Lysophosphatidylethanolamine is – in contrast to – choline – generated under in vivo conditions exclusively by phospholipase A2 but not by hypochlorous acid

Lysolipids are prominent in subretinal drusenoid deposits, a high-risk phenotype in age-related macular degeneration

Introduction

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) causes legal blindness worldwide, with few therapeutic targets in early disease and no treatments for 80% of cases. Extracellular deposits, including drusen and subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD; also called reticular pseudodrusen), disrupt cone and rod photoreceptor functions and strongly confer risk for advanced disease. Due to the differential cholesterol composition of drusen and SDD, lipid transfer and cycling between photoreceptors and support cells are candidate dysregulated pathways leading to deposit formation. The current study explores this hypothesis through a comprehensive lipid compositional analysis of SDD.

Methods

Histology and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology of SDD. Highly sensitive tools of imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) and nano liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-MS/MS) in positive and negative ion modes were used to spatially map and identify SDD lipids, respectively. An interpretable supervised machine learning approach was utilized to compare the lipid composition of SDD to regions of uninvolved retina across 1873 IMS features and to automatically discern candidate markers for SDD. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to localize secretory phospholipase A2 group 5 (PLA2G5).

Results

Among the 1873 detected features in IMS data, three lipid classes, including lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE) and lysophosphatidic acid (LysoPA) were observed nearly exclusively in SDD while presumed precursors, including phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidic acid (PA) lipids were detected in SDD and adjacent photoreceptor outer segments. Molecular signals specific to SDD were found in central retina and elsewhere. IHC results indicated abundant PLA2G5 in photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

Discussion

The abundance of lysolipids in SDD implicates lipid remodeling or degradation in deposit formation, consistent with ultrastructural evidence of electron dense lipid-containing structures distinct from photoreceptor outer segment disks and immunolocalization of secretory PLA2G5 in photoreceptors and RPE. Further studies are required to understand the role of lipid signals observed in and around SDD.

Anti-Rheumatoid Arthritis Pharmacodynamic Substances Screening of Periploca forrestii Schltr.: Component Analyses In Vitro and In Vivo Combined with Multi-Technical Metabolomics

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the metabolic action patterns of P. forrestii against rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using metabolomics, and to obtain its potential effective substances for treating RA. First, the therapeutic effects of P. forrestii against RA were confirmed; second, the chemical composition of P. forrestii was analyzed, and 17 prototypes were absorbed into blood; subsequently, plasma metabolomics studies using UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS and GC-MS were performed to disclose the metabolomics alterations in groups, which revealed 38 altered metabolites after drug intervention. These metabolites were all associated with the arthritis pathophysiology process (-log(p) > 1.6). Among them, sorted by variable important in projection (VIP), the metabolites affected (VIP ≥ 1.72) belonged to lipid metabolites. Finally, Pearson's analysis between endogenous metabolites and exogenous compounds was conducted to obtain potential pharmacological substances for the P. forrestii treatment of RA, which showed a high correlation between five blood-absorbed components and P. forrestii-regulated metabolites. This information provides a basis for the selection of metabolic action modes for P. forrestii clinical application dosage, and potential pharmacological substances that exerted anti-RA effects of P. forrestii were discovered. The study provided an experimental basis for further research on pharmacoequivalence, molecular mechanism validation, and even the development of new dosage forms in the future.

Phosphatidylethanolamine homeostasis under conditions of impaired CDP-ethanolamine pathway or phosphatidylserine decarboxylation

Phosphatidylethanolamine is the major inner-membrane lipid in the plasma and mitochondrial membranes. It is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum from ethanolamine and diacylglycerol (DAG) by the CDP-ethanolamine pathway and from phosphatidylserine by decarboxylation in the mitochondria. Recently, multiple genetic disorders that impact these pathways have been identified, including hereditary spastic paraplegia 81 and 82, Liberfarb syndrome, and a new type of childhood-onset neurodegeneration-CONATOC. Individuals with these diseases suffer from multisystem disorders mainly affecting neuronal function. This indicates the importance of maintaining proper phospholipid homeostasis when major biosynthetic pathways are impaired. This study summarizes the current knowledge of phosphatidylethanolamine metabolism in order to identify areas of future research that might lead to the development of treatment options.

Multi-Omic Profiling of Macrophages Treated with Phospholipids Containing Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids Reveals Complex Immunomodulatory Adaptations at Protein, Lipid and Metabolic Levels

In recent years, several studies have demonstrated that polyunsaturated fatty acids have strong immunomodulatory properties, altering several functions of macrophages. In the present work, we sought to provide a multi-omic approach combining the analysis of the lipidome, the proteome, and the metabolome of RAW 264.7 macrophages supplemented with phospholipids containing omega-3 (PC 18:0/22:6; ω3-PC) or omega-6 (PC 18:0/20:4; ω6-PC) fatty acids, alone and in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Supplementation of macrophages with ω3 and ω6 phospholipids plus LPS produced a significant reprogramming of the proteome of macrophages and amplified the immune response; it also promoted the expression of anti-inflammatory proteins (e.g., pleckstrin). Supplementation with the ω3-PC and ω6-PC induced significant changes in the lipidome, with a marked increase in lipid species linked to the inflammatory response, attributed to several pro-inflammatory signalling pathways (e.g., LPCs) but also to the pro-resolving effect of inflammation (e.g., PIs). Finally, the metabolomic analysis demonstrated that supplementation with ω3-PC and ω6-PC induced the expression of several metabolites with a pronounced inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effect (e.g., succinate). Overall, our data show that supplementation of macrophages with ω3-PC and ω6-PC effectively modulates the lipidome, proteome, and metabolome of these immune cells, affecting several metabolic pathways involved in the immune response that are triggered by inflammation.

Phospholipases and Reactive Oxygen Species Derived Lipid Biomarkers in Healthy and Diseased Humans and Animals - A Focus on Lysophosphatidylcholine

Phospholipids (PL) are converted into lipid biomarkers by the action of phospholipases and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are activated or released under certain physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Therefore, the in vivo concentration of such lipid biomarkers [e.g., lysophospholipids (LPLs)] is altered in humans and animals under different conditions such as inflammation, stress, medication, and nutrition. LPLs are particularly interesting because they are known to possess pro- and anti-inflammatory properties and may be generated by two different pathways: either by the influence of phospholipase A₂ or by different reactive oxygen species that are generated in significant amounts under inflammatory conditions. Both lead to the cleavage of unsaturated acyl residues. This review provides a short summary of the mechanisms by which lipid biomarkers are generated under in vitro and in vivo conditions. The focus will be on lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) because usually, this is the LPL species which occurs in the highest concentration and is, thus, easily detectable by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. Finally, the effects of lipid biomarkers as signaling molecules and their roles in different human and animal pathologies such as infertility, cancer, atherosclerosis, and aging will be shortly discussed.

Emerging roles of lysophospholipids in health and disease

Lipids are abundant and play essential roles in human health and disease. The main functions of lipids are building blocks for membrane biogenesis. However, lipids are also metabolized to produce signaling molecules. Here, we discuss the emerging roles of circulating lysophospholipids. These lysophospholipids consist of lysoglycerophospholipids and lysosphingolipids. They are both present in cells at low concentration, but their concentrations in extracellular fluids are significantly higher. The biological functions of some of these lysophospholipids have been recently revealed. Remarkably, some of the lysophospholipids play pivotal signaling roles as well as being precursors for membrane biogenesis. Revealing how circulating lysophospholipids are produced, released, transported, and utilized in multi-organ systems is critical to understand their functions. The discovery of enzymes, carriers, transporters, and membrane receptors for these lysophospholipids has shed light on their physiological significance. In this review, we summarize the biological roles of these lysophospholipids via discussing about the proteins regulating their functions. We also discuss about their potential impacts to human health and diseases.

Chlorinated Phospholipids and Fatty Acids: (Patho)physiological Relevance, Potential Toxicity, and Analysis of Lipid Chlorohydrins

Chlorinated phospholipids are formed by the reaction of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), generated by the enzyme myeloperoxidase under inflammatory conditions, and the unsaturated fatty acyl residues or the head group. In the first case the generated chlorohydrins are both proinflammatory and cytotoxic, thus having a significant impact on the structures of biomembranes. The latter case leads to chloramines, the properties of which are by far less well understood. Since HOCl is also widely used as a disinfecting and antibacterial agent in medicinal, industrial, and domestic applications, it may represent an additional source of danger in the case of abuse or mishandling. This review discusses the reaction behavior of in vivo generated HOCl and biomolecules like DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates but will focus on phospholipids. Not only the beneficial and pathological (toxic) effects of chlorinated lipids but also the importance of these chlorinated species is discussed. Some selected cleavage products of (chlorinated) phospholipids and plasmalogens such as lysophospholipids, (chlorinated) free fatty acids and α-chloro fatty aldehydes, which are all well known to massively contribute to inflammatory diseases associated with oxidative stress, will be also discussed. Finally, common analytical methods to study these compounds will be reviewed with focus on mass spectrometric techniques.

Engineered zwitterionic phosphorylcholine monolayers for elucidating multivalent binding kinetics of C-reactive protein

Understanding of the activation dynamics of C-reactive protein (CRP) on plasma membranes is important in the development of zwitterionic biomaterials for their uses in the tissues of inflammation and infection. Previously, the use of a zwitterionic phosphorylcholine group, a biomimetic ligand for CRP in the presence of calcium ions, for binding experiments has revealed that the adsorption dynamics changed by ionic microenvironments. Here we focused on the effect of the ligand density on a surface, a major physicochemical parameter, on the multivalent binding modes. A building block from synthetic origin, a phospholipid analogue with thiol ends, was developed for making a cell membrane-mimicked self-assembled monolayers with tunable lateral ligand density on the molecular basis. The multivalent binding kinetics of CRP, a pentraxin in the original conformation, onto the engineered surface was measured using a surface plasmon resonance technique. The binding experiments revealed that the on-rate and off-rate constants in the first ligand-occupation reaction increased with increasing the ligand density, which resulted in stable values of the dissociation constant. Notably, the binding affinity in the second ligand-occupation reaction showed the optimal value as a function of the ligand density. Moreover, the binding experiments using a monomeric CRP-specific DNA aptamer revealed that pentameric CRP underwent structural transition into the monomers following the adsorption onto the surfaces via multivalent contacts in a pH-dependent manner. The bioengineering-based approach reveals for the first time how the multiple binding reaction is altered by the ligand arrangement at the molecular resolution and how CRP is activated by the conformational transition induced by the multiplex bindings.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

C-reactive protein (CRP), a major acute-phase pentraxin, binds to plasma membranes through the multivalent contacts with zwitterionic phosphorylcholine groups. However, details in the molecular dynamics is unknown due to a lack of proper sensing platform. The paper describe the synthesis of thiol-functionalized phosphorylcholine for the development of a robust cell membrane-mimetic surface on a surface plasmon resonance sensor at desired lateral ligand densities. The engineered approach on molecular basis enables a rigorous arrangement of the ligand on the surface, whose tunability and robustness are not achieved using conventional supported lipid layers. The effect of the ligand density on the multivalent binding kinetics provides the understanding of how the multivalent contacts induce conformational transitions of CRP and responses to inflammation.

Metabolomics of the Antipyretic Effects of Bubali Cornu (Water Buffalo Horn) in Rats

Bubali Cornu (water buffalo horn, WBH) has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an effective treatment for heat. In the present study, we have carried out a metabolomics profiling study on plasma and urine samples to explore potential biomarkers and determine how WBH exerts its antipyretic effects in yeast-induced pyrexia at a metabolomic level. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), together with multivariate statistical analysis, was used to detect and identify potential biomarkers associated with pyrexia and with WBH treatment. In total, sixteen endogenous metabolites were identified in plasma samples and twenty-one metabolites were detected in urine samples. The biomarkers identified in this study, using metabolic pathway analysis (MetPA), are involved in glycerophospholipid, arachidonic acid, amino acid, sphingolipid, and purine metabolism, all of which are disturbed in rats with pyrexia. As a result, WBH affect arachidonic acid metabolism and oxidative stress in yeast-induced pyrexia rats chiefly. The present study determines the important substances underlying the antipyretic efficacy of WBH at a metabolic level. It might pave the way for further investigations into the mechanisms of action of other animal horn-derived traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs).

Inflammation-associated changes in lipid composition and the organization of the erythrocyte membrane

Background

Reduced erythrocyte survival and deformability may contribute to the so-called anemia of inflammation observed in septic patients. Erythrocyte structure and function are affected by both the membrane lipid composition and the organization. We therefore aimed to determine whether these parameters are affected during systemic inflammation.

Methods

A sensitive matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric method was used to investigate the effect of plasma components of 10 patients with septic shock and of 10 healthy volunteers subjected to experimental endotoxemia on erythrocyte membrane lipid composition.

Results

Incubation of erythrocytes from healthy control donors with plasma from patients with septic shock resulted in membrane phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis into lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). Plasma from volunteers undergoing experimental human endotoxemia did not induce LPC formation. The secretory phospholipase A₂ IIA concentration was enhanced up to 200-fold in plasma of septic patients and plasma from endotoxin-treated subjects, but did not correlate with the ability of these plasmas to generate LPC. Erythrocyte phosphatidylserine exposure increased up to two-fold during experimental endotoxemia.

Conclusions

Erythrocyte membrane lipid remodeling as reflected by LPC formation and/or PS exposure occurs during systemic inflammation in a secretory phospholipase A₂ IIA-independent manner.

General significance

Sepsis-associated inflammation induces a lipid remodeling of the erythrocyte membrane that is likely to affect erythrocyte function and survival, and that is not fully mimicked by experimental endotoxemia.

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Erythrocyte membrane lipid remodeling occurs during systemic inflammation.

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Erythrocyte phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis during sepsis does not rely on SPLA₂ IIA.

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Experimental endotoxemia does not fully mimic the effects of sepsis on erythrocytes.

LC-MS based metabolomics identification of novel biomarkers of tobacco smoke-induced chronic bronchitis

Tobacco smoke (TS) is a major causative agent to lead to chronic bronchitis (CB). However the mechanisms of CB induced by TS are unclear. In this report, rats were exposed to different concentrations of TS and the metabolic features of CB were characterized by using a nontargeted metabolic profiling method based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to detect the altered metabolic patterns in serum from CB rats and investigate the mechanisms of CB. 11 potential biomarkers were identified in serum of rats. Among them, the levels of lysophosphatidylethanolamine (18:1), lysophosphatidic acid (18:1), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (18:0), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (16:0), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (20:4), docosahexaenoic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and 5'-carboxy-γ-tocopherol were higher in TS group compared to control group. Conversely, the levels of 4-imidazolone-5-propionic acid, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and uridine were lower in TS group. The results indicated that the mechanism of CB was related to amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism, particularly lipid metabolism. In addition, lysophosphatidylethanolamines were proved to be important mediators, which could be used as biomarkers to diagnose CB. These results also suggested that metabolomics was suitable for diagnosing CB and elucidating the possible metabolic pathways of TS-induced CB.

Plasma metabolomic profiling to reveal antipyretic mechanism of Shuang-huang-lian injection on yeast-induced pyrexia rats

Shuang-huang-lian injection (SHLI) is a famous Chinese patent medicine, which has been wildly used in clinic for the treatment of acute respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, influenza, etc. The existing randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies suggested that SHLI could afford a certain anti-febrile action. However, seldom does research concern the pharmacological mechanisms of SHLI. In the current study, we explored plasma metabolomic profiling technique and selected potential metabolic markers to reveal the antipyretic mechanism of SHLI on yeast-induced pyrexia rat model using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS coupled with multivariate statistical analysis and pattern recognition techniques. We discovered a significant perturbance of metabolic profile in the plasma of fever rats and obvious reversion in SHLI-administered rats. Eight potential biomarkers, i.e. 1) 3-hydeoxybutyric acid, 2) leucine, 3) 16:0 LPC, 4) allocholic acid, 5) vitamin B2, 6) Cys-Lys-His, 7) 18:2 LPC, and 8) 3-hydroxychola-7, 22-dien-24-oic acid, were screened out by OPLS-DA approach. Five potential perturbed metabolic pathways, i.e. 1) valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis, 2) glycerophospholipid metabolism, 3) ketone bodies synthesis and degradation, 4) bile acid biosynthesis, and 5) riboflavin metabolism, were revealed to relate to the antipyretic mechanisms of SHLI. Overall, we investigated antipyretic mechanisms of SHLI at metabolomic level for the first time, and the obtained results highlights the necessity of adopting metabolomics as a reliable tool for understanding the holism and synergism of Chinese patent drug.

Evaluation of dietary effects on hepatic lipids in high fat and placebo diet fed rats by in vivo MRS and LC-MS techniques

Background & Aims

Dietary saturated fatty acids contribute to the development of fatty liver and have pathogenic link to systemic inflammation. We investigated the effects of dietary fat towards the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by longitudinal in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and in vitro liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Methods

All measurements were performed on rats fed with high fat diet (HFD) and chow diet for twenty four weeks. Longitudinal MRS measurements were performed at the 12^th, 18^th and 24^th weeks. Liver tissues were analyzed by LC-MS, histology and gene transcription studies after terminal in vivo experiments.

Results

Liver fat content of HFD rats for all ages was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to their respective chow diet fed rats. Unsaturation indices estimated from MRS and LC-MS data of chow diet fed rats were significantly higher (P<0.05) than HFD fed rats. The concentration of triglycerides 48∶1, 48∶2, 50∶1, 50∶2, 50∶3, 52∶1, 52∶2, 52∶3, 54∶3 and 54∶2 was significantly higher (P<0.05) in HFD rats. The concentration for some polyunsaturated triglycerides 54∶7, 56∶8, 56∶7, 58∶11, 58∶10, 58∶9, 58∶8 and 60∶10 was significantly higher (P<0.05) in chow diet fed rats compared to HFD rats. Lysophospholipid concentrations including LPC and LPE were higher in HFD rats at 24 weeks indicating the increased risk of diabetes. The expression of CD36, PPARα, SCD1, SREBF1 and UCP2 were significantly upregulated in HFD rats.

Conclusions

We demonstrated the early changes in saturated and unsaturated lipid composition in fatty liver by in vivo MRS and ex vivo LC-MS. The higher LPC concentration in HFD rats indicated a higher risk of developing diabetes. Early metabolic perturbations causing changes in lipid composition can be evaluated by the unsaturation index and correlated to the non alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Novel bioactive glycerol-based lysophospholipids: new data -- new insight into their function

Based on the results of research conducted over last two decades, lysophospholipids (LPLs) were observed to be not only structural components of cellular membranes but also biologically active molecules influencing a broad variety of processes such as carcinogenesis, neurogenesis, immunity, vascular development or regulation of metabolic diseases. With a growing interest in the involvement of extracellular lysophospholipids in both normal physiology and pathology, it has become evident that those small molecules may have therapeutic potential. While lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) have been studied in detail, other LPLs such as lysophosphatidylglycerol (LPG), lysophosphatidylserine (LPS), lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) or even lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) have not been elucidated to such a high degree. Although information concerning the latter LPLs is sparse as compared to LPA and S1P, within the last couple of years much progress has been made. Recently published data suggest that these compounds may regulate fundamental cellular activities by modulating multiple molecular targets, e.g. by binding to specific receptors and/or altering the structure and fluidity of lipid rafts. Therefore, the present review is devoted to novel bioactive glycerol-based lysophospholipids and recent findings concerning their functions and possible signaling pathways regulating physiological and pathological processes.

The protective effect of yi shen juan bi pill in arthritic rats with castration-induced kidney deficiency

Androgens have been linked to the onset, severity, and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the most common pattern in RA is kidney deficiency, which partly corresponds to a low sex hormone state. In this study, TCM kidney deficiency was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats with castration surgery, and a TCM preparation, Yi Shen Juan Bi Pill (YJB), was used to treat collagen induced arthritis (CIA) rats with castration. Metabolomic technique was used to evaluate the pharmacological mechanism in castrated CIA rats treated by YJB. The results showed that castration significantly increased the severity of the arthritis in rats but was ameliorated by YJB. Its pharmacological mechanism was partially associated with lipid metabolites involving free fatty acid (FFA) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). In conclusion, the experimental results demonstrate the protective effect of YJB on the TCM kidney deficiency pattern induced by androgen deficiency in CIA rats and support that YJB should be used for the clinical treatment of RA with TCM kidney deficiency pattern.

Oxidative changes of lipids monitored by MALDI MS

Oxidation processes of lipids are of paramount interest from many viewpoints. For instance, oxidation processes are highly important under in vivo conditions because molecules with regulatory functions are generated by oxidation of lipids or free fatty acids. Additionally, many inflammatory diseases are accompanied by lipid oxidation and, therefore, oxidation products are also useful disease (bio)markers. Thus, there is also considerable interest in methods of (oxidized) lipid analysis. Nowadays, soft ionization mass spectrometric (MS) methods are regularly used to study oxidative lipid modifications due to their high sensitivities and the extreme mass resolution. Although electrospray ionization (ESI) MS is so far most popular, applications of matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI) MS are increasing. This review aims to summarize the so far available data on MALDI analyses of oxidized lipids. In addition to model systems, special attention will be paid to the monitoring of oxidized lipids under in vivo conditions, particularly the oxidation of (human) lipoproteins. It is not the aim of this review to praise MALDI as the "best" method but to provide a critical survey of the advantages and drawbacks of this method.

Comparison of toxic reaction of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside in normal and adjuvant arthritic rats

AIM OF THE STUDY

Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside (GTW), an authorized Chinese patent drug, is used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other immune disease. This study was to determine whether GTW induced different toxic reactions in adjuvant arthritis rats (AA rats) compared to those in normal rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To prepare arthritic rat model, male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were immunized by injecting complete Freund's Adjuvant into right hind footpad. And then, GTW was given to rats intragastrically at dosage of 7 or 105 mg kg(-1)day(-1) from day 15 to day 28 after immunization. Routine clinical parameters and histopathologic changes of liver, kidney and testis were examined. Metabolic profiling in serum of groups was analyzed by LC-MS. A principal component analysis (PCA) and partial-least-squares discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) were carried out combined with mass spectrometry (MS) data set. All the quantitative data were performed by two-way ANOVA analysis following Student's t-test.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with GTW at both doses could diminish the right and left hind paws swelling. There was slight lipoid degeneration in hepatic tissue of normal rats treated by high dose of GTW, but there were not distinctly pathological changes in hepatic tissue of AA rats treated by GTW. Compared normal rats administered with GTW, no statistically significant difference in the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine (CRE), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were observed. However, the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level was significant decreased in AA rats under exposure GTW compared with normal rats in the same conditions (p<0.05), which indicated that GTW could offer a different liver toxic reaction in normal and AA rats. The metabolic analysis showed that a clear separation of PCA and PLS-DA score spot in normal rats, but not separation was seen in AA rats perturbed with low dosage GTW. The result indicated low dosage GTW might arouse a general toxic in normal rats but not in AA rats. The biomarker analysis showed that the level of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) was down-regulated, but the level of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and chenodexycholic acid (CDCA) was up-regulated in AA rats compared with normal rats under exposure GTW. According to pathway analysis of metabolic markers, we conceived that LPC, UDCA and CDCA were the critical intermediates of choline and fatty acid metabolism. And the lipid metabolism was a correlative outcome of GTW induced toxicity in the liver in physiological condition animals. Taken together, GTW could induce different toxic reactions between normal and AA rats, and the lipid metabolism might be part of the mechanism for the hepatic lipidosis or the other liver injury.