PubMed

Sensors (Basel). 2025 Jan 30;25(3):848. doi: 10.3390/s25030848.ABSTRACTExosomes carry diverse tumor-associated molecular information that can reflect real-time tumor progression, making them a promising tool for liquid biopsy. However, traditional methods for exosome isolation and detection often rely on large, expensive equipment and are time-consuming, limiting their practical applicability in clinical settings. Microfluidic technology offers a versatile platform for exosome analysis, with advantages such as seamless integration, portability and reduced sample volumes. Aptamers, which are single-stranded oligonucleotides with high affinity and specificity for target molecules, have been frequently employed in the development of aptamer-based microfluidics for the isolation, signal amplification, and quantitative detection of exosomes. This review summarizes recent advances in aptamer-based microfluidic strategies for exosome analysis, including (1) strategies for on-chip exosome capture mediated by aptamers combined with nanomaterials or nanointerfaces; (2) aptamer-based on-chip signal amplification techniques, such as enzyme-free hybridization chain reaction (HCR), rolling circle amplification (RCA), and DNA machine-assisted amplification; and (3) various aptamer-assisted detection methods, such as fluorescence, electrochemistry, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and magnetism. The limitations and advantages of these methods are also summarized. Finally, future challenges and directions for the clinical analysis of exosomes based on aptamer-based microfluidics are discussed.PMID:39943486 | DOI:10.3390/s25030848

Animals (Basel). 2025 Jan 31;15(3):403. doi: 10.3390/ani15030403.ABSTRACTHibernation is a crucial adaptive strategy for amphibians, facilitating survival in harsh environmental conditions by lowering metabolic rates and reducing energy use. This study employed GC-MS and LC-MS metabolomics to systematically analyze the serum metabolome of Bufo gargarizans during hibernation, aiming to uncover its metabolic adaptation mechanisms. A total of 136 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified, of which 115 were downregulated and 21 upregulated, mainly involved in amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism. KEGG pathway analysis showed that most metabolic pathways were inhibited in the hibernating group, underscoring a significant reduction in overall metabolic activity. Notably, while amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism were significantly reduced, lipid metabolism exhibited a distinctive adaptive response. Enhanced β-oxidation of fatty acids, including palmitoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and sodium caprylate, suggests a metabolic shift toward lipid-based energy utilization. The reduction in key metabolites like fumaric acid and succinic acid in the TCA cycle further supports the hypothesis of reduced energy requirements. These results enhance our current understanding of amphibian hibernation metabolisms and provide a targeted approach for future mechanistic investigations.PMID:39943173 | DOI:10.3390/ani15030403

Plants (Basel). 2025 Feb 6;14(3):494. doi: 10.3390/plants14030494.ABSTRACTIn this study, we investigated the mechanism of conversion of active components as well as the color change of forest ginseng (FG) during the drying process with the self-developed negative-pressure circulating airflow-assisted desiccator (PCAD) drying method, using a widely targeted metabolomics analytical method based on ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). During the drying process, a total of 1862 metabolites were identified in FG, along with 748 differential abundant metabolites (DAMs). Further analysis of the types and metabolic pathways of the DAMs revealed that both primary and secondary metabolites changed by 50-70% moisture content (MC); secondary metabolites dominated with a 30-50% MC, and primary metabolites dominated with a 10-30% MC, which revealed the differences in the transformation of the active ingredients in the drying process. In addition, the results showed the browning characteristics during the drying process. MC-50 and MC-10 showed the smallest and largest color changes, as well as enzyme activities, compared to the other MCs, respectively. As drying proceeded, browning reactions were mainly related to lipid and nucleotide metabolism and phenylpropane and flavonoid biosynthesis. In conclusion, the present study provides theoretical support for the mechanisms of active ingredient transformation as well as the color change of FG during PCAD drying.PMID:39943056 | DOI:10.3390/plants14030494

Plants (Basel). 2025 Feb 6;14(3):493. doi: 10.3390/plants14030493.ABSTRACTUltraviolet radiation (UV) represents a significant abiotic stress, affecting green plants. Phenolic compounds have been suggested as components involved in plant photoprotective adaptation. We used a unique combination of experimental (LED lighting and leaf tagging) and analytical (unbiased, or untargeted, metabolomics) approaches to study the effects of high (approximating mid-summer) and low (approximating winter) levels of UVA on the expression of phenolic compounds. These consisted of river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis ssp. camaldulensis) of five provenances. The geographically separated provenances used in our study spanned the lowest and highest latitudes of the range of this subspecies. The concentrations of gallotannins and ellagitannins (i.e., hydrolysable tannins) increased most under high levels of UVA, but responses only differed slightly among provenances. The most substantial changes in the composition of phenolic compounds were associated with leaf age. Overall, 3-month-old (herein, termed 'young') leaves had substantially different phenolic compositions to 6- and 12-month-old ('old') leaves. Hydrolysable tannins were more abundant in young leaves, whereas pedunculagin, catechin, and kaempferol galloyl glucoses were more abundant in old leaves. High levels of UVA altered the expression of phenolic compounds, but our experimental saplings were unlikely to experience photoinhibition because they were not exposed to high levels of light and low temperatures, nor were they nitrogen-limited. We expect that changes in phenolic compounds would have been more pronounced if we had induced photoinhibition.PMID:39943055 | DOI:10.3390/plants14030493

Plants (Basel). 2025 Feb 5;14(3):473. doi: 10.3390/plants14030473.ABSTRACTThe BRI1-EMS-SUPPRESSOR 1 (BES1) family comprises plant-specific transcription factors, which are distinguished by atypical bHLH domains. Over the past two decades, genetic and biochemical studies have established that members of the BRI1-EMS-SUPPRESSOR 1 (BES1) family are crucial for regulating the expression of genes involved in brassinosteroid (BR) response in rapeseed. Due to the significance of the BES1 gene family, extensive research has been conducted to investigate its functional properties. This study presents a comprehensive identification and computational analysis of BES1 genes in 'Tieguanyin' (TGY) tea (Camellia sinensis). A total of 10 BES1 genes were initially identified in the TGY genome. Through phylogenetic tree analysis, this study uniquely revealed that CsBES1.2 and CsBES1.5 cluster with SlBES1.8 from Solanum lycopersicum, indicating their critical roles in fruit growth and development. Synteny analysis identified 20 syntenic genes, suggesting the conservation of their evolutionary functions. Analysis of the promoter regions revealed two types of light-responsive cis-elements, with CsBES1.4 exhibiting the highest number of light-related cis-elements (13), followed by CsBES1.9 and CsBES1.10. Additional validation via qRT-PCR experiments showed that CsBES1.9 and CsBES1.10 were significantly upregulated under light exposure, with CsBES1.10 reaching approximately six times the expression level of the control after 4 h. These results suggest that CsBES1.9 and CsBES1.4 could play crucial roles in responding to abiotic stress. This study offers novel insights into the functional roles of the BES1 gene family in 'Tieguanyin' tea and establishes a significant foundation for future research, especially in exploring the roles of these genes in response to abiotic stresses, such as light exposure.PMID:39943035 | DOI:10.3390/plants14030473

Plants (Basel). 2025 Jan 30;14(3):406. doi: 10.3390/plants14030406.ABSTRACTWater scarcity and climate change pose significant challenges to sustainable agriculture, emphasizing the need for optimized irrigation practices. This study evaluates the impact of limited irrigation (0.45 L/day per plant) compared to a control (0.87 L/day per plant) on tomato fruit quality and metabolic responses. Limited irrigation enhanced fruit flavor by reducing the pH from 4.2 to 3.4 and improved cellular integrity, with electrolyte leakage decreasing from 50% to 26%. Antioxidant levels increased, with the vitamin C content rising from 49 to 64 mg 100 g-1 FW, while glucose and fructose accumulation contributed to improved sweetness. Notably, limited irrigation suppressed ethylene biosynthesis, reducing methionine, ACC, ACO activity, and ethylene production, which are key regulators of ripening and senescence. This suppression suggests the potential for extending shelf life and delaying over-ripening. These findings underscore the dual benefits of limited irrigation: enhancing fruit quality and supporting sustainable water use. This research provides a viable strategy for optimizing tomato production and postharvest quality in water-limited regions.PMID:39942968 | DOI:10.3390/plants14030406

Plants (Basel). 2025 Jan 23;14(3):344. doi: 10.3390/plants14030344.ABSTRACTNitric oxide (NO) breaks a seed's dormancy and stimulates germination by signaling. However, the key physiological metabolic pathways and molecular regulatory mechanisms are still unclear. Therefore, this study used physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomics methods to analyze the key genes and metabolites involved in the NO regulation of plant embryo germination and their potential regulatory mechanisms. The physiological analysis results indicate that the appropriate concentration of NO increased the content of NO and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in cells, stimulated the synthesis of ethylene and jasmonic acid (JA), induced a decrease in abscisic acid (ABA) content, antagonistic to the gibberellin (GA3) effect, and promoted embryo germination and subsequent seedling growth. However, the high concentrations of NO caused excessive accumulation of H2O2, destroyed the reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance, and inhibited embryo germination and seedling growth. The combined analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics showed that the genes related to phenylpropanoid (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, trans-cinnamate 4-monooxygenase, ferulate-5-hydroxylase, coniferyl-alcohol glucosyltransferase), and flavonoid synthesis (10 genes such as CHS) were significantly up-regulated during embryo germination. The high concentration of exogenous NO inhibited embryo germination by up-regulating the expression of 4-coumaric acid coenzyme A ligase (4CL) and negatively regulating the expression of flavonoid synthesis genes. This suggests that NO concentration-dependently regulates phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis, thereby affecting ROS metabolism and hormone levels, and ultimately regulates the dormancy and germination of Sorbus pohuashanensis embryos.PMID:39942906 | DOI:10.3390/plants14030344

Plants (Basel). 2025 Jan 22;14(3):322. doi: 10.3390/plants14030322.ABSTRACTSelenate, the most common form of selenium (Se) in soil environments, is beneficial for higher plants. Selenate is similar to sulfate in terms of the structure and the manner of assimilation by plants, which involves the reduction of selenate to selenide and the replacement of an S moiety in the organic compounds such as amino acids. The nonspecific incorporation of seleno-amino acids into proteins induce Se toxicity in plants. Selenate alters the plant metabolism, particularly the S metabolism, which is comparable to the responses to S deficiency (-S). However, previous analyses involved high concentrations of selenate, and the effects of lower selenate doses have not been elucidated. In this study, we analyzed the metabolic changes induced by selenate treatment through a non-targeted metabolome analysis and found that 2 µM of selenate decreased the S assimilates and amino acids, and increased the flavonoids, while the glutathione levels were maintained. The results suggest that the decrease in amino acid levels, which is not detected under -S, along with the disruptions in S assimilation, amino acid biosynthesis pathways, and the energy metabolism, present the primary metabolic influences of selenate. These results suggest that selenate targets the energy metabolism and S assimilation first, and induces oxidative stress mitigation, represented by flavonoid accumulation, as a key adaptive response, providing a novel, possible mechanism in plant stress adaptation.PMID:39942884 | DOI:10.3390/plants14030322

Molecules. 2025 Feb 5;30(3):706. doi: 10.3390/molecules30030706.ABSTRACTPlasma contains metabolites with diverse physicochemical properties, ranging from highly polar to highly apolar, and concentrations spanning at least nine orders of magnitude. Plasma metabolome analysis is valuable for monitoring health and evaluating medical interventions but is challenging due to the metabolome's diversity and complexity. This study aims to develop and validate targeted LC-MS/MS methods for quantifying 235 mammalian metabolites from 17 compound classes in porcine plasma without prior derivatization. Utilizing reversed-phase and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, each analyte is identified and quantified using two selected reaction monitoring (SRM) transitions. Fast polarity switching and scheduled SRM enhance the metabolome coverage and throughput, enabling the analysis of one sample in about 40 min. A simple "dilute and shoot" sample preparation protocol was employed, with samples injected at two dilution levels to align metabolite concentrations within calibration curve ranges. Validation in porcine plasma included assessments of carryover, linearity, detection and quantification limits, repeatability and recovery. The method was further applied to plasma samples from various animal species, demonstrating its applicability to human and animal studies. This study establishes two robust LC-MS/MS methods for comprehensive porcine plasma metabolome quantification, advancing large-scale targeted metabolomics in biomedical research.PMID:39942809 | DOI:10.3390/molecules30030706

Molecules. 2025 Jan 31;30(3):623. doi: 10.3390/molecules30030623.ABSTRACTFritillaria cirrhosa D. Don (known as Chuan-Bei-Mu in Chinese) is a prominent medicinal plant utilized in traditional medicine for chronic respiratory ailments. It has garnered global acknowledgment because of its incorporation in many herbal preparations, resulting in a significant increase in demand and, consequently, leading to the decimation of wild populations. The study aimed to obtain regenerated plantlets of F. cirrhosa using in vitro propagation techniques and evaluate the accumulation of active metabolites and anti-inflammatory properties from in vitro and natural plant bulbs. UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis identified 267 metabolites. Notably, 118 metabolites showed significantly different intensities between the wild bulbs (WBs) and in vitro tissue culture-regenerated bulbs (RBs). Higher edpetiline amounts were obtained from the RBs, and 14 steroid-related metabolites were elevated in RBs. Both RB and WB extracts had comparable anti-inflammatory abilities and significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced epithelial cell TSLP release. Subsequent mechanistic studies revealed that the efficacy of WB and RB extracts depended on the regulation of the TRPV1/NFAT pathway. These findings highlight the viability of in vitro regeneration and medicinal part replacement as sustainable alternatives to the existing detrimental overharvesting of wild Chuan-Bei-Mu populations.PMID:39942727 | DOI:10.3390/molecules30030623

Molecules. 2025 Jan 25;30(3):549. doi: 10.3390/molecules30030549.ABSTRACTThe cell non-targeted metabolomics technique was used to investigate the potential mechanism of Caly-cosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside (CAG) against cell oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R). The OGD/R-injured HT22 cell model was constructed. The cells were divided into control, OGD/R, Edaravone (EDA), CAG-L, CAG-M, and CAG-H groups. The protective effect of CAG on OGD/R-injured nerve cells and its potential mechanism was investigated by detecting ROS levels, apoptosis rate, glutamic acid (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), nitric oxide (NO), and combining with cell non-targeted metabolomics. The results showed that after OGD/R, ROS levels, apoptosis rate, Glu and NO concentrations were significantly increased, while the concentrations of GABA were decreased considerably, which improved in a dose-dependent manner after CAG intervention. Cell non-targeted metabolomics results showed that CAG can dramatically improve the metabolomic characteristics of OGD/R-injured HT22 cells. Through bioinformatics analysis and molecular docking, it was found that purine metabolism may be an important pathway for CAG to treat OGD/R injury, and key proteins screened may be important targets for improving OGD/R injury. Therefore, CAG may protect OGD/R-injured HT22 cells by inhibiting apoptosis and oxidative stress, improving energy supply and the metabolomic characteristics of OGD/R-injured HT22 cells by regulating purine metabolism.PMID:39942654 | DOI:10.3390/molecules30030549

Molecules. 2025 Jan 25;30(3):545. doi: 10.3390/molecules30030545.ABSTRACTAdvances in combinatorial synthesis and high-throughput screening methods have led to renewed interest in synthetic plant immunity activators as well as priming agents. 3,5-Dichloroanthranilic acid (3,5-DCAA) is a derivative of anthranilic acid that has shown potency in activating defence mechanisms in Arabidopsis and barley. Chemical biology, which is the interface of chemistry and biology, can make use of metabolomic approaches and tools to better understand molecular mechanisms operating in complex biological systems. Here we report on the untargeted metabolomic profiling of barley seedlings treated with 3,5-DCAA to gain deeper insights into the mechanism of action of this resistance inducer. Histochemical analysis revealed the production of reactive oxygen species in the leaves upon 3,5-DCAA infiltration. Subsequently, methanolic extracts from different time periods (12, 24, and 36 h post-treatment) were analysed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to a high-resolution mass spectrometer. Both unsupervised and supervised chemometric methods were used to reveal hidden patterns and highlight metabolite variables associated with the treatment. Based on the metabolites identified, both the phenylpropanoid and octadecanoid pathways appear to be main routes activated by 3,5-DCAA. Different classes of responsive metabolites were annotated with flavonoids, more specifically flavones, which were the most dominant. Given the limited understanding of this inducer, this study offers a metabolomic analysis of the response triggered by its foliar application in barley. This additional insight could help make informed decisions for the development of more effective strategies for crop protection and improvement, ultimately contributing to crop resilience and agricultural sustainability.PMID:39942649 | DOI:10.3390/molecules30030545

Molecules. 2025 Jan 23;30(3):508. doi: 10.3390/molecules30030508.ABSTRACTMicrobial consortium degradation technology can improve the degradation efficiency and adaptability through fungi-bacteria synergism, but the mechanism of the fungi-bacteria interaction is still unclear, making it difficult to optimize the degradation process. The microbial consortium J-6, with high lignin degradation efficiency and strong environmental adaptability, was obtained in our previous research. In this study, the fungi-bacteria interacting mechanism of the microbial consortium J-6 was inferred based on metabolomics technology. The results showed that the positive interaction between fungi and bacteria could improve the efficiency of lignin degradation. The metabolites released by fungi, especially betanidin and ergosterol, had an impact on bacterial metabolism, promoted the degradation of macromolecules, and significantly increased the lignin degradation efficiency. Metabolites released by bacteria, especially L-phenylalanine and taurine, played a key role in fungal metabolism, leading to more complete degradation. The interaction mechanism of chemical currencies exchange between fungi and bacteria during lignin degradation obtained in this study can provide theoretical guidance for microbial consortium degradation technology.PMID:39942613 | DOI:10.3390/molecules30030508

Foods. 2025 Feb 5;14(3):511. doi: 10.3390/foods14030511.ABSTRACTIn order to reveal the fermentation microflora and fermentation metabolites of traditional mung bean sour liquid (MBSL) in Luoyang area, China, this experiment was sampled from four administrative districts of Luoyang, and volatile metabolites and non-targeted metabolites were detected and analyzed by HS-SPME-GC-MS and LC-MS, and bacterial and fungal sequencing were analyzed by Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology. And the correlation between microorganisms and metabolites was conducted. The results showed that 42 volatiles were detected in four MBSL samples named Jianxi (JX), Liujia (Liu), LiJia (LJ), Majia (MJ), with 11 identical volatile flavor subtances, and the highest content of esters was found in JX, Liu, and LJ, and the highest content of acids was found in MJ. A total of 1703 non-targeted metabolites were identified, and there were more types of amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids and their complexes, flavonoids, carbonyl compounds, and organic acids, accounting for 40.93%. High-throughput sequencing results showed that there were nine bacterial and fungal genera with an average abundance of more than 1%, and the dominant genera mainly belonged to lactic acid bacteria and yeast. The composition of dominant genera was different in different workshop samples, and the abundance of fungal genera differed greatly. Among the volatile substances, Methyleugenol, a volatile component, was related to more bacteria, and ketones and hydrocarbons may be more closely associated with bacteria. Acetic acid and Oxalic acid may be more closely related to fungi, while some esters were more closely related to both fungal and bacterial genera. For non-target metabolites, amino acid and alcohol metabolites may be more influenced by bacteria, and organic acids and flavonoids may be more influenced by fungi.PMID:39942104 | DOI:10.3390/foods14030511

Foods. 2025 Feb 5;14(3):506. doi: 10.3390/foods14030506.ABSTRACTThe intake of oleic acid-rich fats, a hallmark of the Mediterranean diet, has well-documented beneficial effects on human metabolic health. One of the key mechanisms underlying these effects is the regulation of gut microbiota structure and function. However, most existing studies focus on gut bacteria, while gut fungi, as a vital component of the gut microbiota, remain largely unexplored. This study compared the effects of regular peanut oil (PO) and high-oleic acid peanut oil (HOPO) on the gut mycobiome and serum metabolome employing ITS high-throughput sequencing and UPLC-MS/MS metabolomics to explore how dietary fatty acid composition influences gut microecology. Both HOPO and PO effectively reversed high-fat, high-fructose diet (HFFD)-induced reductions in gut fungal diversity, with HOPO showing superior efficacy in restoring gut microbiome balance, as reflected by an improved fungal-to-bacterial diversity ratio and reduced abundance of pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Candida. Furthermore, HOPO demonstrated a greater ability to normalize serum bile acid levels, including taurochenodesoxycholic acid, and to reverse elevated pantothenol levels, suggesting its potential role in maintaining bile acid metabolism and CoA biosynthesis. In summary, HOPO is more effective than PO in maintaining the normal structure and function of gut mycobiome in HFFD-fed SD rats.PMID:39942099 | DOI:10.3390/foods14030506

Foods. 2025 Feb 5;14(3):505. doi: 10.3390/foods14030505.ABSTRACTTo understand the impact and mechanism of removing fat and skin tissue on the nutritional metabolism of Chinese dry cured ham, the differential metabolites (DMs) profile between lean ham (LH) and fatty ham (FH) was explored though untargeted metabolomics based on UPLC-MS/MS. The results showed significant differences of the metabolite profiles between FH and LH. A total of 450 defined metabolites were detected, and 266 metabolites among them had significantly different abundances between the two hams, mainly including organic acids and derivatives, and lipids and lipid-like molecules, as well as organoheterocyclic compounds. Furthermore, 131 metabolites were identified as DMs, among which 101 and 30 DMs showed remarkably higher contents in FH and LH, respectively. The further Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis suggested that DMs can be mostly enriched in the pathways of ABC transporters, amino acid biosynthesis, protein digestion and absorption, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism. Moreover, the metabolic network of DMs revealed that the prominent DMs in FH, such as 9(S)-HODE, 9,10-EpOME, 13-Oxo-ODE, L-palmitoyl carnitine, and D-fructose, were primarily involved in the endogenous oxidation and degradation of fat and glycogen. Nevertheless, the dominant DMs in LH, such as 2-isopropylmalic acid, indolelactic acid, and hydroxyisocaproic acid, were mainly the microbial metabolites of amino acids and derivates. These findings could help us understand how fat-deficiency affects the nutritional metabolism of Chinese dry-cured hams from a metabolic perspective.PMID:39942098 | DOI:10.3390/foods14030505

Foods. 2025 Jan 26;14(3):407. doi: 10.3390/foods14030407.ABSTRACTLacticaseibacillus casei (JS-2) is a novel probiotic isolated from "Jiangshui", a kind of traditional folk fermented food, which has a significant effect on hyperuricemia (HUA). In vitro experimental results showed that JS-2 has a high degradation ability and selectivity for uric acid (UA). The animal test results indicated that after two weeks of treatment, JS-2 could significantly reduce the level of UA in the serum of HUA quails (p < 0.01), and its effect is almost equivalent to that of the positive drug control group, benzbromarone. Further, after JS-2 treatment, the level of xanthine oxidase in quail serum decreased significantly. Analysis data of quail fecal metabolomics results showed that JS-2-altering metabolites were involved in amino acid, purine, and lipid metabolism. To investigate the mechanism underlying JS-2-mediated UA degradation in the quail model of HUA, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted. It was found that the structure and function of the gut microbiota were restored after JS-2 intervention, and the abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria (g__Ruminococcus_torques_group and g__Butyricicoccus) and bacteria with UA degradation capacity (g__unclassified_f__Lachnospiraceae and g__Negativibacillus) increased significantly; intestinal SCFAs, especially propionic acid, increased accordingly. These experimental data suggest that the beneficial effects of JS-2 may derive from changes in the gut microbiome, altering host-microbiota interactions, reducing UA levels by increasing UA excretion, and reducing absorption. These findings provided new evidence that JS-2 has the potential to be used as a naturally functional food for the prevention of HUA.PMID:39942000 | DOI:10.3390/foods14030407

Foods. 2025 Jan 22;14(3):355. doi: 10.3390/foods14030355.ABSTRACTThe untargeted metabolomics of Newhall navel oranges from three areas in China-Ganzhou, Fengjie, and Zigui-with geographical indication (GI) was measured using LC-MS/MS. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis was performed for sample classification and important metabolite identification. This approach identified the best markers of the geographical origin able to discriminate Fengjie, Ganzhou, and Zigui orange samples. For peeled samples, 2-isopropylmalic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamic γ-semialdehyde, D-β-phenylalanine, hesperetin, hydrocinnamic acid, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, and dehydroascorbate were the markers used to discriminate the geographical origin. All these markers were overexpressed in the peeled samples from the Zigui area, followed by the Ganzhou area. As for unpeeled samples, L-glutamic γ-semialdehyde, isovitexin 2'-O-β-D-glucoside, 2-isopropylmalic acid, isovitexin, diosmetin, trans-2-hydroxycinnamate and trans-cinnamate, L-aspartic acid, hydrocinnamic acid, and β-carotene were used to discriminate their origin. The first seven markers in Zigui-planted whole samples showed the highest levels, and the last three markers were richest in Ganzhou-planted samples. According to the variation in the markers for discriminating the origins of the peeled or unpeeled Newhall navel oranges with GI and the highest value of titratable acidity in those from Zigui, the samples planted in Ganzhou have the best balance between taste and nutrition. This work confirms that the approach of untargeted metabolomics combined with OPLS-DA is an effective way for origin tracing and overall quality evaluation.PMID:39941950 | DOI:10.3390/foods14030355

Cancers (Basel). 2025 Feb 6;17(3):553. doi: 10.3390/cancers17030553.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are rare, highly malignant mesenchymal tumours, comprising approximately 1% of all adult cancers and about 15% of paediatric solid tumours. STSs exhibit considerable genomic complexity with diverse subtypes, posing significant clinical challenges.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to characterise the molecular signature of primary STS through liquid biopsies and the untargeted metabolomic profiling of 75 patients, providing deep insights into cellular processes and potential therapeutic targets.METHODS: This study analysed serum samples using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for metabolomic profiling. Multivariate data analysis and machine learning classifiers were employed to identify biomarkers.RESULTS: A panel of eleven significant deregulated metabolites were discovered in serum samples of patients with STS, with potential implications for cancer diagnosis and treatment.CONCLUSIONS: Choline decrease emerged as a marker for cancer progression, highlighting the potential of targeting its metabolism for therapeutic approaches in STS. The NMR analysis protocol proved effective for determining circulating biomarkers from liquid biopsies, making it suitable for rare disease research.PMID:39941918 | DOI:10.3390/cancers17030553

Cancers (Basel). 2025 Jan 27;17(3):427. doi: 10.3390/cancers17030427.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents one of the most prevalent forms of cancer, with high mortality rates. The aim of this study was to observe and understand the metabolic changes in CRC through targeted metabolomics.METHODS: Samples collected from 58 CRC patients and 35 healthy individuals have been analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), targeting two classes of metabolites: amino acids and acylcarnitines.RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed 26 significantly modified (p-value < 0.01; |FC| > 1.2) metabolites in CRC patients compared to the control group and 22 between colon cancer and control, whereas 8 metabolites differed only significantly between rectal cancer and healthy patients. Some of these significantly modified metabolites characterize cancer-specific adaptations, such as increased energy demand, increased tumor invasiveness, capabilities to promote amino acid synthesis, and tumor resistance against acute immune response. Moreover, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that a set of two acylcarnitines (C6DC and C4-OH) can differentiate between CRC patients and healthy individuals with a high degree of confidence (AUC 0.837).CONCLUSIONS: By implementing a metabolomics approach targeting amino acids and acylcarnitines, several metabolic alterations induced by CRC have been highlighted. Even though these modifications are not specific enough to act as disease markers, they might prove useful for evaluating patient status.PMID:39941796 | DOI:10.3390/cancers17030427