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

IL-17A Orchestrates Reactive Oxygen Species/HIF1α-Mediated Metabolic Reprogramming in Psoriasis

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
J Immunol. 2023 Nov 29:ji2300319. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300319. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTImmune cell-derived IL-17A is one of the key pathogenic cytokines in psoriasis, an immunometabolic disorder. Although IL-17A is an established regulator of cutaneous immune cell biology, its functional and metabolic effects on nonimmune cells of the skin, particularly keratinocytes, have not been comprehensively explored. Using multiomics profiling and systems biology-based approaches, we systematically uncover significant roles for IL-17A in the metabolic reprogramming of human primary keratinocytes (HPKs). High-throughput liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed IL-17A-dependent regulation of multiple HPK proteins and metabolites of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Systems-level MitoCore modeling using flux-balance analysis identified IL-17A-mediated increases in HPK glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and lipid uptake, which were validated using biochemical cell-based assays and stable isotope-resolved metabolomics. IL-17A treatment triggered downstream mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and HIF1α expression and resultant HPK proliferation, consistent with the observed elevation of these downstream effectors in the epidermis of patients with psoriasis. Pharmacological inhibition of HIF1α or reactive oxygen species reversed IL-17A-mediated glycolysis, glutaminolysis, lipid uptake, and HPK hyperproliferation. These results identify keratinocytes as important target cells of IL-17A and reveal its involvement in multiple downstream metabolic reprogramming pathways in human skin.PMID:38019129 | DOI:10.4049/jimmunol.2300319

The Microbial Tryptophan Metabolite Contributes to the Remission of Salmonella typhimurium Infection in Mice

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
J Immunol. 2023 Nov 29:ji2300090. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300090. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSalmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Tm) causes severe foodborne diseases. Interestingly, gut microbial tryptophan (Trp) metabolism plays a pivotal role in such infections by a yet unknown mechanism. This study aimed to explore the impact of Trp metabolism on S. Tm infection and the possible mechanisms involved. S. Tm-infected C57BL6/J mice were used to demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of the Bacillus velezensis JT3-1 (B. velezensis/JT3-1) strain or its cell-free supernatant in enhancing Trp metabolism. Targeted Trp metabolomic analyses indicated the predominance of indole-3-lactic acid (ILA), an indole derivative and ligand for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Based on the 16S amplicon sequencing and correlation analysis of metabolites, we found that B. velezensis supported the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Ligilactobacillus in mouse gut and showed positive correlations with ILA levels. Moreover, AHR and its downstream genes (especially IL-22) significantly increased in mouse colons after B. velezensis or cell-free supernatant treatment, suggesting the importance of AHR pathway activation. In addition, ILA was found to stimulate primary mouse macrophages to secrete IL-22, which was antagonized by CH-223191. Furthermore, ILA could protect mice from S. Tm infection by increasing IL-22 in Ahr+/- mice, but not in Ahr-/- mice. Finally, Trp-rich feeding showed amelioration of S. Tm infection in mice, and the effect depended on gut microbiota. Taken together, these results suggest that B. velezensis-associated ILA contributes to protecting mice against S. Tm infection by activating the AHR/IL-22 pathway. This study provides insights into the involvement of microbiota-derived Trp catabolites in protecting against Salmonella infection.PMID:38019127 | DOI:10.4049/jimmunol.2300090

Integrated multi-omics reveals the roles of cecal microbiota and its derived bacterial consortium in promoting chicken growth

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
mSystems. 2023 Nov 29:e0084423. doi: 10.1128/msystems.00844-23. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe improvement of chicken growth performance is one of the major concerns for the poultry industry. Gut microbes are increasingly evidenced to be associated with chicken physiology and metabolism, thereby influencing chicken growth and development. Here, through integrated multi-omics analyses, we showed that chickens from the same line differing in their body weight were very different in their gut microbiota structure and host-microbiota crosstalk; microbes in high body weight (HBW) chickens contributed to chicken growth by regulating the gut function and homeostasis. We also verified that a specific bacterial consortium consisting of isolates from the HBW chickens has the potential to be used as chicken growth promoters. These findings provide new insights into the potential links between gut microbiota and chicken phenotypes, shedding light on future manipulation of chicken gut microbiota to improve chicken growth performance.PMID:38018992 | DOI:10.1128/msystems.00844-23

Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis of Gingival Tissue in Patients with Severe Periodontitis

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
J Proteome Res. 2023 Nov 29. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00105. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to determine potential metabolic biomarkers and therapeutic drugs in the gingival tissue of individuals with periodontitis. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to analyze the gingival tissue samples from 20 patients with severe periodontitis and 20 healthy controls. Differential metabolites were identified using variable important in projection (VIP) values from the orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) model and then verified for significance between groups using a two-tailed Student's t test. In total, 65 metabolites were enriched in 33 metabolic pathways, with 40 showing a significant increase and 25 expressing a significant decrease. In addition, it was found that patients with severe periodontitis have abnormalities in metabolic pathways, such as glucose metabolism, purine metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and so on. Furthermore, based on a multidimensional analysis, 12 different metabolites may be the potential biomarkers of severe periodontitis. The experiment's raw data have been uploaded to the MetaboLights database, and the project number is MTBLS8357. Moreover, osteogenesis differentiation characteristics were detected in the selected metabolites. The findings may provide a basis for the study of diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic metabolites in severe periodontitis.PMID:38018860 | DOI:10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00105

Lipidomic Analysis Reveals Differences in the Extent of Remyelination in the Brain and Spinal Cord

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
J Proteome Res. 2023 Nov 29. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00443. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTDuring demyelination, lipid-rich myelin debris is released in the central nervous system (CNS) and must be phagocytosed and processed before new myelin can form. Although myelin comprises over 70% lipids, relatively little is known about how the CNS lipidome changes during demyelination and remyelination. In this study, we obtained a longitudinal lipidomic profile of the brain, spinal cord, and serum using a genetic mouse model of demyelination, known as Plp1-iCKO-Myrf. The mass spectrometry data is available at the Metabolomics Workbench, where it has been assigned Study ID ST002958. This model has distinct phases of demyelination and remyelination over the course of 24 weeks, in which loss of motor function peaks during demyelination. Using principal component analysis (PCA) and volcano plots, we have demonstrated that the brain and spinal cord have different remyelination capabilities and that this is reflected in different lipidomic profiles over time. We observed that plasmalogens (ether-linked phosphatidylserine and ether-linked phosphatidylcholine) were elevated specifically during the early stages of active demyelination. In addition, we identified lipids in the brain that were altered when mice were treated with a remyelinating drug, which may be CNS biomarkers of remyelination. The results of this study provide new insights into how the lipidome changes in response to demyelination, which will enable future studies to elucidate mechanisms of lipid regulation during demyelination and remyelination.PMID:38018851 | DOI:10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00443

Correlation between immune-related Tryptophan-Kynurenine pathway and severity of severe pneumonia and inflammation-related polyunsaturated fatty acids

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
Immun Inflamm Dis. 2023 Nov;11(11):e1088. doi: 10.1002/iid3.1088.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Immune dysfunction and oxidative stress caused by severe pneumonia can lead to multiple organ dysfunction and even death, causing a significant impact on health and the economy. Currently, great progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, but the mortality rate remains high (approximately 50%). Therefore, there is still potential for further exploration of the immune response mechanisms against severe pneumonia.OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the difference in serum metabolic profiles between patients with severe pneumonia and health individuals through metabolomics, aiming to uncover the correlation between the Tryptophan-Kynurenine pathway and the severity of severe pneumonia, as well as N-3/N-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).METHODS: In this study, 44 patients with severe pneumonia and 37 health controls were selected. According to the changes in the disease symptoms within the 7 days of admission, the patients were divided into aggravation (n = 22) and remission (n = 22) groups. Targeted metabolomics techniques were performed to quantify serum metabolites and analyze changes between groups.RESULTS: Metabolomics analysis showed that serum kynurenine and kynurenine/tryptophan (K/T) were significantly increased and tryptophan was significantly decreased in patients with severe pneumonia; HETE and HEPE in lipids increased significantly, while eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), α-linolenic acid (linolenic acid, α-LNA), arachidonic acid (ARA), Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), and 13(s)-hydroperoxylinoleic acid (HPODE) decreased significantly. Additionally, the longitudinal comparison revealed that Linolenic acid, DPA, and Tryptophan increased significantly in the remission group, while and kynurenine and K/T decreased significantly. In the aggravation group, Kynurenine and K/T increased significantly, while ARA, 8(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), 11(S)-HETE, and Tryptophan decreased significantly. The correlation analysis matrix demonstrated that Tryptophan was positively correlated with DGLA, 12(S)-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (HEPE), ARA, EPA, α-LNA, DHA, and DPA. Kynurenine was positively correlated with 8(S)-HETE and negatively correlated with DHA. Additionally, K/T was negatively correlated with DGLA, ARA, EPA, α-LNA, DHA, and DPA.CONCLUSION: This study revealed that during severe pneumonia, the Tryptophan-Kynurenine pathway was activated and was positively correlated with the disease progression. On the other hand, the activation of the Tryptophan-Kynurenine pathway was negatively correlated with N-3/N-6 PUFAs.PMID:38018595 | DOI:10.1002/iid3.1088

Ganglioside GM3 Protects Against Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm by Suppressing Ferroptosis in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
Circulation. 2023 Nov 29. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.066110. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially life-threatening vascular condition, but approved medical therapies to prevent AAA progression and rupture are currently lacking. Sphingolipid metabolism disorders are associated with the occurrence and development of AAA. It has been discovered that ganglioside GM3, a sialic acid-containing type of glycosphingolipid, plays a protective role in atherosclerosis, which is an important risk factor for AAA; however, the potential contribution of GM3 to AAA development has not been investigated.METHODS: We performed a metabolomics study to evaluated GM3 level in plasma of human patients with AAA. We profiled GM3 synthase (ST3GAL5) expression in the mouse model of aneurysm and human AAA tissues through Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. RNA sequencing, affinity purification and mass spectrometry, proteomic analysis, surface plasmon resonance analysis, and functional studies were used to dissect the molecular mechanism of GM3-regulating ferroptosis. We conditionally deleted and overexpressed St3gal5 in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in vivo to investigate its role in AAA.RESULTS: We found significantly reduced plasma levels of GM3 in human patients with AAA. GM3 content and ST3GAL5 expression were decreased in abdominal aortic vascular SMCs in patients with AAA and an AAA mouse model. RNA sequencing analysis showed that ST3GAL5 silencing in human aortic SMCs induced ferroptosis. We showed that GM3 interacted directly with the extracellular domain of TFR1 (transferrin receptor 1), a cell membrane protein critical for cellular iron uptake, and disrupted its interaction with holo-transferrin. SMC-specific St3gal5 knockout exacerbated iron accumulation at lesion sites and significantly promoted AAA development in mice, whereas GM3 supplementation suppressed lipid peroxidation, reduced iron deposition in aortic vascular SMCs, and markedly decreased AAA incidence.CONCLUSIONS: Together, these results suggest that GM3 dysregulation promotes ferroptosis of vascular SMCs in AAA. Furthermore, GM3 may constitute a new therapeutic target for AAA.PMID:38018467 | DOI:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.066110

NMR analysis of Extra Virgin Olive Oil - classification through secoiridoids

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
J Sci Food Agric. 2023 Nov 29. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.13139. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Extra Virgin Olive oil (EVOO), a natural product with a multidiscipline role has been and is continuing to be studied from several points of view. Among them, its chemical analysis is of major importance and several methods have been used. NMR spectroscopy bears its inherent advantages, among them monitoring the chemical constituents without the need of a separation technique and without for instance possible carry over effects. Additionally, several magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques can provide a novel powered insight in the nature and the properties of a sample under study. Moreover, -omics procedure can reveal new information and can lead to the classification of populations under study. The main objective of the present work was the possible classification of the EVOO samples based on their aldehyde content using a proposed unreferenced 1 H NMR spectroscopic quantification method combined with a metabolomic approach. Moreover, the study of the impact of such elevated aldehyde content to several spectra regions of importance in the proton NMR spectra, along with the proposal of a new isomer - possible indicator.RESULTS: Univariate analysis of twelve EVOO samples showed that oleacein, oleocanthal, elenolic acid, the hydroxytyrosol / hydroxytyrosol derivatives and tyrosol / tyrosol derivatives, strongly differentiate the two classes of EVOO: the OEH (for high aldehyde EVOO content) and the OE (for non-high aldehyde content). Moreover, we pointed out the "impact" of such elevated secoiridoid and derivatives' content, through their moieties' units, on a range of several resonances of the 1 H NMR spectrum. The metabolomic approach, showed the classification of EVOO samples based on their secoiridoid and their derivatives' content. Multivariate analysis showed a strong influence on the discrimination of the EVOO classes based on the protons resonating at the aldehyde region of the 1 H NMR spectrum; the aldehyde protons that correspond to 5S,4R-ligstrodial and 5S,4R-oleuropeindial, oleacein, oleocanthal, elenolic acid, p-HPEA-EA, 3,4-DHPEA-EA, 5S,4R- and 5S,4S- ligstrodial and the proton that correspond to a new compound that is reported for the first time. This isomer compound, reported for the first time, could serve as a possible indicator for the EVOO classification.CONCLUSIONS: An unreferenced quantification method was proposed and EVOO samples were classified into two classes: OEH and OE according to their aldehyde content gaining thus probably higher nutrient and possible pharmacological value. Moreover, we point out the "impact" of such elevated aldehyde content on several spectral regions of the 1 H spectrum. Finally, a new compound was detected in the OEH samples and is reported for the first time. This compound could possibly be an indicator. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.PMID:38018400 | DOI:10.1002/jsfa.13139

Vitamin K1 ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-triggered skeletal muscle damage revealed by faecal bacteria transplantation

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2023 Nov 28. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.13379. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Sepsis-associated muscle weakness is common in patients of intensive care units (ICUs), and it is closely associated with poor outcomes. The mechanism of sepsis-induced muscle weakness is unclear. Recent studies have found that gut microbiota and metabolites are involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass and metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the effects of gut microbiota and metabolites on sepsis-associated muscle weakness.METHODS: In a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation mouse model, mice with different sensitivities to LPS-induced inflammation were considered as donor mice for the faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) assay, and recipient mice were divided into sensitive (Sen) and resistant (Res) groups. Skeletal muscle mass and function, as well as colonic barrier integrity were tested and gut microbiota and metabolite composition were analysed in both groups of mice. The effect of intestinal differential metabolite vitamin K1 on LPS-triggered muscle damage was investigated, and the underlying mechanism was explored.RESULTS: Recipients exhibited varying LPS-triggered muscle damage and intestinal barrier disruption. Tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of Sen exhibited upregulated expression levels of MuRF-1 (0.825 ± 0.063 vs. 0.304 ± 0.293, P = 0.0141) and MAFbx (1.055 ± 0.079 vs. 0.456 ± 0.3, P = 0.0092). Colonic tight junction proteins ZO-1 (0.550 ± 0.087 vs. 0.842 ± 0.094, P = 0.0492) and occludin (0.284 ± 0.057 vs. 0.664 ± 0.191, P = 0.0487) were significantly downregulated in the Sen group. Metabolomic analysis showed significantly higher vitamin K1 in the faeces (P = 0.0195) and serum of the Res group (P = 0.0079) than those of the Sen group. After vitamin K1 intervention, muscle atrophy-related protein expression downregulated (P < 0.05). Meanwhile SIRT1 protein expression were upregulated (0.320 ± 0.035 vs. 0.685 ± 0.081, P = 0.0281) and pNF-κB protein expression were downregulated (0.815 ± 0.295 vs. 0.258 ± 0.130, P = 0.0308). PI3K (0.365 ± 0.142 vs. 0.763 ± 0.013, P = 0.0475), pAKT (0.493 ± 0.159 vs. 1.183 ± 0.344, P = 0.0254) and pmTOR (0.509 ± 0.088 vs. 1.110 ± 0.190, P = 0.0368) protein expression levels were upregulated in TA muscle. Meanwhile, vitamin K1 attenuated serum inflammatory factor levels.CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin K1 might ameliorate LPS-triggered skeletal muscle damage by antagonizing NF-κB-mediated inflammation through upregulation of SIRT1 and regulating the balance between protein synthesis and catabolism.PMID:38018317 | DOI:10.1002/jcsm.13379

Inhibition of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in SD rats by the sea cucumber peptides

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
J Sci Food Agric. 2023 Nov 28. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.13180. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is the terminal manifestation of a type of pulmonary disease, which seriously affected the respiratory function of body, and with no effective cure for treatment. This study evaluated the effect of sea cucumber peptides (SCP) on bleomycin (BLM)-induced SD rat pulmonary fibrosis.RESULTS: SCP can inhibit the PF induced by bleomycin. PF and SCP did not affect the food intake of rats, but PF reduced the body weight of rats, and SCP could improve the weight loss. SCP reduced lung index in PF rats in a dose-dependent manner. The SCP significantly reduced IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, α-SMA and VIM expression levels in lung tissue (P < 0.05), significantly decreased TGF-β1 expression level in serum (P < 0.01), and the LSCP group and MSCP group had better inhibitory effects on PF than HSCP group. Histomorphological results showed that SCP could ameliorate the structural damage of lung tissue, alveolar wall rupture, inflammatory cell infiltration, fibroblast proliferation, and deposition of intercellular matrix and collagen fibers caused by PF. The improvement effect of MSCP group was the most noteworthy in histomorphology. Metabolomics results showed that SCP significantly down-regulated catechol, N-acetyl-L-histidine, acetylcarnitine, stearoylcarnitine, D-mannose, L-threonine, L-Alanine, glycine, 3-guanidinopropionic acid, prostaglandin D2 and embelic acid D (-)-β-hydroxybutyric acid expression levels in lung tissue.CONCLUSION: SCP ameliorate the BLM-induced SD rat pulmonary fibrosis. The KEEG pathway analysis proved that SCP intervened in PF mainly via the lysosome pathway, with D-mannose as the key factor. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.PMID:38018265 | DOI:10.1002/jsfa.13180

Inflammation and Stem Cell Stochasticity of HPV-induced Cervical Cancer: Epigenetics Based Biomarkers through Microbiome and Metabolome for Personalized Medicine: A Systematic Review

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
Curr Med Chem. 2023 Nov 24. doi: 10.2174/0109298673257429231108072717. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Chemoresistance by stemness in HPV-induced cervical carcinogenesis has significant implications for the overall disease-specific survival of the patients. To date, there are no reports related to the implications of significant aspects of inflammation and microbiome-- mediated epigenetics in cervical cancers.OBJECTIVE: The current systematic review delineates the significant aspects of the inflammation-related pathophysiology, cervical cancer diagnosis based on the HPV-indued stemness, and microbiome- mediated epigenetic markers to develop personalized therapies to target the stemness-acquired indefinitely dividing cancer stem cells.METHODS: We performed a systematic review without a meta- analysis. We searched several public databases, such as Pubmed, ReleMed, National Library of Medicine, and Scopus, related to inflammation, metabolomics, microbiome-mediated epigenetic markers, and HPV-induced stemness.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The review significantly described the correlation between microbial inflammation and stem cell stochasticity of HPV-Induced cervical cancer and the expression of epigenetics- based biomarkers through microbiome and metabolome to foster the cervical cancer progression. These are major risk factors that can cause cervical dysplasia with substantial therapy resistance in cervical cancer patients. The qualitative and quantitative examination of the spatial transcriptomic expression of these stemness markers in the dividing cervical cancer stem cells has significant implications in the clinical sector to develop early personalized medicine to prevent cervical precancerous lesions depending on the prognosis of the cervical cancer patients. Mainly, the combinatorial regimen of current therapeutic modalities, along with microbiome-related therapies with future landscape of epigenetics-modulated therapies, may enhance overall disease-specific survival by modulating the stochastic dynamics of basal epithelial cells across the cervical region.PMID:38018189 | DOI:10.2174/0109298673257429231108072717

2,5-Dihydroxyterephthalic Acid: A Matrix for Improved Detection and Imaging of Amino Acids

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
Anal Chem. 2023 Nov 28. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01731. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAmino acids (AAs), which are low-molecular-weight (low-MW) metabolites, serve as essential building blocks not only for protein synthesis but also for maintaining the nitrogen balance in living systems. In situ detection and imaging of AAs are crucial for understanding more complex biological processes. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) is a label-free mass spectrometric imaging technique that enables the simultaneous detection and imaging of the spatial distribution and relative abundance of different endogenous/exogenous compounds in biological samples. The excellent efficiency of MALDI-MSI is attributed to the choice of the MALDI matrix. However, to the best of our knowledge, no matrix has been specifically developed for AAs. Herein, we report a MALDI matrix, 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (DHT), which can improve the detection and imaging of AAs in biological samples by MALDI-MS. Our results indicated that DHT exhibited strong ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption, uniform matrix deposition, and high vacuum stability. Moreover, the matrix-related ion signals produced from DHT were reduced by 50 and 71.8% at m/z < 500 compared to the commonly used matrices of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) and α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA), respectively, in their respective organic solvents. In terms of quantitative performance, arginine, glutamic acid, glutamine, and proline can be detected with limits of detection of 6, 4, 6, and 4 ng/mL, respectively, using the DHT as the matrix. Using DHT as the matrix, all 20 protein AAs were successfully detected in human serum by MALDI-MS, whereas only 7 and 10 AAs were detected when DHB and CHCA matrices were used, respectively. Furthermore, 20 protein AAs and taurine were successfully detected and imaged in a section of edible Crassostrea gigas (oyster) tissue for the first time. Our study demonstrates that using DHT as a matrix can improve the detection and imaging of AAs in biological samples by MALDI-MS.PMID:38018128 | DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01731

Integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology to reveal the mechanism of areca nut addiction

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
Addict Biol. 2023 Dec;28(12):e13352. doi: 10.1111/adb.13352.ABSTRACTAs a chewing hobby, areca nut (Areca catechu L.) has become the most common psychoactive substance in the world, besides tobacco, alcohol and caffeinated beverages. Moreover, as a first-class carcinogen designated by International Agency for Research on Cancer, long-term chewing areca nut can result in oral mucosal diseases and even oral cancer. To clarify the potential mechanism of areca nut addiction, an integrated strategy of metabolomics and network pharmacology was adopted in this study. Network pharmacology study indicated that all the key targets related to areca nut addiction could be regulated by arecoline and pointed out the importance of G-protein coupled receptor signalling pathway. Analysis results of mice plasma metabolome and faeces metabolome intervened by arecoline suggested that the component may affect the dopamine system and 5-HT system by regulating phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism and intestinal flora structure. Moreover, the potential importance of bile acids in formation of addictive behaviour of chewing areca nut was investigated by integrative analysis of the relationships between metabolites and intestinal flora. The study can provide scientific basis for the addiction intervention and treatment of areca nut chewers.PMID:38017647 | DOI:10.1111/adb.13352

Deciphering the underlying core microorganisms and the marker compounds of Liupao tea during the pile-fermentation process

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
J Sci Food Agric. 2023 Nov 28. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.13177. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Pile-fermentation is one of the key steps in developing the Liupao tea (LBT) quality and unique characteristics-the complex biochemical profile of Liupao tea results from microorganisms present during the pile fermentation process. However, the critical underlying microorganisms and the marker compounds still need to be determined.RESULTS: Staphylococcus, Brevibacterium, Kocuria, Aspergillus, and Blastobotrys were the common dominant microorganisms at the end of the pile-fermentation of Liupao tea. Staphylococcus, Aspergillus, Blastobotrys, and nine other genera carried by raw tea are the core microorganisms in the LBT during pile-fermentation. A total of 29 critical compounds contributed to the metabolic changes caused by the processing of Liupao tea, and gallic acid, adenine, hypoxanthine, uridine, betaine, 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, α-Linolenic acid could be characterized as potential marker compounds. Correlation analysis showed that the core microorganisms, including Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Kocuria, Aureobasidium, Blastobotrys, Debaryomyce, and Trichomonascus, were closely related to major chemical components and differential compounds. Besides, Staphylococcus, Kocuria, Blastobotrys, and Trichomonascus, mutually promoting, were correlated with the enrichment of marker compounds. Integrated molecular networking and metabolic pathways revealed relevant compounds and enzymes that possibly affect the enrichment of marker compounds.CONCLUSION: This study analyzed the LBT fermentation samples by omics analysis to reveal the stable microbial community structure, critical microorganisms, and markers compounds affecting the quality of Liupao tea, which contributes to a better understanding of pile-fermentation of Liupao tea and the fermentation theory of dark tea. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.PMID:38017631 | DOI:10.1002/jsfa.13177

Integrated microbiology and metabolomic analysis reveal the improvement of rice straw silage quality by inoculation of Lactobacillus brevis

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
Biotechnol Biofuels Bioprod. 2023 Nov 28;16(1):184. doi: 10.1186/s13068-023-02431-y.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Ensiling technology holds promise for preserving and providing high-quality forage. However, the preservation of rice straw poses challenges due to its high lignocellulosic content and low water-soluble carbohydrate levels. Developing highly effective lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for rice straw silage remains a priority.RESULTS: This study evaluated the impact of three LAB strains, Lactobacillus brevis R33 (Lac33), L. buchneri R17 (Lac17), and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides (Leu), on the fermentation quality of rice straw silage. Rice straw silage inoculated with Lac33 alone or in combination with other strains exhibited significantly lower neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (66.5% vs. 72.3%) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (42.1% vs. 47%) contents, along with higher lactic acid (19.4 g/kg vs. not detected) and propionic acid (2.09 g/kg vs. 1.54 g/kg) contents compared to control silage. Bacterial community analysis revealed Lactobacillus dominance (> 80%) and suppression of unwanted Enterobacter and Clostridium. Metabolomic analysis highlighted increased carbohydrates and essential amino acids, indicating improved nutrient values in Lac33-inoculated rice straw silage and a potential explanation for Lac33 dominance.CONCLUSIONS: This research identified a highly efficient LAB candidate for rice straw silage, advancing our comprehension of fermentation from integrated microbiology and metabolomic perspectives.PMID:38017535 | DOI:10.1186/s13068-023-02431-y

Genetically predicted plasma levels of amino acids and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease risk: a Mendelian randomization study

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
BMC Med. 2023 Nov 28;21(1):469. doi: 10.1186/s12916-023-03185-y.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Emerging metabolomics-based studies suggested links between amino acid metabolism and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) risk; however, whether there exists an aetiological role of amino acid metabolism in MAFLD development remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to assess the causal relationship between circulating levels of amino acids and MAFLD risk.METHODS: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using summary-level data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to evaluate the causal relationship between genetically predicted circulating levels of amino acids and the risk of MAFLD. In the discovery MR analysis, we used data from the largest MAFLD GWAS (8434 cases and 770,180 controls), while in the replication MR analysis, we used data from a GWAS on MAFLD (1483 cases and 17,781 controls) where MAFLD cases were diagnosed using liver biopsy. We used Wald ratios or inverse variance-weighted (IVW) methods in the MR main analysis and weighted median and MR-Egger regression analyses in sensitivity analyses. Furthermore, we performed a conservative MR analysis by restricting genetic instruments to those directly involved in amino acid metabolism pathways.RESULTS: We found that genetically predicted higher alanine (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.13-1.81) and lower glutamine (OR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.73-0.96) levels were associated with a higher risk of developing MAFLD based on the results from the MR main and conservative analysis. The results from MR sensitivity analyses and complementary analysis using liver proton density fat fraction as a continuous outcome proxying for MAFLD supported the main findings.CONCLUSIONS: Novel causal metabolites related to MAFLD development were uncovered through MR analysis, suggesting future potential for evaluating these metabolites as targets for MAFLD prevention or treatment.PMID:38017422 | DOI:10.1186/s12916-023-03185-y

Multi-omics analysis of functional substances and expression verification in cashmere fineness

Wed, 29/11/2023 - 12:00
BMC Genomics. 2023 Nov 28;24(1):720. doi: 10.1186/s12864-023-09825-0.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Numerous factors influence the growth and development of cashmere. Existing research on cashmere has predominantly emphasized a single omics level. Integrating multi-omics analyses can offer a more comprehensive understanding by encompassing the entire spectrum. This study more accurately and comprehensively identified the key factors influencing cashmere fineness using multi-omics analysis.METHODS: This study used skin tissues of coarse cashmere type (CT_LCG) and fine cashmere type Liaoning cashmere goats (FT_LCG) for the analysis. This study employed an integrated approach involving transcriptomics, translatomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to identify substances associated with cashmere fineness. The findings were validated using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) techniques.RESULTS: The GO functional enrichment analysis identified three common terms: multicellular organismal process, immune system process, and extracellular region. Furthermore, the KEGG enrichment analysis uncovered the involvement of the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway. Protein expression trends were verified using PRM technology. The expression trends of KRT79, as confirmed by PRM, were consistent with those observed in TMT proteomics and exhibited a positive regulatory effect on cashmere fineness. Metabolite expression trends were confirmed using MRM technology. The expression trends of 9 out of 15 validated metabolites were in agreement with those identified in the non-targeted metabolomics analysis.CONCLUSIONS: This study employed multi-omics analysis to identify key regulators of cashmere fineness, including PLA2G12A, KRT79, and prostaglandin B2. The findings of this study offer valuable data and establish a theoretical foundation for conducting comprehensive investigations into the molecular regulatory mechanisms and functional aspects of cashmere fineness.PMID:38017403 | DOI:10.1186/s12864-023-09825-0

Disclosing the molecular profile of the human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cell secretome by filter-aided sample preparation proteomic characterization

Tue, 28/11/2023 - 12:00
Stem Cell Res Ther. 2023 Nov 27;14(1):339. doi: 10.1186/s13287-023-03557-4.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: The secretome of mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from the amniotic membrane (hAMSCs) has been extensively studied for its in vitro immunomodulatory activity as well as for the treatment of several preclinical models of immune-related disorders. The bioactive molecules within the hAMSCs secretome are capable of modulating the immune response and thus contribute to stimulating regenerative processes. At present, only a few studies have attempted to define the composition of the secretome, and several approaches, including multi-omics, are underway in an attempt to precisely define its composition and possibly identify key factors responsible for the therapeutic effect.METHODS: In this study, we characterized the protein composition of the hAMSCs secretome by a filter-aided sample preparation (FASP) digestion and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS) approach. Data were processed for gene ontology classification and functional protein interaction analysis by bioinformatics tools.RESULTS: Proteomic analysis of the hAMSCs secretome resulted in the identification of 1521 total proteins, including 662 unique elements. A number of 157 elements, corresponding to 23.7%, were found as repeatedly characterizing the hAMSCs secretome, and those that resulted as significantly over-represented were involved in immunomodulation, hemostasis, development and remodeling of the extracellular matrix molecular pathways.CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our characterization enriches the landscape of hAMSCs with new information that could enable a better understanding of the mechanisms of action underlying the therapeutic efficacy of the hAMSCs secretome while also providing a basis for its therapeutic translation.PMID:38012707 | PMC:PMC10683150 | DOI:10.1186/s13287-023-03557-4

Machine learning for predicting diabetic metabolism in the Indian population using polar metabolomic and lipidomic features

Tue, 28/11/2023 - 12:00
Metabolomics. 2023 Nov 28;20(1):1. doi: 10.1007/s11306-023-02066-y.ABSTRACTAIMS: To identify metabolite and lipid biomarkers of diabetes in the Indian subpopulation in newly diagnosed diabetic and long-term diabetic individuals. To utilize the global polar metabolomic and lipidomic profiles to predict the susceptibility of an individual to diabetes using machine learning algorithms.MATERIALS AND METHODS: 87 individuals, including healthy, newly diabetic, and long-term diabetics on medication, were included in the study. Post consent, their serum was used to isolate polar metabolome and lipidome. NMR and LCMS were used to identify the polar metabolites and lipids, respectively. Statistical analysis was done to determine significantly altered molecules. NMR and LCMS comprehensive data were utilized to generate diabetic models using machine learning algorithms. 10 more individuals (pre-diabetic) were recruited, and their polar metabolomic and lipidomic profiles were generated. Pre-diabetic metabolic profiles were then utilized to predict the diabetic status of the metabolome and lipidome beyond glucose levels.RESULTS: Mannose, Betaine, Xanthine, Triglyceride (38:1), Sphingomyelin (d63:7), and Phosphatidic acid (37:2) are some of the top key biomarkers of diabetes. The predictive model generated showed the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC-AUC) as 1 on both test and validation data indicating excellent accuracy. This model then predicted the diabetic closeness of the metabolism of pre-diabetic individuals based on probability scores.CONCLUSION: Polar metabolic and lipid profile of diabetic individuals is very different from that of healthy individuals. Lipid profile alters before the polar metabolic profile in diabetes-susceptible individuals. Without regard to glucose, the diabetic closeness of the metabolism of any individual can be determined.PMID:38017183 | DOI:10.1007/s11306-023-02066-y

Proteomics and metabolomics analyses of Streptococcus agalactiae isolates from human and animal sources

Tue, 28/11/2023 - 12:00
Sci Rep. 2023 Nov 28;13(1):20980. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-47976-y.ABSTRACTStreptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae), group B Streptococcus (GBS), a major cause of infection in a wide variety of diseases, have been compared in different human and animal sources. We aimed to compare the bacterial proteome and metabolome profiles of human and animal S. agalactiae strains to delineate biological interactions relevant to infection. With the innovative advancement in mass spectrometry, a comparative result between both strains provided a solid impression of different responses to the host. For instance, stress-related proteins (Asp23/Gls24 family envelope stress response protein and heat shock protein 70), which play a role in the survival of GBS under extreme environmental conditions or during treatment, are highly expressed in human and animal strains. One human strain contains ꞵ-lactamase (serine hydrolase) and biofilm regulatory protein (lytR), which are important virulence regulators and potential targets for the design of novel antimicrobials. Another human strain contains the aminoglycosides-resistance bifunctional AAC/APH (A0A0U2QMQ5) protein, which confers resistance to almost all clinically used aminoglycosides. Fifteen different metabolites were annotated between the two groups. L-aspartic acid, ureidopropionic acid, adenosine monophosphate, L-tryptophan, and guanosine monophosphate were annotated at higher levels in human strains. Butyric acid, fumaric acid, isoleucine, leucine, and hippuric acid have been found in both human and animal strains. Certain metabolites were uniquely expressed in animal strains, with fold changes greater than 2. For example, putrescine modulates biofilm formation. Overall, this study provides biological insights into the substantial possible bacterial response reflected in its macromolecular production, either at the proteomic or metabolomic level.PMID:38017083 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-47976-y

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