Abnormal gut microbiota composition is associated with experimental autoimmune prostatitis-induced depressive-like behaviors in mice

The role of microbiota in the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvis pain syndrome: a review

Chronic prostatitis/Chronic pelvis pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), a kind of frequent urinary condition among adult males, has caused a lot of inconvenience to patients in life, whose pathogenesis is unclear. Current evidence suggests that it is most likely to be an autoimmune disease. Symbiotic microbes, a highly diverse biological community that harbors trillions of microbes in each region of the human body, have gradually made people realize their important role in immune regulation, material metabolism, and health maintenance. In recent years, increasing studies have shown a connection between microbiota and CP/CPPS. In view of this, we performed this review to summarize the literature pertaining to microbiota and its association with the pathophysiological mechanism of CP/CPPS. In addition, we gleaned the latest progress in the therapeutic strategy of CP/CPPS that related to microbiota regulation in order to offer new perspectives on the management of CP/CPPS.

The role of gut microbiota involved in prostate microenvironment and symptoms improvement in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients treated with low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave

BACKGROUND

Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT) is emerging as a promising and safe treatment for Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of the gut microbiota involved in the prostate microenvironment and symptom improvement during the Li-ESWT for CP/CPPS patients.

METHODS

CP/CPPS patients not taking antibiotics or other treatments were included. NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) were used to evaluate the effectiveness of Li-ESWT at the end of treatment. Visual analogue scale/score was used to evaluate the pain during procedure. Stool and semen samples were collected before and after Li-ESWT. Shotgun metagenomics analyzed gut microbiota, while ELISA and other diagnostic kits detected biochemical changes in seminal plasma.

RESULT

Of the 60 enrolled patients, 52 completed treatment. Li-ESWT response rate was 78.8% (41/52) at end of treatment. Among responders, the subitems of the NIH-CPSI; IPSS; and IIEF-5 scores improved significantly, and the seminal plasma analysis showed decreased TNF-a and MDA levels and increased SOD and Zn2+ levels posttreatment. Gut microbiome analysis indicated that posttreatment, both α and β diversity increased, and the abundance of certain specific species significantly increased. Fifty-eight pathways significantly enriched posttreatment, notably in branched-chain amino acid synthesis and butyrate synthesis. The abundance of several specific species was found to be significantly higher in non-responders than responders. Among responders, at the species level, some bacteria associated with NIH-CPSI and its subscales, IPSS, IIEF-5, and prostate microenvironment markers (TNF-a, MDA, Zn2+, and SOD) were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates for the first time that Li-ESWT improves the prostate microenvironment and gut microbiota in CP/CPPS patients. Treatment nonresponse may be associated with a high abundance of specific pathogens before treatment. The gut microbiota could have a significant impact on Li-ESWT response and the prostate microenvironment.

Potential of Synbiotics and Probiotics as Chemopreventive Agent

Cancer remains a global problem, with millions of new cases diagnosed yearly and countless lives lost. The financial burden of cancer therapy, along with worries about the long-term safety of existing medicines, necessitates the investigation of alternative approaches to cancer prevention. Probiotics generate chemopreventive compounds such as bacteriocins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which have demonstrated the ability to impede cancer cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and bolster the expression of pro-apoptotic genes. On the other hand, prebiotics, classified as non-digestible food ingredients, promote the proliferation of probiotics within the colon, thereby ensuring sustained functionality of the gut microbiota. Consequently, the synergistic effect of combining prebiotics with probiotics, known as the synbiotic effect, in dietary interventions holds promise for potentially mitigating cancer risk and augmenting preventive measures. The utilization of gut microbiota in cancer treatment has shown promise in alleviating adverse health effects. This review explored the potential and the role of probiotics and synbiotics in enhancing health and contributing to cancer prevention efforts. In this review, the applications of functional probiotics and synbiotics, the mechanisms of action of probiotics in cancer, and the relationship of probiotics with various drugs were discussed, shedding light on the potential of probiotics and synbiotics to alleviate the burdens of cancer treatment.

Causality investigation among gut microbiota, immune cells, and prostate diseases: a Mendelian randomization study

Background

The gut microbiota has been demonstrated to have a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of a variety of diseases, including prostate cancer, prostatitis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Potential links between prostate diseases, immune cells and the gut microbiota have not been adequately investigated.

Methods

MR studies were conducted to estimate the effects of instrumental variables obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of 196 gut microbial taxa and 731 immune cells on the risk of prostate diseases. The primary method for analysing causal relationships was inverse variance-weighted (IVW) analysis, and the MR results were validated through various sensitivity analyses.

Results

MR analysis revealed that 28 gut microbiome taxa and 75 immune cell types were significantly associated with prostate diseases. Furthermore, reverse MR analysis did not support a causal relationship between prostate diseases and the intestinal microbiota or immune cells. Finally, the results of the mediation analysis indicated that Secreting Treg % CD4 Treg, Activated & resting Treg % CD4 Treg, and Mo MDSC AC inhibited the role of the class Mollicutes in reducing the risk of PCa. In prostatitis, CD8+ T cells on EM CD8br hinder the increased risk associated with the genus Eubacterium nodatum group. Interestingly, in BPH, CD28- CD25++CD8br AC and CD16-CD56 on HLA DR+ NK promoted the role of the genus Dorea in reducing the risk of BPH.

Conclusion

This study highlights the complex relationships among the gut microbiota, immune cells and prostate diseases. The involvement of the gut microbiota in regulating immune cells to impact prostate diseases could provide novel methods and concepts for its therapy and management.

Alcohol intake exacerbates experimental autoimmune prostatitis through gut microbiota driving cholesterol biosynthesis-mediated Th17 differentiation

BACKGROUND

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is very common worldwide, and alcohol consumption is a notable contributing factor. Researches have shown that gut microbiota can be influenced by alcohol consumption and is an important mediator in regulating Th17 cell immunity. However, it is still unclear the exact mechanism by which alcohol exacerbates the CP/CPPS and the role of gut microbiota in this process.

METHOD

We first constructed the most-commonly used animal model for CP/CPPS, the experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) model, through immunoassay. Based on this, mice were divided into EAP group and alcohol-consuming EAP group. By 16S rRNA sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics analysis, differential gut microbiota and their metabolites between the two groups were identified. Subsequently, metabolomics detection targeting cholesterols was carried out to identify the exact difference in cholesterol. Furthermore, multiple methods such as flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the differentiation status of Th17 cells and severity of prostatitis treated with 27-hydroxycholesterol (the differential cholesterol) and its upstream regulatory factor-sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2). Lastly, fecal transplantation was conducted to preliminary study on whether alcohol intake exacerbates EAP in immune receptor mice.

RESULTS

Alcohol intake increased the proportion of Th17 cells and levels of related inflammatory factors. It also led to an altered gut bacterial richness and increased gut permeability. Further metabolomic analysis showed that there were significant differences in a variety of metabolites between EAP and alcohol-fed EAP mice. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis showed that the pathways related to cholesterol synthesis and metabolism were significantly enriched, which was subsequently confirmed by detecting the expression of metabolic enzymes. By targeting cholesterol synthesis, 27-hydroxycholesterol was significantly increased in alcohol-fed EAP mice. Subsequent mechanistic research showed that supplementation with 27-hydroxycholesterol could aggravate EAP and promote Th17 cell differentiation both in vivo and in vitro, which is regulated by SREBP2. In addition, we observed that fecal transplantation from mice with alcohol intake aggravated EAP in immunized recipient mice fed a normal diet.

CONCLUSION

Our study is the first to show that alcohol intake promotes Th17 cell differentiation and exacerbates EAP through microbiota-derived cholesterol biosynthesis.

Dihydroartemisinin Protects Mice from CUMS-induced Depression-like Behaviors by Regulating Gut Microbes

Depression is one of the most common forms of psychopathology, which is associated with gut microbiota dysfunction. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been shown to regulate gut microbiota and ameliorate neuropathies, but whether it can be used to treat depression remains unclear. Our study found that DHA treatment raised the preference for sugar water in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced mice and reduced the immobility time in open field, forced swimming and tail suspension experiments, and promoted doublecortin expression. Additionally, DHA up-regulated the diversity and richness of intestinal microbiota in depression-like mice, and restored the abnormal abundance of microbiota induced by CUMS, such as Turicibacter, Lachnospiraceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, Erysipelatoclostridium, Eubacterium, Psychrobacter, Atopostipes, Ileibacterium, Coriobacteriacea, Alistipes, Roseburia, Rikenella, Eggerthellaceae, Ruminococcus, Tyzzerella, and Clostridia. Furthermore, KEGG pathway analysis revealed that gut microbiota involved in the process of depression may be related to glucose metabolism, energy absorption and transport, and AMPK signaling pathway. These results indicated that DHA may play a protective role in CUMS-induced depression by mediating gut-microbiome.

What we need to know about the germ-free animal models

The gut microbiota (GM), as a forgotten organ, refers to the microbial community that resides in the gastrointestinal tract and plays a critical role in a variety of physiological activities in different body organs. The GM affects its targets through neurological, metabolic, immune, and endocrine pathways. The GM is a dynamic system for which exogenous and endogenous factors have negative or positive effects on its density and composition. Since the mid-twentieth century, laboratory animals are known as the major tools for preclinical research; however, each model has its own limitations. So far, two main models have been used to explore the effects of the GM under normal and abnormal conditions: the isolated germ-free and antibiotic-treated models. Both methods have strengths and weaknesses. In many fields of host-microbe interactions, research on these animal models are known as appropriate experimental subjects that enable investigators to directly assess the role of the microbiota on all features of physiology. These animal models present biological model systems to either study outcomes of the absence of microbes, or to verify the effects of colonization with specific and known microbial species. This paper reviews these current approaches and gives advantages and disadvantages of both models.

Detection of the role of intestinal flora and tryptophan metabolism involved in antidepressant-like actions of crocetin based on a multi-omics approach

RATIONALE

Depression is a serious mood disorder, and crocetin has a variety of pharmacological activities, including antidepressant effect. The alterations of intestinal flora have a significant correlation with depression, and crocetin can alter the composition of intestinal flora in mice with depression-like behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the underlying antidepressant mechanisms of crocetin through multi-omics coupled with biochemical technique validation.

METHODS

Chronic unpredictable stress (CUMS) was used to induce mice model of depression to evaluate the antidepressant effect of crocetin through behavioral tests, and the metagenomic and metabolomic were used to explore the potential mechanisms involved. In order to verify its underlying mechanism, western blot (WB), Elisa, immune histological and HPLC techniques were used to detect the level of inflammatory cytokines and the level of metabolites/proteins related to tryptophan metabolism in crocetin-treated mice.

RESULTS

Crocetin ameliorated depression-like behaviors and increased mobility in depressive mice induced by CUMS. Metagenomic results showed that crocetin regulated the structure of intestinal flora, as well as significantly regulated the function gene related to derangements in energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism in mice with depression-like behaviors. Metabolomic results showed that the tryptophan metabolism, arginine metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolism played an essential role in exerting antidepressant-like effect of crocetin. According to multi-omics approaches and validation results, tryptophan metabolism and inflammation were identified and validated as valuable biological processes involved in the antidepressant effects of crocetin. Crocetin regulated the tryptophan metabolism in mice with depression-like behaviors, including increased aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) expression, reduced indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and serotonin transporter (SERT) expression in the hippocampus, elevated the content of 5-HT, kynurenic acid in serum and 5-HT, tryptophan in hippocampus. In addition, crocetin also attenuated inflammation in mice with depression-like behaviors, which presented with reducing the production of inflammatory cytokines in serum and colon. Meanwhile, crocetin up-regulated the expression of zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) and occludin in ileum and colon to repair the intestinal barrier for preventing inflammation transfer.

CONCLUSION

Our findings clarify that crocetin exerted antidepressant effects through its anti-inflammation, repairment of intestinal barrier, modulatory on the intestinal flora and metabolic disorders, which further regulated tryptophan metabolism and impacted mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway to enhance neural plasticity, thereby protect neural.

Abnormal prostate microbiota composition is associated with experimental autoimmune prostatitis complicated with depression in rats

Background

Microbiota play essential roles in the pathogenesis of prostatitis and depression. However, the changes in prostate microbiota have not yet been explored in rats with prostatitis/depression. This study aimed to investigate the changes of prostate microbiota in rats with prostatitis/depression.

Methods

Rats with experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) complicated with depression were constructed through injection of rat prostate antigen with immunoadjuvants followed by application of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The rats were subjected to inflammatory factor detection and behavioral testing to confirm the establishment of the model. Subsequently, the prostate microbiota was assayed in the rats and compared by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results

A rat model of EAP complicated with depression was established and confirmed by increases in IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α as well as the occurrence of depressive‐like behaviors. EAP/CUMS significantly altered the richness, evenness, and composition of prostate microbiota. Forty-six taxonomic biomarkers for prostate microbiota were enriched in rats with EAP/depression and exhibited statistically significant and biologically consistent differences. Metabolomics profiling revealed that EAP/depression was associated with reductive acetyl coenzyme A pathway, L-lysine fermentation to acetate and butanoate, protein N-glycosylation and purine nucleobases degradation I, which is regulated by DCE29, Nocardioes, Helicobacter and Dorea.

Conclusion

Findings from the study demonstrate the existence of abnormal prostate microbiota in EAP complicated with depression and may be helpful in the treatment of comorbid diseases of prostatitis and depression.

Neuroprotective Natural Products’ Regulatory Effects on Depression via Gut–Brain Axis Targeting Tryptophan

L-tryptophan (Trp) contributes to regulating bilateral communication of the gut–brain axis. It undergoes three major metabolic pathways, which lead to formation of kynurenine, serotonin (5-HT), and indole derivatives (under the control of the microbiota). Metabolites from the principal Trp pathway, kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid, exhibit neuroprotective activity, while picolinic acid exhibits antioxidant activity, and 5-HT modulates appetite, sleep cycle, and pain. Abnormality in Trp plays crucial roles in diseases, including depression, colitis, ulcer, and gut microbiota-related dysfunctions. To address these diseases, the use of natural products could be a favorable alternative because they are a rich source of compounds that can modulate the activity of Trp and combat various diseases through modulating different signaling pathways, including the gut microbiota, kynurenine pathway, and serotonin pathway. Alterations in the signaling cascade pathways via different phytochemicals may help us explore the deep relationships of the gut–brain axis to study neuroprotection. This review highlights the roles of natural products and their metabolites targeting Trp in different diseases. Additionally, the role of Trp metabolites in the regulation of neuroprotective and gastroprotective activities is discussed. This study compiles the literature on novel, potent neuroprotective agents and their action mechanisms in the gut–brain axis and proposes prospective future studies to identify more pharmaceuticals based on signaling pathways targeting Trp.

Metabolomics Analysis Reveals the Differential Metabolites and Establishes the Therapeutic Effect Prediction Nomogram Among CP/CPPS Patients Who Respond or Do Not Respond to LiST

Objective

Low-intensity shockwave therapy (LiST) has been applied in the clinical treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), but few studies have focused on the prediction of its therapeutic effect before treatment.

Methods

Seventy-five CP/CPPS patients from our institute between July 2020 and May 2021 were enrolled and received 3 Hz, 0.25 mJ/mm2 LiST once a week over the course of four weeks. The scores of the NIH-CPSI, IPSS questionnaire and demographic features before treatment were recorded. The plasma before LiST treatment was also collected, while liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect the metabolites. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was employed to identify the prediction metabolites and generate the metabolism score. Receiver operating characteristic curves and calibration curves were drawn to assess the prediction accuracy of the nomogram.

Results

Twelve metabolites were identified at incomparable levels before and after LiST treatment. The metabolism score generated by LASSO analysis presented a perfect prediction value (AUC: 0.848, 95% CI: 0.719-0.940) in the training cohort and further increased to 0.892 (95% CI: 0.802-0.983) on the nomogram, which accompanied with the NIH-CPSI scores and age. Similar results of the metabolism score (AUC: 0.732, 95% CI: 0.516-0.889) and total nomogram (AUC: 0.968, 95% CI: 0.909-1.000) were obtained in the testing cohort. Further enrichment of the 12 metabolites indicated that the glycine and serine metabolism pathway was involved in the LiST treatment.

Conclusion

We used our system to accurately and quantitatively measure plasma metabolites and establish a predictive model to identify suitable patients for LiST treatment.

Gut Microflora Modulates Th17/Treg Cell Differentiation in Experimental Autoimmune Prostatitis via the Short-Chain Fatty Acid Propionate

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a very common urological disorder and has been gradually regarded as an immune-mediated disease. Multiple studies have indicated that the gut microflora plays a pivotal part in immune homeostasis and autoimmune disorder development. However, whether the gut microflora affects the CP/CPPS, and the underlying mechanism behind them remain unclear. Here, we built an experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) mouse model by subcutaneous immunity and identified that its Th17/Treg frequency was imbalanced. Using fecal 16s rRNA sequencing and untargeted/targeted metabolomics, we discovered that the diversity and relative abundance of gut microflora and their metabolites were obviously different between the control and the EAP group. Propionic acid, a kind of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), was decreased in EAP mice compared to that in controls, and supplementation with propionic acid reduced susceptibility to EAP and corrected the imbalance of Th17/Treg cell differentiation in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, SCFA receptor G-protein-coupled receptor 43 and intracellular histone deacetylase 6 regulated by propionic acid in Th17 and Treg cells were also evaluated. Lastly, we observed that fecal transplantation from EAP mice induced the decrease of Treg cell frequency in recipient mice. Our data showed that gut dysbiosis contributed to a Th17/Treg differentiation imbalance in EAP via the decrease of metabolite propionic acid and provided valuable immunological groundwork for further intervention in immunologic derangement of CP/CPPS by targeting propionic acid.

Antidepressant effects of Enterococcus faecalis 2001 through the regulation of prefrontal cortical myelination via the enhancement of CREB/BDNF and NF-κB p65/LIF/STAT3 pathways in olfactory bulbectomized mice

A therapeutic strategy through the gut-brain axis has been proven to be effective in treatment for depression. In our previous study, we demonstrated that Enterococcus faecalis 2001 (EF-2001) prevents colitis-induced depressive-like behavior through the gut-brain axis in mice. More recently, we found that demyelination in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) was associated with depressive-like behavior in an animal model of major depressive disorder, olfactory bulbectomized (OBX) mice. The present study investigated the effects of EF-2001 on depressive-like behaviors in OBX mice and the underlying molecular mechanisms from the perspective of myelination in the PFC. OBX mice exhibited depressive-like behaviors in the tail-suspension, splash, and sucrose preference tests, and decreased myelin and paranodal proteins along with mature oligodendrocytes in the PFC. These behavioral and biochemical changes were all prevented by treatment with EF-2001. Further, EF-2001 treatment increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in the PFC. Interestingly, an immunohistochemical analysis revealed enhanced phospho (p) -cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) expression in neurons, p-nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB) p65 (Ser536) expression in astrocytes, and p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) (Ty705) expression in mature oligodendrocytes in the PFC of OBX mice. From these results, we suggest that EF-2001 administration prevents depressive-like behaviors by regulating prefrontal cortical myelination via the enhancement of CREB/BDNF and NFκB p65/LIF/STAT3 pathways. Our findings strongly support the idea that a therapeutic strategy involving the gut microbiota may be a promising alternative treatment for alleviating symptoms of depression.

Acyloxyacyl hydrolase is a host determinant of gut microbiome-mediated pelvic pain

Dysbiosis of gut microbiota is associated with many pathologies, yet host factors modulating microbiota remain unclear. Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a debilitating condition of chronic pelvic pain often with comorbid urinary dysfunction and anxiety/depression, and recent studies find fecal dysbiosis in patients with IC/BPS. We identified the locus encoding acyloxyacyl hydrolase, Aoah, as a modulator of pelvic pain severity in a murine IC/BPS model. AOAH-deficient mice spontaneously develop rodent correlates of pelvic pain, increased responses to induced pelvic pain models, voiding dysfunction, and anxious/depressive behaviors. Here, we report that AOAH-deficient mice exhibit dysbiosis of gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota. AOAH-deficient mice exhibit an enlarged cecum, a phenotype long associated with germ-free rodents, and a "leaky gut" phenotype. AOAH-deficient ceca showed altered gene expression consistent with inflammation, Wnt signaling, and urologic disease. 16S sequencing of stool revealed altered microbiota in AOAH-deficient mice, and GC-MS identified altered metabolomes. Cohousing AOAH-deficient mice with wild-type mice resulted in converged microbiota and altered predicted metagenomes. Cohousing also abrogated the pelvic pain phenotype of AOAH-deficient mice, which was corroborated by oral gavage of AOAH-deficient mice with stool slurry of wild-type mice. Converged microbiota also alleviated comorbid anxiety-like behavior in AOAH-deficient mice. Oral gavage of AOAH-deficient mice with anaerobes cultured from IC/BPS stool resulted in exacerbation of pelvic allodynia. Together, these data indicate that AOAH is a host determinant of normal gut microbiota, and dysbiosis associated with AOAH deficiency contributes to pelvic pain. These findings suggest that the gut microbiome is a potential therapeutic target for IC/BPS.

Gut microbiota alteration and modulation in psychiatric disorders: Current evidence on fecal microbiota transplantation

The micro-organisms residing within the gastrointestinal tract, namely gut microbiota, form a dynamic population proper of each individual, mostly composed by bacteria which co-evolved symbiotically with human species. The advances of culture-independent techniques allowed the understanding of the multiple functions of the gut microbiota in human physiology and disease, the latter often recognising a predisposing condition in an imbalanced intestinal microbial ecosystem (dysbiosis). A complex mutual interconnection between the central nervous system (CNS), the intestine and the gut microbiota, known as "microbiota-gut-brain axis", has been hypothesized to play a pivotal role in maintaining central and peripheral functions, as well as mental health. Thus, dysbiosis with specific microbiota imbalances seems to be strongly associated with the onset psychiatric disorders by altering neurodevelopment, enhancing neurodegeneration, affecting behaviour and mood. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) consists of transferring the fecal matter from a donor into the gastrointestinal tract of a recipient, and it is used to quickly modulate the gut microbiota. This review focuses on the uses of FMT in psychiatric disorders. FMT has been used to induce dysbiosis and to study the disease development, or to heal dysbiosis-related mental disorders. Overall, FMT of impaired microbiota resulted effective in enhancing psychiatric-like disturbances (mainly depression and anxiety) in recipient animals, plausibly by impairing immune system, inflammatory and metabolic pathways, neurochemical processes and neuro-transmission. On the other side, preclinical and clinical data suggest that reversing or mitigating dysbiosis seems a promising strategy to restore behavioural impairments or to obtain psychiatric symptom relief. However, current evidence is limited by the lack of procedural standardization, the paucity of human studies in the vastity of psychiatric conditions and the need of a microbiota-targeted donor-recipient matching.

Infiltration of inflammatory factors induced penile damage in chronic prostatitis

The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of penile damages in experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) rat models to reveal the potential pathological mechanism of the relationship between CP and penile damages. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were administered with different concentrations of prostate tissue homogenate supernatant (PTHS) by multipoint subcutaneous injection to establish EAP models. IHC staining was done to assess the expression of inflammatory cytokines in prostate tissues and the corpus cavernosum of penis. Masson and Tunel staining was conducted to observe the fibrosis and apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum. Finally, the functional changes of corpus cavernosum were assessed by WB and IHC staining. The results revealed that EAP rats with different prostatitis severity were successfully established by PTHS. The expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in prostate tissues increased with the concentration of PTHS. The results of Masson and Tunel staining indicated fibrosis and apoptosis gradually aggravated in corpus cavernosum among different subgroups. The function of cavernosum impaired by prostatitis from WB and IHC results and positively with the severity. In conclusion, there existed the infiltration of inflammatory factors and impaired function in the corpus cavernosum of EAP rats' penis and positively correlated with the severity of prostatitis.

Fecal microbiota transplantation ameliorates stress-induced depression-like behaviors associated with the inhibition of glial and NLRP3 inflammasome in rat brain

BACKGROUND

Evidence from previous studies has demonstrated that the gut-microbiota-brain axis is vital in regulating of behavior and neuroinflammation in the central nervous system. Considering the putative connection among gut microbiota, neural function, and behavior, the present study investigated the potential signaling of gut microbiota to modulate depression-like behaviors and neuroinflammation.

METHODS

Rats showing depression-like behaviors induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress received fecal microbiota treatment or vehicle for 14 days, and alterations in behavior and neuroinflammation were assessed. ELISA, immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were used to analysis the activation of glial cells and NLRP3 inflammasome.

RESULTS

Treatment with fecal microbiota transplantation ameliorated depression-like behaviors. 5-Hydroxytryptamine decreased in the chronic unpredictable mild stress rat model but significantly increased after fecal microbiota transplantation. The treatment with fecal microbiota transplantation decreased the production of IL-1β and TNF-α. Moreover, fecal microbiota transplantation administration suppressed the activation of Iba1 positive microglia cells and GFAP positive astrocytes cells and reduced the expression of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and IL-1β pathway in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.

CONCLUSIONS

Fecal microbiota transplantation can improve depression-like behaviors induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress. The anti-depression effects of fecal microbiota transplantation were associated with the suppressed activation of glial cells and NLRP3 inflammasome in the brain.

Phytochemicals against anti-diabetic complications: targeting the advanced glycation end product signaling pathway

The role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is not limited to diabetes and diabetes-related complications. There are multiple modulators, including the receptor for advanced glycation end products, high mobility group box 1, glyoxalase 1, nuclear factor-kappa B, tumor necrosis factor-α, chronic unpredictable stress, reactive oxygen species, and inflammatory cytokines, which interact with AGE signaling and control diabetes, modulating these interacting modulators. The progression of diabetes, as well as related complications, can be controlled and treated. Natural products rich in bioactive constituents can interact with AGEs and their related mediators through various signaling cascades, thereby controlling and preventing the progression of diabetes. This review provides a deeper assessment of the signaling pathway, interactions between phytochemicals and AGEs, and its mediators, to develop a multifold therapeutic approach to prevent and treat diabetes and its related complications.

Investigating causality with fecal microbiota transplantation in rodents: applications, recommendations and pitfalls

In recent years, studies investigating the role of the gut microbiota in health and diseases have increased enormously - making it essential to deepen and question the research methodology employed. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in rodent studies (either from human or animal donors) allows us to better understand the causal role of the intestinal microbiota across multiple fields. However, this technique lacks standardization and requires careful experimental design in order to obtain optimal results. By comparing several studies in which rodents are the final recipients of FMT, we summarize the common practices employed. In this review, we document the limitations of this method and highlight different parameters to be considered while designing FMT Studies. Standardizing this method is challenging, as it differs according to the research topic, but avoiding common pitfalls is feasible. Several methodological questions remain unanswered to this day and we offer a discussion on issues to be explored in future studies.