PubMed

Int Immunopharmacol. 2024 Aug 26;141:112995. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112995. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTZymogen granule 16 (ZG16) is a secretory glycoprotein found in zymogen granules, which also plays an important role in colorectal inflammation and cancer. Herein, a ZG16 gene knock-out (ZG16-/-) mouse line was established and we found that ZG16 deletion damaged the intestinal mucosal barrier and gut microbiota, which resulted in low-level inflammation and further promoted the development of ulcerative colitis and inflammation-related colorectal cancer. Meanwhile, a metabolomics analysis on mouse feces showed that the metabolites significantly differed between ZG16-/- and WT mice, which were important mediators of host-microbiota communication and may impact the pulmonary inflammation of mice. Indeed, ZG16-/- mice showed more severe inflammation in a bronchial asthma model. Taken together, the results demonstrate that ZG16 plays a pivotal role in inhibiting inflammation and regulating immune responses in colorectum and lung of experimental animals, which may provide a better understanding of the underlying mechanism of human inflammatory diseases associated with ZG16.PMID:39191121 | DOI:10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112995

Plant Physiol Biochem. 2024 Jun 16;215:108851. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108851. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTGrape ripe rot is one of the most important diseases caused by Colletotrichum spp. Chinese wild grape (Vitis davidii) is highly resistant to Colletotrichum viniferum infection. But mechanisms underlying the resistance remain largely unclear. In this study, transcriptomic and metabolomic responses of V. davidii to C. viniferum were studied before and after 1, 2, 4, and 6 days of inoculation. C. viniferum infection induced the expression of a large number of defense-related genes. KEGG analysis indicated that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were largely those involved in alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, stilbenoid biosynthesis, and other defense-related metabolic pathways. Based on transcriptome data and experimental analysis, we found that jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis was closely related to V. davidii resistance to C. viniferum. In addition, many genes related to the synthesis of lignin and phytoalexin resveratrol are upregulated by pathogen infection, and metabolomic analysis showed that there was an increasing accumulation of resveratrol on day 6 of C. viniferum inoculation. Further analysis indicated that transcription factors, such as VdWRKY75 regulated the biosynthesis of lignin and stilbenes. A working model for V. davidii against C. viniferum infection was proposed. The infection of C. viniferum induced JA production, JA along with transcription factors regulated the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, such as lignin and resveratrol that enhanced plant resistance to C. viniferum. This study elucidated molecular mechanisms underlying the resistance of Chinese wild V. davidii to C. viniferum which can provide a theoretical basis for grape disease resistance breeding.PMID:39191040 | DOI:10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108851

Poult Sci. 2024 Aug 10;103(11):104208. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104208. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe earlobes of chickens exhibit a range of colors, but there has been relatively little research on the formation of structural blue earlobes. Previous results showed that the structural color earlobes were related to the interplay between melanin and collagen in light reflection. To investigate the metabolic differences in these earlobe colors, we conducted nontargeted liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC-MS) for metabolomic sequencing on structural blue (Green and Blue groups) and nonstructural color (Black group) earlobes tissue of Jiangshan black-bone chickens. The content detection in earlobe tissues of different groups shows that there were significant differences in melanin and collagen content between the Black and Green group. The metabolome identified a total of 6,102 mass spectroscopic peaks and ultimately identified 919 annotated metabolites. Variable importance in the projection (VIP) analysis identified the common differential expressed metabolites (DMs) "Tyr Thr Ala Glu" among the 3 groups. By combining those DMs with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in our previous transcriptome data from the same sample, and associated with KEGG pathway analysis, multiple pathways related to melanogenesis and collagen metabolism were enriched across the 3 groups. By analyzing the metabolites and genes in these pathways, as well as the interaction network diagram of DEGs, we identified some key genes, Wnt Family Member 6 (WNT6), Transcription Factor 7 (TCF7), Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and Calcium/Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase II Alpha (CAMK2A), and some key DMs like DG (11M3/9M5/0:0) and gentisic acid. The differential gene expression and metabolic levels affect the production of melanin and collagen, leading to differences in the content in melanin and the thickness of the collagen layer between earlobe colors, while the thickness of the collagen layer could affect light scattering, ultimately resulting in different colored earlobes in Jiangshan black-bone chickens.PMID:39190999 | DOI:10.1016/j.psj.2024.104208

Poult Sci. 2024 Jul 2;103(11):104055. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104055. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAnimal aggression is one of the most conserved behaviors. Excessive and inappropriate aggression was a serious social concern across species. After long-term selection under strict stress conditions, Henan gamecock serves as a good model for studying aggressive behavior. In this research, we constructed a Henan game chicken backcross population containing 25% Rhode Island Red (RIR), and conducted brain transcriptomics and serum metabolomics analyses on Henan gamecock (HGR) through its comparison with its female encounters (HGH) and the male backcross birds (BGR). The study revealed that seven differential metabolites in serum and 172 differentially expressed genes in the brain were commonly shared in both HGR vs. HGH and HGR vs. BGR comparisons. They exhibited the same patterns of modulation in Henan gamecocks, following either HGH < HGR > BGR or HGH > HGR < BGR style. Therein, some neurological genes involving in serotonergic and dopaminergic signaling were upregulated, while the levels of many genes related with neuro-immune function were decreased in Henan gamecock. In addition, many unknown genes specifically or highly expressed in the brain of the Henan gamecock were identified. These genes are potentially key candidates for enhancing the bird's aggression. Multi-omics joint analysis revealed that tyrosine metabolism and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction were commonly affected. Overall, our results propose that the aggressiveness of Henan gamecocks can be heightened by the activation of the serotonergic-dopaminergic metabolic process in the brain, which concurrently impairs the neuroimmune system. Further research is needed to identify the function of these unknown genes on the bird's aggressive behavior.PMID:39190992 | DOI:10.1016/j.psj.2024.104055

Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2024 Aug 27;23(1):315. doi: 10.1186/s12933-024-02412-x.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Insulin resistance is a frequent precursor of typical obesity and metabolic syndrome complications. However, accurate diagnosis remains elusive because of its pathophysiological complexity and heterogeneity. Herein, we have explored the utility of insulin secretion dynamics in response to an oral glucose tolerance test as a surrogate marker to identify distinct metabotypes of disease severity.METHODS: The study population consisted of children with obesity and insulin resistance, stratified according to the post-challenge insulin peak timing (i.e., early, middle, and late peak), from whom fasting and postprandial plasma and erythrocytes were collected for metabolomics analysis.RESULTS: Children with late insulin peak manifested worse cardiometabolic health (i.e., higher blood pressure, glycemia, and HOMA-IR scores) than early responders. These subjects also showed more pronounced changes in metabolites mirroring failures in energy homeostasis, oxidative stress, metabolism of cholesterol and phospholipids, and adherence to unhealthy dietary habits. Furthermore, delayed insulin peak was associated with impaired metabolic flexibility, as reflected in compromised capacity to regulate mitochondrial energy pathways and the antioxidant defense in response to glucose overload.CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, these findings suggest that insulin resistance could encompass several phenotypic subtypes characterized by graded disturbances in distinctive metabolic derangements occurring in childhood obesity, which serve as severity predictive markers.PMID:39192263 | DOI:10.1186/s12933-024-02412-x

Sci Rep. 2024 Aug 27;14(1):19865. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-68345-3.ABSTRACTTo investigate the effects of temperature on Brassica napus (canola) resistance to Leptosphaeria maculans (LM), the causal agent of blackleg disease, metabolic profiles of LM infected resistant (R) and susceptible (S) canola cultivars at 21 °C and 28 °C were analyzed. Metabolites were detected in cotyledons of R and S plants at 48- and 120-h post-inoculation with LM using UPLC-QTOF/MS. The mock-inoculated plants were used as controls. Some of the resistance-related specific pathways, including lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, were down-regulated in S plants but up-regulated in R plants at 21 °C. However, some of these pathways were down-regulated in R plants at 28 °C. Amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, alkaloid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis were the pathways linked to combined heat and pathogen stresses. By using network analysis and enrichment analysis, these pathways were identified as important. The pathways of carotenoid biosynthesis, pyrimidine metabolism, and lysine biosynthesis were identified as unique mechanisms related to heat stress and may be associated with the breakdown of resistance against the pathogen. The increased susceptibility of R plants at 28 °C resulted in the down-regulation of signal transduction pathway components and compromised signaling, particularly during the later stages of infection. Deactivating LM-specific signaling networks in R plants under heat stress may result in compatible responses and deduction in signaling metabolites, highlighting global warming challenges in crop disease control.PMID:39191882 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-68345-3

Sci Rep. 2024 Aug 27;14(1):19901. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-71097-9.ABSTRACTProximity Extension Assay (PEA) and mass spectrometry (MS) methodologies were utilized for the proteomic and lipidomic characterization of plasma specimens from patients who developed Alzheimer's disease. Proteomics was performed by both PEA and Liquid Chromatography (LC)/MS in this study, but all the more because LC/MS generally tends to be biased towards proteins with high expression and high variability, generating hypotheses proved challenging. Consequently, attempt was made to interpret the results from the PEA data. There were 150 significantly variable proteins and 68 lipids among 1000 proteins and 400 lipids. Pathway analysis was performed for both total and variable proteins measured to reduce bias, and it appeared that vascular fragility was related to AD. Furthermore, a multitude of lipid-associated proteins exhibited statistical changes. In certain instances, the function of individual proteins affected the factors associated with them, whereas others demonstrated trends contrary to anticipated outcomes. These trends seem indicative of diverse feedback mechanisms that provide homeostatic equilibrium. The degree of unsaturation of fatty acids, correlated with cardiovascular risk, warrants specific attention. Certain bile acids exhibited the potential to cause vascular endothelial damage. Contemplating these discoveries in tandem with previously documented phenomena, subtle shifts in homeostatic functions seem to be linked to the fragility of vascular endothelial cells. This is evidenced by the slow and chronic evolution of Alzheimer's disease from preclinical stages to its manifestation.PMID:39191863 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-71097-9

Sci Rep. 2024 Aug 27;14(1):19900. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-69865-8.ABSTRACTIndian mustard (Brassica juncea; Brassicaceae) is an edible, oilseeds-yielding crop widely consumed as a food spice owing to its richness in nutrients with several health benefits. The current study aims to dissect the B. juncea metabolome heterogeneity among its different organs including leaf, stem, flower, and seed. Moreover, assessing the metabolome differences between two different varieties RH-725 and RH-761 grown at the same conditions. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) post-silylation was used to dissect the composition of nutrient metabolites coupled to multivariate data analysis. Variation in sulphur aglycones was measured using headspace-solid phase-microextraction HS-SPME coupled to GC-MS. A total of 101 nutrient metabolites were identified with the abundance of sugars represented by monosaccharides in all organs, except for seeds which were enriched in disaccharides (sucrose). α-Linolenic acid was detected as a marker fatty acid in leaf from RH-725 at 12.5 µg/mg. Malic acid was detected as a significant variant metabolite between the two varieties as detected in the leaf from the RH-725 variety at ca. 128.2 µg/mg compared to traces in RH-761. 7 Volatile sulphur compounds were detected at comparable levels in RH-725 and RH-761, with 3-butenyl isothiocyanate was the most abundant at 0.8-2 ng/mg.PMID:39191794 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-69865-8

Clin Lung Cancer. 2024 Jul 15:S1525-7304(24)00146-3. doi: 10.1016/j.cllc.2024.07.008. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: The discovery of oncogenic mutations that drive the growth and progression of Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) led to the development of a range of molecular targeted therapies. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) improve the overall outcome of patients with oncogene addicted NSCLC, ensure a better compliance to treatment and few side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy. However, the treatment is still completely "drug-centric", in a population of patients who usually survive for a long time and desire to regain their quality of life. Despite an extensive literature on the importance of complementary treatments and lifestyle promotion, the guidelines on physical exercise are general and usually refer to the entire lung cancer pathology.METHODS AND OBJECTIVES: EXcellenT is an Italian monocentric randomized prospective study enrolling 40 patients diagnosed with oncogene-addicted advanced NSCLC in active treatment with TKIs. Patients will be randomized (1:1 ratio) to an 'interventional' or a 'control' group. In the interventional arm (arm A), participants will receive a 3-month multicomponent personalized physical activity prescription combining a supervised coaching program at the training center and an app-based physical activity schedule at patients home. In the control group (arm B) patients will receive a fitness professional-guided montly session that will result in an unsupervised home-based physical activity counselling. Prospective collection of blood metabolome and immune phenotypes will be performed to investigate the integration with genetic alterations that drive the patient's disease. The overall aim of the project is to evaluate if a tailored physical program may have a significant impact on quality of life and performances of this specific homogeneous subgroup of patients. The exploratory goal is to elucidate a potential link between metabolites, immune parameters and genetic deregulations and how this interplay may be influenced by physical exercise.CONCLUSION: EXcellent trial aims to propose a new approach to personalized medicine in the specific subgroup of oncogene-addicted NSCLC patients, where targeted therapy is integrated with an equally tailored physical activity program. The homogeneity of this cancer population will provide insights on the influence of exercise on metabolism and immunity during treatment with TKIs.PMID:39191545 | DOI:10.1016/j.cllc.2024.07.008

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Sep 3;121(36):e2410598121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2410598121. Epub 2024 Aug 27.ABSTRACTTo counter the rising incidence of diabetes and to meet the daily protein needs, we created low glycemic index (GI) rice varieties with protein content (PC) surpassing 14%. In the development of recombinant inbred lines using Samba Mahsuri and IR36 amylose extender (IR36ae) as parental lines, we identified quantitative trait loci and genes associated with low GI, high amylose content (AC), and high PC. By integrating genetic techniques with classification models, this comprehensive approach identified candidate genes on chromosome 2 (qGI2.1/qAC2.1 spanning the region from 18.62 Mb to 19.95 Mb), exerting influence on low GI and high amylose. Notably, the phenotypic variant with high value was associated with the recessive allele of the starch branching enzyme 2b (sbeIIb). The genome-edited sbeIIb line confirmed low GI phenotype in milled rice grains. Further, combinations of alleles created by the highly significant SNPs from the targeted associations and epistatically interacting genes showed ultralow GI phenotypes with high amylose and high protein. Metabolomics analysis of rice with varying AC, PC, and GI revealed that the superior lines of high AC and PC, and low GI were preferentially enriched in glycolytic and amino acid metabolisms, whereas the inferior lines of low AC and PC and high GI were enriched with fatty acid metabolism. The high amylose high protein recombinant inbred line (HAHP_101) was enriched in essential amino acids like lysine. Such lines may be highly relevant for food product development to address diabetes and malnutrition.PMID:39190344 | DOI:10.1073/pnas.2410598121

Metabolomics. 2024 Aug 27;20(5):100. doi: 10.1007/s11306-024-02165-4.ABSTRACTWhite-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal wildlife disease of bats that has caused precipitous declines in certain Nearctic bat species. A key driver of mortality is premature exhaustion of fat reserves, primarily white adipose tissue (WAT), that bats rely on to meet their metabolic needs during winter. However, the pathophysiological and metabolic effects of WNS have remained ill-defined. To elucidate metabolic mechanisms associated with WNS mortality, we infected a WNS susceptible species, the Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus), with Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) and collected WAT biopsies for histology and targeted lipidomics. These results were compared to the WNS-resistant Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus). A similar distribution in broad lipid class was observed in both species, with total WAT primarily consisting of triacylglycerides. Baseline differences in WAT chemical composition between species showed that higher glycerophospholipids (GPs) levels in E. fuscus were dominated by unsaturated or monounsaturated moieties and n-6 (18:2, 20:2, 20:3, 20:4) fatty acids. Conversely, higher GP levels in M. lucifugus WAT were primarily compounds containing n-3 (20:5 and 22:5) fatty acids. Following Pd-infection, we found that perturbation to WAT reserves occurs in M. lucifugus, but not in the resistant E. fuscus. A total of 66 GPs (primarily glycerophosphocholines and glycerophosphoethanolamines) were higher in Pd-infected M. lucifugus, indicating perturbation to the WAT structural component. In addition to changes in lipid chemistry, smaller adipocyte sizes and increased extracellular matrix deposition was observed in Pd-infected M. lucifugus. This is the first study to describe WAT GP composition of bats with different susceptibilities to WNS and highlights that recovery from WNS may require repair from adipose remodeling in addition to replenishing depot fat during spring emergence.PMID:39190217 | DOI:10.1007/s11306-024-02165-4

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2024 Aug 27:djae207. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djae207. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: The incidence and mortality rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among Hispanic individuals in the United States are much higher than in non-Hispanic white people. We conducted multi-omics analyses to elucidate molecular alterations in HCC among Hispanic patients.METHODS: Paired tumor and adjacent non-tumor samples were collected from 31 Hispanic HCCs in South Texas (STX-Hispanic) for genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic profiling. Serum lipids were profiled in 40 Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients with or without clinically diagnosed HCC.RESULTS: Exome sequencing revealed high mutation frequencies of AXIN2 and CTNNB1 in STX Hispanic HCCs, suggesting a predominant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. TERT promoter mutations were also significantly more frequent in the Hispanic cohort (Fisher's exact test, p < .05). Cell cycles and liver function were positively and negatively enriched, respectively, with gene set enrichment analysis. Gene sets representing specific liver metabolic pathways were associated with dysregulation of corresponding metabolites. Negative enrichment of liver adipogenesis and lipid metabolism corroborated with a significant reduction in most lipids in serum samples of HCC patients (paired t-test, p < .0001). Two HCC subtypes from our Hispanic cohort were identified and validated with the TCGA liver cancer cohort. Patients with better overall survival showed higher activity of immune and angiogenesis signatures, and lower activity of liver function-related gene signatures. They also had higher levels of immune checkpoint and immune exhaustion markers.CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed specific molecular features of Hispanic HCC and potential biomarkers for therapeutic management. It provides a unique resource for studying Hispanic HCC.PMID:39189979 | DOI:10.1093/jnci/djae207

Food Funct. 2024 Aug 27. doi: 10.1039/d4fo01675k. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTHyperglycemia leads to increased oxidative stress in mitochondria, an abnormal activation of intracellular inflammatory signals, and mediate multiple dysfunctions. Raspberry ketone (RK) is an aromatic phenolic compound found in many plants and could contribute to weight loss, restore impaired glucose tolerance, and has antioxidant properties. In our investigation, RK could greatly prevent islet, brain and other tissue damage caused by hyperglycemia in a zebrafish model with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia. Body weight, insulin level, and food intake indexes were also restored by RK. Using transcriptome profiling, we found that RK administration could significantly attenuate STZ-induced insulin synthesis and pancreatic secretion as well as alter protein and carbohydrate metabolism. Metabolomics analysis results showed that RK could also prevent STZ-induced metabolic disorders, such as adenosine and sphingolipid metabolism. Integrative analysis of metabolome and transcriptome data and qRT-PCR validation of key metabolic regulatory genes (glut1, glut2, ctrb1, ccka, gck, pklr) confirmed that the purine pathway was the most enriched metabolic pathway, in which both metabolite accumulation and gene expression levels showed consistent change patterns upon RK treatment. Our study provides a new perspective for understanding the hypoglycemic mechanism of RK and may be helpful for investigating the modes of action of hypoglycemic drugs using the zebrafish hyperglycemia model.PMID:39189875 | DOI:10.1039/d4fo01675k

mBio. 2024 Aug 27:e0187124. doi: 10.1128/mbio.01871-24. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMany microbial biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are inactive under standard laboratory conditions, making characterization of their products difficult. Silent BGCs are likely activated by specific cues in their natural environment, such as the presence of competitors. Growth conditions such as coculture with other microbes, which more closely mimic natural environments, are practical strategies for inducing silent BGCs. Here, we utilize coculture to activate BGCs in nine actinobacteria strains. We observed increased production of the ferrous siderophores siderochelin A and B during coculture of Amycolatopsis strain WAC04611 and Tsukamurella strain WAC06889b. Furthermore, we identified the siderochelin BGC in WAC04611 and discovered that the GntR-family transcription factor sidR3 represses siderochelin production. Deletion of the predicted aminotransferase sidA abolished production of the carboxamides siderochelin A/B and led to the accumulation of the carboxylate siderochelin D. Finally, we deleted the predicted hydroxylase sidB and established that it is essential for siderochelin production. Our findings show that microbial coculture can successfully activate silent BGCs and lead to the discovery and characterization of unknown BGCs for molecules like siderochelin.IMPORTANCESiderophores are vital iron-acquisition elements required by microbes for survival in a variety of environments. Furthermore, many siderophores are essential for the virulence of various human pathogens, making them a possible target for antibacterials. The significance of our work is in the identification and characterization of the previously unknown BGC for the siderophore siderochelin. Our work adds to the growing knowledge of siderophore biosynthesis, which may aid in the future development of siderophore-targeting pharmaceuticals and inform on the ecological roles of these compounds. Furthermore, our work demonstrates that combining microbial coculture with metabolomics is a valuable strategy for identifying upregulated compounds and their BGCs.PMID:39189743 | DOI:10.1128/mbio.01871-24

Nanoscale. 2024 Aug 27. doi: 10.1039/d4nr02323d. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBacteria are becoming an increasingly serious threat to human health. The emergence of super bacteria makes clinical treatment more difficult. Vaccines are one of the most effective means of preventing and treating bacterial infections. As a new class of vaccines, killed but metabolically active (KBMA) vaccines provide the immunogenicity of live vaccines and the safety of inactivated vaccines. Herein, a promising strategy is proposed to improve the stability and immunogenicity of KBMA vaccines. KBMA vaccines were produced at low temperature (4 °C), and the bacterial surface was engineered using mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) coating. Compared to vaccines prepared at room temperature, the metabolic activity of KBMA vaccines prepared at 4 °C remarkably improved. Benefiting from the induction of MSNs, the stability of KBMA vaccines was increased and the preservation time was prolonged at 4 °C. Meanwhile, metabolomics analysis showed that the metabolite spectrum of live bacteria changed after photochemical treatment and MSN coating, which interfered with organic acid metabolism pathways, lipid metabolism and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Furthermore, the immune response in the mice treated with KBMA/MSN vaccines was similar to that in those treated with live vaccines and stronger than that in those treated with inactivated vaccines. In comparison with the control group, bacteria tissue burdens of KBMA/MSN group were significantly reduced. CD4+ T cells dominated immune responses for the protection of mice. Thus, the current work promotes the application of KBMA vaccines, providing an alternative choice for treating bacterial infections.PMID:39189698 | DOI:10.1039/d4nr02323d

Gut Microbes. 2024 Jan-Dec;16(1):2395092. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2395092. Epub 2024 Aug 27.ABSTRACTChronic diarrhea has a considerable impact on quality of life. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover intervention trial was conducted with 69 participants (36 in Group A, 33 in Group B), aiming to investigate the potential of postbiotics in alleviating diarrhea-associated symptoms. Participants received postbiotic Probio-Eco® and placebo for 21 days each in alternating order, with a 14-day washout period between interventions. The results showed that postbiotic intake resulted in significant improvements in Bristol stool scale score, defecation frequency, urgency, and anxiety. Moreover, the postbiotic intervention increased beneficial intestinal bacteria, including Dysosmobacter welbionis and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, while reducing potential pathogens like Megamonas funiformis. The levels of gut Microviridae notably increased. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis revealed postbiotic-driven enrichment of beneficial metabolites, including α-linolenic acid and p-methoxycinnamic acid, and reduction of diarrhea-associated metabolites, including theophylline, piperine, capsaicin, and phenylalanine. Targeted metabolomics confirmed a significant increase in fecal butyric acid after postbiotic intervention. The levels of aromatic amino acids, phenylalanine and tryptophan, and their related metabolites, 5-hydroxytryptophan and kynurenine, decreased after the postbiotic intervention, suggesting diarrhea alleviation was through modulating the tryptophan-5-hydroxytryptamine and tryptophan-kynurenine pathways. Additionally, chenodeoxycholic acid, a diarrhea-linked primary bile acid, decreased substantially. In conclusion, postbiotics have shown promise in relieving chronic diarrhea.PMID:39189588 | DOI:10.1080/19490976.2024.2395092

Biomed Chromatogr. 2024 Aug 27:e5967. doi: 10.1002/bmc.5967. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThis study aims to identify potential efficacy-related biomarkers and investigate the mechanism of Youjing granule (YG) in improving spermatogenic function in rats based on metabolomics combined with network pharmacology. We obtained YG-containing serum from Sprague-Dawley rats, compared it with control group serum and analyzed it using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy to identify potential biomarkers and investigate the mechanism of YG in improving spermatogenic function in rats. Six important differential biomarkers, comprising putrescine, amidine, arginine, d-fructose-6-phosphate, l-proline and galactose, were identified in the YG-containing serum and then used to explore the potential mechanisms. The ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry technology was adopted for the rapid separation, identification and analysis of chemical components of YG in blood. A total of 69 detected chromatographic peaks were revealed. The binding energy between core compounds and key proteins is low, among which dipsacoside B is the best. The outcomes suggest that YG may improve spermatogenic function in rats by facilitating the development of spermatogonial stem cells, counteracting oxidative stress and controlling cellular apoptosis. Youjing granule may also affect the energy required for sperm production or influence sperm growth and maturation.PMID:39189519 | DOI:10.1002/bmc.5967

Anal Chem. 2024 Aug 27. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03260. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMacrophage-derived foam cells play a crucial role in plaque formation and rupture during the progression of atherosclerosis. Traditional studies have often overlooked the heterogeneity of foam cells, focusing instead on populations of cells. To address this, we have developed time-resolved, single-cell metabolomics and lipidomics approaches to explore the heterogeneity of macrophages during foam cell formation. Our dynamic metabolomic and lipidomic analyses revealed a dual regulatory axis involving inflammation and ferroptosis. Further, single-cell metabolomics and lipidomics have delineated a continuum of macrophage states, with varied susceptibilities to apoptosis and ferroptosis. Single-cell transcriptomic profiling confirmed these divergent fates, both in established cell lines and in macrophages derived from peripheral blood monocytes. This research has uncovered the complex molecular interactions that dictate these divergent cell fates, providing crucial insights into the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.PMID:39189349 | DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03260

Antibodies (Basel). 2024 Aug 6;13(3):66. doi: 10.3390/antib13030066.ABSTRACTTherapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are crucial in modern medicine due to their effectiveness in treating various diseases. However, the structural complexity of mAbs, particularly their glycosylation patterns, presents challenges for quality control and biosimilarity assessment. This study explores the use of upper-hinge middle-up (UHMU)-level ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) analysis to improve N-glycan profiling of mAbs. Two specific enzymes, known as IgG degradation enzymes (IGDEs), were used to selectively cleave therapeutic mAbs above the hinge region to separate antibody subunits for further Fc glycan analysis by means of the UHMU/LC-HRMS workflow. The complexity of the mass spectra of IGDEs-digested mAbs was significantly reduced compared to the intact MS level, enabling reliable assignment and relative quantitation of paired Fc glycoforms. The results of the UHMU/LC-HRMS analysis of nine approved therapeutics highlight the significance of this approach for in-depth glycoform profiling.PMID:39189237 | DOI:10.3390/antib13030066

Anal Methods. 2024 Aug 27. doi: 10.1039/d4ay01359j. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTRe-discovery of known metabolites is a common challenge in natural product-based drug discovery, and to avoid re-discovery, dereplication has been proposed for identifying known metabolites at the early stage of isolation. A majority of methods use LCMS to profile the extract and ignore the known mass. LC-HRMS profiling may generate a long mass list of metabolites. The identification of a new metabolite is difficult within the mass list. To overcome this, it was hypothesized that identifying a 'new metabolite' in the whole metabolome is more difficult than identifying it within the class of metabolites. A prioritization strategy was proposed to focus on the elimination of unknown and uncommon metabolites first using the designed bias filters and to prioritize the known secondary metabolites. The study employed Murraya paniculata root for the identification of new metabolites. The LC-HRMS-generated mass list of 509 metabolites was subjected to various filters, which resulted in 93 metabolites. Subsequently, it was subjected to regular dereplication, resulting in 10 coumarins, among which 3 were identified as new. Further, chromatographic efforts led to the isolation of a new coumarin, named ghosalin (1). The structure of the new compound was established through 2D NMR and X-ray crystallography. Cytotoxicity studies revealed that ghosalin has significant cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines. The proposed prioritization strategy demonstrates an alternative way for the rapid annotation of a particular set of metabolites to isolate a new metabolite from the whole metabolome of a plant extract.PMID:39189121 | DOI:10.1039/d4ay01359j