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

Fungal and plant metabolites in industrially-processed fruit juices in Nigeria.

Wed, 25/03/2020 - 11:16
Fungal and plant metabolites in industrially-processed fruit juices in Nigeria. Food Addit Contam Part B Surveill. 2020 Mar 24;:1-7 Authors: Ayeni KI, Sulyok M, Krska R, Ezekiel CN Abstract There is scarce data on the mycotoxin profile in retailed fruit juices in Nigeria. Thirty-five industrially-processed fruit juice samples randomly purchased from retailers in Ogun state, Nigeria, were analysed for the presence of > 650 toxic fungal and plant metabolites using a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method. Only 18 metabolites, including 3-nitropropionic acid, alternariol methylether and emodin, but excluding citrinin, fumonisin B2, ochratoxin A and patulin, were detected in trace levels in at least one juice sample. Amygdalin, a plant cyanogen, was quantified (2.05-359 µg/L) in 40% of the samples. Although the levels of mycotoxins and toxic plant metabolites found in the juice may be relatively low, daily consumption of juices containing such low levels may contribute to dietary exposures to these natural chemical contaminants in consumers. Fruit juice processors should be encouraged to adhere strictly to good manufacturing practices in order to keep mycotoxins away from the final products. PMID: 32207373 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

A population-based resource for intergenerational metabolomics analyses in pregnant women and their children: the Generation R Study.

Wed, 25/03/2020 - 11:16
Related Articles A population-based resource for intergenerational metabolomics analyses in pregnant women and their children: the Generation R Study. Metabolomics. 2020 Mar 23;16(4):43 Authors: Voerman E, Jaddoe VWV, Uhl O, Shokry E, Horak J, Felix JF, Koletzko B, Gaillard R Abstract INTRODUCTION: Adverse exposures in early life may predispose children to cardio-metabolic disease in later life. Metabolomics may serve as a valuable tool to disentangle the metabolic adaptations and mechanisms that potentially underlie these associations. OBJECTIVES: To describe the acquisition, processing and structure of the metabolomics data available in a population-based prospective cohort from early pregnancy onwards and to examine the relationships between metabolite profiles of pregnant women and their children at birth and in childhood. METHODS: In a subset of 994 mothers-child pairs from a prospective population-based cohort study among pregnant women and their children from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, we used LC-MS/MS to determine concentrations of amino acids, non-esterified fatty acids, phospholipids and carnitines in blood serum collected in early pregnancy, at birth (cord blood), and at child's age 10 years. RESULTS: Concentrations of diacyl-phosphatidylcholines, acyl-alkyl-phosphatidylcholines, alkyl-lysophosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelines were the highest in early pregnancy, concentrations of amino acids and non-esterified fatty acids were the highest at birth and concentrations of alkyl-lysophosphatidylcholines, free carnitine and acyl-carnitines were the highest at age 10 years. Correlations of individual metabolites between pregnant women and their children at birth and at the age of 10 years were low (range between r = - 0.10 and r = 0.35). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that unique metabolic profiles are present among pregnant women, newborns and school aged children, with limited intergenerational correlations between metabolite profiles. These data will form a valuable resource to address the early metabolic origins of cardio-metabolic disease. PMID: 32206914 [PubMed - in process]

Pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma: recent updates in genetics, biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, metabolomics, imaging and therapeutic options.

Wed, 25/03/2020 - 11:16
Related Articles Pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma: recent updates in genetics, biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, metabolomics, imaging and therapeutic options. Gland Surg. 2020 Feb;9(1):105-123 Authors: Antonio K, Valdez MMN, Mercado-Asis L, Taïeb D, Pacak K Abstract Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs), rare chromaffin/neural crest cell tumors, are commonly benign in their clinical presentation. However, there are a number of cases presenting as metastatic and their diagnosis and management becomes a dilemma because of their rarity. PPGLs are constantly evolving entities in the field of endocrinology brought about by endless research and discoveries, especially in genetics. Throughout the years, our knowledge and perception of these tumors and their genetic background has greatly expanded and changed, and each new discovery leads to advancement in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of PPGLs. In this review, we discuss the recent updates in the genetics, biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, metabolomics, imaging and treatment options of PPGLs. PMID: 32206603 [PubMed]

EirA is a novel protein essential for intracellular replication of Coxiella burnetii.

Wed, 25/03/2020 - 11:16
Related Articles EirA is a novel protein essential for intracellular replication of Coxiella burnetii. Infect Immun. 2020 Mar 23;: Authors: Kuba M, Neha N, Newton P, Lee YW, Bennett-Wood V, Hachani A, De Souza DP, Nijagal B, Dayalan S, Tull D, McConville MJ, Sansom FM, Newton HJ Abstract The zoonotic bacterial pathogen Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a febrile illness which can cause a serious chronic infection. C. burnetii is a unique intracellular bacterium which replicates within host lysosome-derived vacuoles. The ability of C. burnetii to replicate within this normally hostile compartment is dependent on the activity of the Dot/Icm type 4B secretion system. In a previous study, a transposon mutagenesis screen suggested that disruption of the gene encoding the novel protein CBU2072 rendered C. burnetii incapable of intracellular replication. This protein, subsequently named EirA (Essential for intracellular replication A), is indispensable for intracellular replication and virulence, as demonstrated by infection of human cell lines, and in vivo infection of Galleria mellonella The putative N-terminal signal peptide is essential for protein function but is not required for localization of EirA to the bacterial inner membrane compartment and axenic culture supernatant. In the absence of EirA, C. burnetii remains viable but non-replicative within the host phagolysosome, as co-infection with C. burnetii expressing native EirA rescues the replicative defect in the mutant strain. In addition, while the bacterial ultrastructure appears intact, there is an altered metabolic profile shift in the absence of EirA, suggesting that EirA may impact overall metabolism. Most strikingly, in the absence of EirA, Dot/Icm effector translocation was inhibited even when EirA deficient C. burnetii replicated in WT supported Coxiella-containing vacuoles. EirA may therefore have a novel role in control of Dot/Icm activity and may therefore represent an important new therapeutic target. PMID: 32205404 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Obesity and NRF2-mediated cytoprotection: Where is the missing link?

Wed, 25/03/2020 - 11:16
Related Articles Obesity and NRF2-mediated cytoprotection: Where is the missing link? Pharmacol Res. 2020 Mar 20;:104760 Authors: Vasileva LV, Savova MS, Amirova KM, Dinkova-Kostova AT, Georgiev MI Abstract The expanding dimensions of the global health crisis of overweight population has defined the term "globesity". Among the most common pathological conditions connected with excessive adiposity are hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension which result in chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and nonalchoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The contribution of inflammatory-immune reactions in obesity and its related co-morbidities is unequivocal. Increased levels of free fatty acids (FFA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) overloads the homeostatic system resulting in pro-inflammatory adipokines secretion, immune-activation and chronic inflammation in obesity. The cellular mechanisms of defense against oxidative stress are orchestrated by the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (NRF2). Excessive oxidative stress in the cell activates NRF2 which upregulates genes encoding major cytoprotective enzymes such as NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase 1 (HO1), and glutathione S-transferases (GST). The present review aims to clarify the interconnections between chronic inflammation, oxidative overload and NRF2-mediated cytoprotection as potential therapeutic approach in obesity. PMID: 32205234 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Comparison of nonfasting and fasting lipoprotein subfractions and size in 15,397 apparently healthy individuals: An analysis from the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL.

Wed, 25/03/2020 - 11:16
Related Articles Comparison of nonfasting and fasting lipoprotein subfractions and size in 15,397 apparently healthy individuals: An analysis from the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL. J Clin Lipidol. 2020 Feb 21;: Authors: Farukhi ZM, Demler OV, Caulfield MP, Kulkarni K, Wohlgemuth J, Cobble M, Luttmann-Gibson H, Li C, Nelson JR, Cook NR, Buring JE, Krauss RM, Manson JE, Mora S Abstract BACKGROUND: Elevated postprandial triglycerides reflect a proatherogenic milieu, but underlying mechanisms are unclear. OBJECTIVE: We examined differences between fasting and nonfasting profiles of directly measured lipoprotein size and subfractions to assess if postprandial triglycerides reflected increases in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) and remnants, or small dense lipid depleted LDL (sdLDL) particles. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 15,397 participants (10,135 fasting; 5262 nonfasting [<8 hours since last meal]) from the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL. Baseline cholesterol subfractions were measured by the vertical auto profile method and particle subfractions by ion mobility. We performed multivariable linear regression adjusting for cardiovascular and lipoprotein-modifying risk factors. RESULTS: Mean age (SD) was 68.0 years (±7.0), with 50.9% women. Adjusted mean triglyceride concentrations were higher nonfasting by 17.8 ± 1.3%, with higher nonfasting levels of directly measured VLDL cholesterol (by 3.5 ± 0.6%) and total VLDL particles (by 2.0 ± 0.7%), specifically large VLDL (by 12.3 ± 1.3%) and medium VLDL particles (by 5.3 ± 0.8%), all P < .001. By contrast, lower concentrations of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and IDL cholesterol and particles were noted for nonfasting participants. sdLDL cholesterol levels and particle concentrations showed no statistically significant difference by fasting status (-1.3 ± 2.1% and 0.07 ± 0.6%, respectively, P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Directly measured particle and cholesterol concentrations of VLDL, not sdLDL, were higher nonfasting and may partly contribute to the proatherogenicity of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. These differences, although statistically significant, were small and may not fully explain the increased risk of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. PMID: 32205068 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Type 2 diabetes induced microbiome dysbiosis is associated with therapy resistance in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Wed, 25/03/2020 - 11:16
Related Articles Type 2 diabetes induced microbiome dysbiosis is associated with therapy resistance in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Microb Cell Fact. 2020 Mar 24;19(1):75 Authors: Kesh K, Mendez R, Abdelrahman L, Banerjee S, Banerjee S Abstract Resistance to therapy is one of the major factors that contribute to dismal survival statistics in pancreatic cancer. While there are many tumor intrinsic and tumor microenvironment driven factors that contribute to therapy resistance, whether pre-existing metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes (T2D) contribute to this has remained understudied. It is well accepted that hyperglycemia associated with type 2 diabetes changes the gut microbiome. Further, hyperglycemia also enriches for a "stem-like" population within the tumor. In the current study, we observed that in a T2D mouse model, the microbiome changed significantly as the hyperglycemia developed in these animals. Our results further showed that, tumors implanted in the T2D mice responded poorly to gemcitabine/paclitaxel (Gem/Pac) standard of care compared to those in the control group. A metabolomic reconstruction of the WGS of the gut microbiota further revealed that an enrichment of bacterial population involved in drug metabolism in the T2D group. Additionally, we also observed an increase in the CD133+ tumor cells population in the T2D model. These observations indicated that in an animal model for T2D, microbial dysbiosis is associated with increased resistance to chemotherapeutic compounds. PMID: 32204699 [PubMed - in process]

Untargeted and Targeted Metabolomic Profiling of Australian Indigenous Fruits.

Wed, 25/03/2020 - 11:16
Related Articles Untargeted and Targeted Metabolomic Profiling of Australian Indigenous Fruits. Metabolites. 2020 Mar 19;10(3): Authors: Lim V, Gorji SG, Daygon VD, Fitzgerald M Abstract Selected Australian native fruits such as Davidson's plum, finger lime and native pepperberry have been reported to demonstrate potent antioxidant activity. However, comprehensive metabolite profiling of these fruits is limited, therefore the compounds responsible are unknown, and further, the compounds of nutritional value in these native fruits are yet to be described. In this study, untargeted and targeted metabolomics were conducted using the three fruits, together with assays to determine their antioxidant activities. The results demonstrate that targeted free and hydrolysed protein amino acids exhibited high amounts of essential amino acids. Similarly, important minerals like potassium were detected in the fruit samples. In antioxidant activity, Davidson's plum reported the highest activity in ferric reducing power (FRAP), finger lime in antioxidant capacity (ABTS), and native pepperberry in free radical scavenging (DPPH) and phosphomolybdenum assay. The compounds responsible for the antioxidant activity were tentatively identified using untargeted GC×GC-TOFMS and UHPLC-QqQ-TOF-MS/MS metabolomics. A clear discrimination into three clusters of fruits was observed using principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) analysis. The correlation study identified a number of compounds that provide the antioxidant activities. GC×GC-TOFMS detected potent aroma compounds of limonene, furfural, and 1-R-α-pinene. Based on the untargeted and targeted metabolomics, and antioxidant assays, the nutritional potential of these Australian bush fruits is considerable and supports these indigenous fruits in the nutraceutical industry as well as functional ingredients for the food industry, with such outcomes benefiting Indigenous Australian communities. PMID: 32204361 [PubMed]

Role of mitochondria and cardiolipins in growth inhibition of breast cancer cells by retinoic acid.

Wed, 25/03/2020 - 11:16
Related Articles Role of mitochondria and cardiolipins in growth inhibition of breast cancer cells by retinoic acid. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2019 Oct 29;38(1):436 Authors: Terao M, Goracci L, Celestini V, Kurosaki M, Bolis M, Di Veroli A, Vallerga A, Fratelli M, Lupi M, Corbelli A, Fiordaliso F, Gianni M, Paroni G, Zanetti A, Cruciani G, Garattini E Abstract BACKGROUND: All-trans-retinoic-acid (ATRA) is a promising agent in the prevention/treatment of breast-cancer. There is growing evidence that reprogramming of cellular lipid metabolism contributes to malignant transformation and progression. Lipid metabolism is implicated in cell differentiation and metastatic colonization and it is involved in the mechanisms of sensitivity/resistance to different anti-tumor agents. The role played by lipids in the anti-tumor activity of ATRA has never been studied. METHODS: We used 16 breast cancer cell-lines whose degree of sensitivity to the anti-proliferative action of ATRA is known. We implemented a non-oriented mass-spectrometry based approach to define the lipidomic profiles of each cell-line grown under basal conditions and following treatment with ATRA. To complement the lipidomic data, untreated and retinoid treated cell-lines were also subjected to RNA-sequencing to define the perturbations afforded by ATRA on the whole-genome gene-expression profiles. The number and functional activity of mitochondria were determined in selected ATRA-sensitive and -resistant cell-lines. Bio-computing approaches were used to analyse the high-throughput lipidomic and transcriptomic data. RESULTS: ATRA perturbs the homeostasis of numerous lipids and the most relevant effects are observed on cardiolipins, which are located in the mitochondrial inner membranes and play a role in oxidative-phosphorylation. ATRA reduces the amounts of cardiolipins and the effect is associated with the growth-inhibitory activity of the retinoid. Down-regulation of cardiolipins is due to a reduction of mitochondria, which is caused by an ATRA-dependent decrease in the expression of nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. This demonstrates that ATRA anti-tumor activity is due to a decrease in the amounts of mitochondria causing deficits in the respiration/energy-balance of breast-cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: The observation that ATRA anti-proliferative activity is caused by a reduction in the respiration and energy balance of the tumor cells has important ramifications for the therapeutic action of ATRA in breast cancer. The study may open the way to the development of rational therapeutic combinations based on the use of ATRA and anti-tumor agents targeting the mitochondria. PMID: 31665044 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Exposure to Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S and Incident Type 2 Diabetes: A Case-Cohort Study in the French Cohort D.E.S.I.R.

Wed, 25/03/2020 - 11:16
Related Articles Exposure to Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S and Incident Type 2 Diabetes: A Case-Cohort Study in the French Cohort D.E.S.I.R. Environ Health Perspect. 2019 10;127(10):107013 Authors: Rancière F, Botton J, Slama R, Lacroix MZ, Debrauwer L, Charles MA, Roussel R, Balkau B, Magliano DJ, D.E.S.I.R. Study Group Abstract BACKGROUND: The question of whether exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes is still unresolved. Most epidemiological evidence on the association between BPA and diabetes is from cross-sectional studies or longitudinal studies with single urinary measurements. No prospective study has examined exposure to BPA analogs such as bisphenol S (BPS) in relation to incident type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate whether exposure to BPA and BPS, assessed at up to two time points, was associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We performed a case-cohort study on 755 participants without diabetes at baseline and followed-up over 9 y as part of the French prospective cohort Data from an Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (D.E.S.I.R.). BPA-glucuronide (BPA-G) and BPS-glucuronide (BPS-G) were assessed in fasting spot urine samples collected during the health examinations at baseline and 3 y later. Associations with incident diabetes were examined using Prentice-weighted Cox regression models adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: A total of 201 incident cases of type 2 diabetes were diagnosed over the follow-up, including 30 in the subcohort. Compared with participants with the lowest average BPA exposure (below the first quartile), participants in the second, third, and fourth quartile groups of exposure had a near doubling of the risk of type 2 diabetes, with a hazard ratio (HR) = 2.56 (95% CI: 1.16, 5.65), 2.35 (95% CI: 1.07, 5.15), and 1.56 (95% CI: 0.68, 3.55), respectively. The detection of BPS-G in urine at one or both time points was associated with incident diabetes, with an HR = 2.81 (95% CI: 1.74, 4.53). DISCUSSION: This study shows positive associations between exposure to BPA and BPS and the incidence of type 2 diabetes, independent of traditional diabetes risk factors. Our results should be confirmed by recent, population-based observational studies in different populations and settings. Overall, these findings raise concerns about using BPS as a BPA substitute. Further research on BPA analogs is warranted. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5159. PMID: 31663775 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

metabolomics; +44 new citations

Tue, 24/03/2020 - 14:11
44 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2020/03/24PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

metabolomics; +43 new citations

Tue, 24/03/2020 - 11:00
43 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: metabolomics These pubmed results were generated on 2020/03/24PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

Cannabinol in the spotlight: Toxicometabolomic study and behavioral analysis of zebrafish embryos exposed to the unknown cannabinoid.

Mon, 23/03/2020 - 13:52
Related Articles Cannabinol in the spotlight: Toxicometabolomic study and behavioral analysis of zebrafish embryos exposed to the unknown cannabinoid. Chemosphere. 2020 Mar 12;252:126417 Authors: Chousidis I, Chatzimitakos T, Leonardos D, Filiou MD, Stalikas CD, Leonardos ID Abstract Cannabinol (CBN) is a degradation product of the cannabis metabolite Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. The CBN concentration in cannabis leaves ranges between 0.1 and 1.6% (w/w of dry weight); it increases as the plant ages and its formation is affected by the storage conditions. As CBN has not been extensively studied so far, the need to examine its impact in vivo is imperative due to the increasing use of cannabis globally. In the study herein, the CBN toxicity, effects on heart physiology, morphological malformations, behavioral changes and alterations in metabolic pathways of zebrafish larvae upon CBN exposure to sublethal concentrations were examined. The LD50 value was estimated at 1.12 mg/l. At the same time, malformations in zebrafish larvae increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner and exposure to CBN concentrations greater than 0.75 mg/l provoked abnormalities like pericardial edema, yolk sac anomalies and tail bending. Concentrations above this threshold resulted in elongated and shorter in width hearts and in separation of ventricle from atrium. The total movement distance and velocity were increased in dark and decreased in light conditions, in a concentration-dependent manner. Our results showed that CBN acts both as a stimulant and a sedative, with larvae to exhibit altered velocity and bradycardia, respectively. The metabolomic analysis revealed alterations mainly to amino acids, which are related to acute toxicity and hint towards systemic metabolic and neuropathophysiological changes. Taken together, our data indicate increased toxic effects as CBN exposure concentration increases, which should be taken into consideration when studying the impact of cannabis on organisms. PMID: 32200177 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Systems pharmacology reveals the mechanism of activity of Ge-Gen-Qin-Lian decoction against LPS-induced acute lung injury: A novel strategy for exploring active components and effective mechanism of TCM formulae.

Mon, 23/03/2020 - 13:52
Related Articles Systems pharmacology reveals the mechanism of activity of Ge-Gen-Qin-Lian decoction against LPS-induced acute lung injury: A novel strategy for exploring active components and effective mechanism of TCM formulae. Pharmacol Res. 2020 Mar 18;:104759 Authors: Ding Z, Zhong R, Yang Y, Xia T, Wang W, Wang Y, Xing N, Luo Y, Li S, Shang L, Shu Z Abstract Acute lung injury (ALI), a severe and life-threatening inflammation of the lung, with high morbidity and mortality, underscoring the urgent need for novel treatments. Ge-Gen-Qin-Lian decoction (GQD), a classic Chinese herbal formula, has been widely used to treat intestine-related diseases in the clinic for centuries. In recent years, a growing number of studies have found that GQD has a favorable anti-inflammatory effect. With the further study on the viscera microbiota, the link between the lungs and the gut-the gut-lung axis has been established. Based on the theory of the gut-lung axis, we used systems pharmacology to explore the effects and mechanisms of GQD treatment in ALI. Hypothesizing that GQD inhibits ALI progression, we used the experimental model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI in Balb/c mice to evaluate the therapeutic potential of GQD. Our results showed that GQD exerted protective effects against LPS-induced ALI by reducing pulmonary edema and microvascular permeability. Meanwhile, GQD can downregulate the expression of LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BLAF), and serum. To further understand the molecular mechanism of GQD in the treatment of ALI, we used the network pharmacology to predict the disease targets of the active components of GQD. Lung tissue and serum samples of the mice were separately analyzed by transcriptomics and metabolomics. KEGG pathway analysis of network pharmacology and transcriptomics indicated that PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was significantly enriched, suggesting that it may be the main regulatory pathway for GQD treatment of ALI. By immunohistochemical analysis and apoptosis detection, it was verified that GQD can inhibit ALI apoptosis through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Then, we used the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 to block the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and reversely verified that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is the main pathway of GQD anti-ALI. In addition, differential metabolites in mice serum samples indicate that GQD can inhibit the inflammatory process of ALI by reversing the imbalance of energy metabolism. Our study showed that, GQD did have a better therapeutic effect on ALI, and initially elucidated its molecular mechanism. Thus, GQD could be exploited to develop novel therapeutics for ALI. Moreover, our study also provides a novel strategy to explore active components and effective mechanism of TCM formula combined with TCM theory to treat ALI. PMID: 32200026 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

The APOA1bp-SREBF-NOTCH axis is associated with reduced atherosclerosis risk in morbidly obese patients.

Mon, 23/03/2020 - 13:52
Related Articles The APOA1bp-SREBF-NOTCH axis is associated with reduced atherosclerosis risk in morbidly obese patients. Clin Nutr. 2020 Mar 08;: Authors: Mayneris-Perxachs J, Puig J, Burcelin R, Dumas ME, Barton RH, Hoyles L, Federici M, Fernández-Real JM Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Atherosclerosis is characterized by an inflammatory disease linked to excessive lipid accumulation in the artery wall. The Notch signalling pathway has been shown to play a key regulatory role in the regulation of inflammation. Recently, in vitro and pre-clinical studies have shown that apolipoprotein A-I binding protein (AIBP) regulates cholesterol metabolism (SREBP) and NOTCH signalling (haematopoiesis) and may be protective against atherosclerosis, but the evidence in humans is scarce. METHODS: We evaluated the APOA1bp-SREBF-NOTCH axis in association with atherosclerosis in two well-characterized cohorts of morbidly obese patients (n = 78) within the FLORINASH study, including liver transcriptomics, 1H NMR plasma metabolomics, high-resolution ultrasonography evaluating carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and haematological parameters. RESULTS: The liver expression levels of APOA1bp were associated with lower cIMT and leukocyte counts, a better plasma lipid profile and higher circulating levels of metabolites associated with lower risk of atherosclerosis (glycine, histidine and asparagine). Conversely, liver SREBF and NOTCH mRNAs were positively associated with atherosclerosis, liver steatosis, an unfavourable lipid profile, higher leukocytes and increased levels of metabolites linked to inflammation and CVD such as branched-chain amino acids and glycoproteins. APOA1bp and NOTCH signalling also had a strong association, as revealed by the negative correlations among APOA1bp expression levels and those of all NOTCH receptors and jagged ligands. CONCLUSIONS: We here provide the first evidence in human liver of the putative APOA1bp-SREBF-NOTCH axis signalling pathway and its association with atherosclerosis and inflammation. PMID: 32199697 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Iron dyshomeostasis, lipid peroxidation and perturbed expression of cystine/glutamate antiporter in Alzheimer's disease: Evidence of ferroptosis.

Sun, 22/03/2020 - 13:43
Related Articles Iron dyshomeostasis, lipid peroxidation and perturbed expression of cystine/glutamate antiporter in Alzheimer's disease: Evidence of ferroptosis. Redox Biol. 2020 Mar 05;32:101494 Authors: Ashraf A, Jeandriens J, Parkes HG, So PW Abstract Iron dyshomeostasis is implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) alongside β-amyloid and tau pathologies. Despite the recent discovery of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form cell death, hitherto, in vivo evidence of ferroptosis in AD is lacking. The present study uniquely adopts an integrated multi-disciplinary approach, combining protein (Western blot) and elemental analysis (total reflection X-ray fluorescence) with metabolomics (1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) to identify iron dyshomeostasis and ferroptosis, and possible novel interactions with metabolic dysfunction in age-matched male cognitively normal (CN) and AD post-mortem brain tissue (n = 7/group). Statistical analysis was used to compute differences between CN and AD, and to examine associations between proteins, elements and/or metabolites. Iron dyshomeostasis with elevated levels of ferritin, in the absence of increased elemental iron, was observed in AD. Moreover, AD was characterised by enhanced expression of the light-chain subunit of the cystine/glutamate transporter (xCT) and lipid peroxidation, reminiscent of ferroptosis, alongside an augmented excitatory glutamate to inhibitory GABA ratio. Protein, element and metabolite associations also greatly differed between CN and AD suggesting widespread metabolic dysregulation in AD. We demonstrate iron dyshomeostasis, upregulated xCT (impaired glutathione metabolism) and lipid peroxidation in AD, suggesting anti-ferroptotic therapies may be efficacious in AD. PMID: 32199332 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Maternal exposure to a human relevant mixture of persistent organic pollutants reduces colorectal carcinogenesis in A/J Min/+ mice.

Sun, 22/03/2020 - 13:43
Related Articles Maternal exposure to a human relevant mixture of persistent organic pollutants reduces colorectal carcinogenesis in A/J Min/+ mice. Chemosphere. 2020 Mar 13;252:126484 Authors: Johanson SM, Swann JR, Umu ÖCO, Aleksandersen M, Müller MHB, Berntsen HF, Zimmer KE, Østby GC, Paulsen JE, Ropstad E Abstract An increased risk of developing colorectal cancer has been associated with exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and alteration in the gut bacterial community. However, there is limited understanding about the impact of maternal exposure to POPs on colorectal cancer and gut microbiota. This study characterized the influence of exposure to a human relevant mixture of POPs during gestation and lactation on colorectal cancer, intestinal metabolite composition and microbiota in the A/J Min/+ mouse model. Surprisingly, the maternal POP exposure decreased colonic tumor burden, as shown by light microscopy and histopathological evaluation, indicating a restriction of colorectal carcinogenesis. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based metabolomic analysis identified alterations in the metabolism of amino acids, lipids, glycerophospholipids and energy in intestinal tissue. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing of gut microbiota indicated that maternal exposure modified fecal bacterial composition. In conclusion, the results showed that early-life exposure to a mixture of POPs reduced colorectal cancer initiation and promotion, possibly through modulation of the microbial and biochemical environment. Further studies should focus on the development of colorectal cancer after combined maternal and dietary exposures to environmentally relevant low-dose POP mixtures. PMID: 32199166 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Alzheimer's Risk Factors Age, APOE Genotype, and Sex Drive Distinct Molecular Pathways.

Sun, 22/03/2020 - 13:43
Related Articles Alzheimer's Risk Factors Age, APOE Genotype, and Sex Drive Distinct Molecular Pathways. Neuron. 2020 Mar 18;: Authors: Zhao N, Ren Y, Yamazaki Y, Qiao W, Li F, Felton LM, Mahmoudiandehkordi S, Kueider-Paisley A, Sonoustoun B, Arnold M, Shue F, Zheng J, Attrebi ON, Martens YA, Li Z, Bastea L, Meneses AD, Chen K, Thompson JW, St John-Williams L, Tachibana M, Aikawa T, Oue H, Job L, Yamazaki A, Liu CC, Storz P, Asmann YW, Ertekin-Taner N, Kanekiyo T, Kaddurah-Daouk R, Bu G Abstract Evidence suggests interplay among the three major risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD): age, APOE genotype, and sex. Here, we present comprehensive datasets and analyses of brain transcriptomes and blood metabolomes from human apoE2-, apoE3-, and apoE4-targeted replacement mice across young, middle, and old ages with both sexes. We found that age had the greatest impact on brain transcriptomes highlighted by an immune module led by Trem2 and Tyrobp, whereas APOE4 was associated with upregulation of multiple Serpina3 genes. Importantly, these networks and gene expression changes were mostly conserved in human brains. Finally, we observed a significant interaction between age, APOE genotype, and sex on unfolded protein response pathway. In the periphery, APOE2 drove distinct blood metabolome profile highlighted by the upregulation of lipid metabolites. Our work identifies unique and interactive molecular pathways underlying AD risk factors providing valuable resources for discovery and validation research in model systems and humans. PMID: 32199103 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

MetaBridge: An Integrative Multi-Omics Tool for Metabolite-Enzyme Mapping.

Sun, 22/03/2020 - 13:43
Related Articles MetaBridge: An Integrative Multi-Omics Tool for Metabolite-Enzyme Mapping. Curr Protoc Bioinformatics. 2020 Jun;70(1):e98 Authors: Blimkie T, Lee AH, Hancock REW Abstract MetaBridge is a web-based tool designed to facilitate the integration of metabolomics with other "omics" data types such as transcriptomics and proteomics. It uses data from the MetaCyc metabolic pathway database and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) to map metabolite compounds to directly interacting upstream or downstream enzymes in enzymatic reactions and metabolic pathways. The resulting list of enzymes can then be integrated with transcriptomics or proteomics data via protein-protein interaction networks to perform integrative multi-omics analyses. MetaBridge was developed to be intuitive and easy to use, requiring little to no prior computational experience. The protocols described here detail all steps involved in the use of MetaBridge, from preparing input data and performing metabolite mapping to utilizing the results to build a protein-protein interaction network. © 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Basic Protocol 1: Mapping metabolite data using MetaCyc identifiers Basic Protocol 2: Mapping metabolite data using KEGG identifiers Support Protocol 1: Converting compound names to HMDB IDs Support Protocol 2: Submitting mapped genes produced by MetaBridge for protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction. PMID: 32199034 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Metabolomics of sleep disorders in HIV: a narrative review.

Sun, 22/03/2020 - 13:43
Related Articles Metabolomics of sleep disorders in HIV: a narrative review. Sleep Breath. 2020 Mar 20;: Authors: Balthazar M, Diallo I, Pak VM Abstract PURPOSE: Sleep disturbances are prevalent among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), even those who are being treated on antiretroviral therapy. It is important to understand the metabolomic mechanisms underlying sleep disturbances among people living with HIV (PLWH). METHODS: A review of recent literature was performed to explore the use of metabolomics in understanding sleep among PLWH. RESULTS: We found only two studies that used metabolomics to explore sleep health among PLWH. CONCLUSION: This paper reviews common sleep disorders in HIV, the existing metabolomic studies that may explain the relationship, and implications for future research. The use of metabolomics in exploring sleep disorders among PLWH will help to elucidate mechanistic links to improve patient outcomes. PMID: 32198720 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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