSSION: In conclusion, there were were no significant differences in the global metagenomic or metabolomic profiles between healthy children receiving two (S2) vs. three (S2 + BB12) probiotic strains for 10 days. Nevertheless, we observed a significant increase (Day 0 to Day 10) in the relative abundance of the two and three probiotics administered in the S2 and S2 + BB12 groups, respectively, indicating the intervention had a measurable impact on the bacteria of interest in the gut microbiome. Future research using longer probiotic intervention durations and in children at risk for gastrointestinal disorders may elucidate if functional metabolite changes confer a protective gastrointestinal effect.PMID:37333640 | PMC:PMC10275293 | DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1165771

Improvement effect of biochar on soil microbial community structure and metabolites of decline disease bayberry

Mon, 19/06/2023 - 12:00
Front Microbiol. 2023 May 12;14:1154886. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1154886. eCollection 2023.ABSTRACTDecline disease is a new disease that has recently caused severe damage in bayberry industry. The effect of biochar on decline disease was determined by investigating the changes in the vegetative growth and fruit quality of bayberry trees as well as soil physical and chemical properties, microbial community structure, and metabolites. Results indicated that the application of biochar could improve the vigor and fruit quality of diseased trees, and rhizosphere soil microbial diversity at the levels of phyla, orders, and genera. The relative abundance of Mycobacterium, Crossiella, Geminibasidium, and Fusarium were significantly increased, while Acidothermus, Bryobacter, Acidibacter, Cladophialophora, Mycena, and Rickenella were significantly decreased by biochar in rhizosphere soil of decline diseased bayberry. Analysis of redundancies (RDA) of microbial communities and soil characteristics revealed that the composition of bacterial and fungal communities was significantly affected by the pH, organic matter, alkali hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, exchangeable calcium and exchangeable magnesium in bayberry rhizosphere soil, and the contribution rates to fungi were larger than those to bacteria at the genus level. Biochar greatly influenced the metabolomics distribution of rhizosphere soils of decline disease bayberry. One hundred and nine different metabolites from both the presence and absence of biochar, mainly include acid, alcohol, ester, amine, amino acid, sterol, sugar, and other secondary metabolites, of which the contents of 52 metabolites were increased significantly such as aconitic acid, threonic acid, pimelic acid, epicatechin, and lyxose. The contents of 57 metabolites decreased significantly, such as conduritol β-expoxide, zymosterol, palatinitol, quinic acid, and isohexoic acid. There was a great difference between the absence and presence of biochar in 10 metabolic pathways, including thiamine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, glutathione metabolism, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, butanoate metabolism, cyanoamino acid metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, phosphotransferase system (pts), and lysine degradation. There was a significant correlation between the relative content of microbial species and the content of secondary metabolites in rhizosphere soil at the levels of bacterial and fungal phyla, order, and genus. Overall, this study highlighted the significant influence of biochar in decline disease by regulating soil microbial community, physical and chemical properties, and secondary metabolites in rhizosphere soil, which provided a novel strategy for managing bayberry decline disease.PMID:37333636 | PMC:PMC10275294 | DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1154886

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