Synergistic interactions between gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids: Pioneering therapeutic frontiers in chronic disease management

The effect of anthocyanin extract from Lycium ruthenicum Murray on intestinal barrier function in Bamei ternary pigs

The intestinal barrier is a critical defense against external pathogens and plays a central role in immune regulation and nutrient absorption. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in high-altitude environments can exacerbate the damage to the intestinal barrier in Baimei ternary pigs. Anthocyanin extract of Lycium ruthenicum Murray (AEL), has garnered widespread attention due to its rich anthocyanin flavonoid content, which exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties help alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby enhancing gut function in animals. Based on this, the study employed Bamei ternary pigs and supplemented their basic diet with varying concentrations of AEL to investigate its impact on gut barrier function. The results demonstrated that AEL inhibited key factors of the intestinal Toll-like receptor pathway, including Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 6 (TRAF6), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), affecting gene transcription and protein expression levels. This led to a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), an increase in anti-inflammatory IL-10 production, and improved antioxidant capacity by enhancing total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, while decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) production. Additionally, AEL improved intestinal morphology and facilitated the transcription and expression of tight junction proteins, including zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-1 (CLDN-1), and occludin (OCLN). AEL also elevated the transcription levels of mucin 1 (MUC1) and mucin 2 (MUC2), as well as the secretion levels of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), while increased the number of intestinal goblet cells. Furthermore, dietary supplementation with AEL altered the structure of the intestinal microbiota, enhancing the abundance of beneficial bacterial genera such as Verrucomicrobiaceae, Rikenellaceae, Butyricicoccaceae, UCG-005、Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group、norank_f_Ruminococcaceae、Eubacterium_oxidoreducens_group, thereby promoting the production of intestinal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In conclusion, AEL inhibits the Toll-like receptor pathway, reduces the production of inflammatory factors, enhances antioxidant levels, improves intestinal morphology and microbiota structure,, thereby reinforcing intestinal barrier function.

Trained immunity in diabetes: emerging targets for cardiovascular complications

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder primarily characterized by persistent hyperglycemia. Diabetes-induced inflammation significantly compromises cardiovascular health, greatly increasing the risk of atherosclerosis. The increasing prevalence of harmful lifestyle habits and overconsumption has contributed substantially to the global rise in diabetes-related cardiovascular diseases, creating a significant economic and healthcare burden. Although current therapeutic strategies focus on blood glucose control and metabolic regulation, clinical observations show that diabetic patients still face persistent residual risk of AS even after achieving metabolic stability. Recent studies suggest that this phenomenon is linked to diabetes-induced trained immunity. Diabetes can induce trained immunity in bone marrow progenitor cells and myeloid cells, thus promoting the long-term development of AS. This article first introduces the concept and molecular mechanisms of trained immunity, with particular emphasis on metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming, which plays a crucial role in sustaining chronic inflammation during trained immunity. Next, it summarizes the involvement of trained immunity in diabetes and its contribution to AS, outlining the cell types that can be trained in AS. Finally, it discusses the connection between diabetes-induced trained immunity and AS, as well as the potential of targeting trained immunity as an intervention strategy. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of trained immunity and their impact on disease progression may provide innovative strategies to address the persistent clinical challenges in managing diabetes and its complications.

The Impact of Diet on the Colonization of Beneficial Microbes from an Ecological Perspective

With growing recognition of the pivotal role of gut microbiota in human health, probiotics have gained widespread attention for their potential to restore microbial homeostasis. However, a critical challenge persists: limited colonization efficiency among most probiotic strains compromises their therapeutic efficacy. This overview synthesizes ecological principles with cutting-edge microbiome research to elucidate the dynamic interplay between dietary components and probiotic colonization within the intestinal niche. This overview systematically analyzes: (1) stage-specific colonization mechanisms spanning microbial introduction, establishment, and proliferation; (2) nutrient-driven modulation of gut microbiota composition and function; and (3) the dual role of common dietary patterns as both facilitators and disruptors of probiotic persistence. Notably, this overview identifies key dietary strategies, including precision delivery of prebiotic fibers and polyphenol-microbiota crosstalk, that enhance niche adaptation through pH optimization, adhesion potentiation, and competitive exclusion of pathogens. Furthermore, this overview critically evaluates current limitations in probiotic research, particularly strain-specific variability and methodological constraints in simulating host-microbe-diet tripartite interactions. To bridge these gaps, this overview proposes an interdisciplinary framework integrating omics-driven strain selection, engineered delivery systems, and personalized nutrition models. Collectively, this work advances a mechanistic understanding of diet-microbiota interactions while providing actionable insights for developing targeted probiotic therapies and evidence-based dietary interventions to optimize gut ecosystem resilience.

Exploring Underused Starchy Food Crops to Extend Their Consumption: Mexico as Case of Study

Mexico has one of the world's largest biodiversity, associated with the regions (forest, jungle, mountain, tropical) and the climate. The geography of Mexico induces favorable conditions for the growth of food crops. This article aims to show the characteristics of some starchy food crops consumed in diverse regions of México, which have functional and nutritional characteristics that can be exploited to extend their consumption in the country. The reported studies of those Mexican starchy food crops indicate the nutritional potential to directly consume those foods or use them as raw material to prepare new foods with functional properties due to those present bioactive compounds and dietary fiber. This review suggests diversification of those underutilized traditional Mexican starchy food crops with an impact on the agricultural producers.

Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases in Human Health

In 2022, we served as guest editors of the Nutrients Special Issue entitled "Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases in Human Health". [...].

Nutrient stress triggers sugar-mediated carotenoid production in algal-bacterial interactions

This study examined the impact of co-culturing Chlorella saccharophila (UTEX247) with Exiguobacterium sp. strain AMK1 on carotenoid production under nitrate-depleted conditions and 3% CO₂ supplementation. The co-culture significantly enhanced the productivity of lutein (238.31 µg.L⁻¹d⁻¹), zeaxanthin (220.72 µg.L⁻¹d⁻¹), violaxanthin (185.42 µg.L⁻¹d⁻¹), and antheraxanthin (84.07 µg.L⁻¹d⁻¹). Compared to nitrate-repleted mono-cultures, these carotenoids increased by 3.54-fold, 4.81-fold, 12.28-fold, and 9.34-fold, respectively. The violaxanthin cycle, activated by CO₂ supplementation, resulted in higher zeaxanthin production, verified through HPLC analysis. Metabolic profiling highlighted a notable rise in sucrose, an algal-specific metabolite, in the co-culture, reflecting enhanced carbon metabolism and carotenoid synthesis. Conversely, trehalose levels were significantly higher in the bacterial mono-culture (297.77 µg.mL⁻¹) than in the co-culture (88.84 µg.mL⁻¹), showing a 1.68-fold reduction as confirmed by GC-MS/MS. This suggests trehalose as a stress marker, with its reduction indicating mutualistic interactions between algal and bacterial. Overall, the co-culture strategy emerges as a promising approach to activate unexpressed pathways, generate novel metabolites, and enhance yields of valuable carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin. This aligns with the principles of a circular bioeconomy, leveraging bacterial biofertilizers, valorizing CO₂, and minimizing chemical dependency, thus offering potential for biorefinery applications.