Metabolomics of V2O5 nanoparticles and V2O5 nanofibers in human airway epithelial BEAS-2B cells

Redox organization of living systems

Redox organization governs an underlying simplicity in living systems. Critically, redox reactions enable the essential characteristics of life: extraction of energy from the environment, use of energy to support metabolic and structural organization, use of dynamic redox responses to defend against environmental threats, and use of redox mechanisms to direct differentiation of cells and organ systems essential for reproduction. These processes are sustained through a redox context in which electron donor/acceptor couples are poised at substantially different steady-state redox potentials, some with relatively reducing steady states and others with relatively oxidizing steady states. Redox-sensitive thiols of the redox proteome, as well as low molecular weight redox-active molecules, are maintained individually by the kinetics of oxidation-reduction within this redox system. Recent research has revealed opposing network interactions of the metallome, redox proteome, metabolome and transcriptome, which appear to be an evolved redox response structure to maintain stability of an organism in the presence of variable oxidative environments. Considerable opportunity exists to improve human health through detailed understanding of these redox networks so that targeted interventions can be developed to support new avenues for redox medicine.

Metabolic alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction in human airway BEAS-2B cells exposed to vanadium pentoxide

Vanadium pentoxide (V+5) is a hazardous material that has drawn considerable attention due to its wide use in industrial sectors and increased release into environment from human activities. It poses potential adverse effects on animals and human health, with pronounced impact on lung physiology and functions. In this study, we investigated the metabolic response of human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells to low-level V+5 exposure (0.01, 0.1, and 1 ppm) using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Exposure to V+5 caused extensive changes to cellular metabolism in BEAS-2B cells, including TCA cycle, glycolysis, fatty acids, amino acids, amino sugars, nucleotide sugar, sialic acid, vitamin D3, and drug metabolism, without causing cell death. Altered mitochondrial structure and function were observed with as low as 0.01 ppm (0.2 μM) V+5 exposure. In addition, decreased level of E-cadherin, the prototypical epithelial marker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), was observed following V+5 treatment, supporting potential toxicity of V+5 at low levels. Taken together, the present study shows that V+5 has adverse effects on mitochondria and the metabolome which may result in EMT activation in the absence of cell death. Furthermore, results suggest that high-resolution metabolomics could serve as a powerful tool to investigate metal toxicity at levels which do not cause cell death.

Real-Time Exposure to 3D-Printing Emissions Elicits Metabolic and Pro-Inflammatory Responses in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

Three-dimensional (3D) printer usage in household and school settings has raised health concerns regarding chemical and particle emission exposures during operation. Although the composition of 3D printer emissions varies depending on printer settings and materials, little is known about the impact that emissions from different filament types may have on respiratory health and underlying cellular mechanisms. In this study, we used an in vitro exposure chamber system to deliver emissions from two popular 3D-printing filament types, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA), directly to human small airway epithelial cells (SAEC) cultured in an air-liquid interface during 3D printer operation. Using a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and an optical particle sizer (OPS), we monitored 3D printer particulate matter (PM) emissions in terms of their particle size distribution, concentrations, and calculated deposited doses. Elemental composition of ABS and PLA emissions was assessed using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Finally, we compared the effects of emission exposure on cell viability, inflammation, and metabolism in SAEC. Our results reveal that, although ABS filaments emitted a higher total concentration of particles and PLA filaments emitted a higher concentration of smaller particles, SAEC were exposed to similar deposited doses of particles for each filament type. Conversely, ABS and PLA emissions had distinct elemental compositions, which were likely responsible for differential effects on SAEC viability, oxidative stress, release of inflammatory mediators, and changes in cellular metabolism. Specifically, while ABS- and PLA-emitted particles both reduced cellular viability and total glutathione levels in SAEC, ABS emissions had a significantly greater effect on glutathione relative to PLA emissions. Additionally, pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, MMP-9, and RANTES were significantly increased due to ABS emissions exposure. While IL-6 and IL-8 were stimulated in both exposure scenarios, VEGF was exclusively increased due to PLA emissions exposures. Notably, ABS emissions induced metabolic perturbation on amino acids and energy metabolism, as well as redox-regulated pathways including arginine, methionine, cysteine, and vitamin B3 metabolism, whereas PLA emissions exposures caused fatty acid and carnitine dysregulation. Taken together, these results advance our mechanistic understanding of 3D-printer-emissions-induced respiratory toxicity and highlight the role that filament emission properties may play in mediating different respiratory outcomes.

The Tandem of Liquid Chromatography and Network Pharmacology for the Chemical Profiling of Pule'an Tablets and the Prediction of Mechanism of Action in Treating Prostatitis

Prostatitis, a prevalent urinary tract disorder in males, has a complex etiology that leads to severe clinical discomfort. Pule'an Tablets, a classic single-component formulation primarily based on rapeseed pollen, have been clinically proven to have a beneficial therapeutic effect on both prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, there is currently a lack of research on the chemical composition and mechanisms of action of Pule'an Tablets in treating prostatitis. In this study, using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), a total of 53 compounds in Pule'an Tablets were identified, including flavonoids, phenylpropionamides, lipids, glucosinolates, and nucleic acids. Subsequently, through a network pharmacology analysis, potential target genes and their mechanisms of action were predicted accordingly. The results suggested that genes such as LPAR5, LPAR6, LPAR4, LPAR3, LPAR2, LPAR1, F2, ENPP2, MMP9, and TNF, along with pathways like prostate cancer, endocrine resistance, bladder cancer, and the IL-17 signaling pathway, may represent potential pathways involved in the therapeutic effects of Pule'an Tablets. This study represents the first systematic investigation into the chemical composition of Pule'an Tablets, shedding light on the potential mechanisms underlying their efficacy in treating prostatitis. These findings could serve as a valuable reference for future pharmacological research on Pule'an Tablets.

Metabolomics-directed nanotechnology in viral diseases management: COVID-19 a case study

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently regarded as the twenty-first century's plague accounting for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Besides its reported symptoms affecting the respiratory tract, it was found to alter several metabolic pathways inside the body. Nanoparticles proved to combat viral infections including COVID-19 to demonstrate great success in developing vaccines based on mRNA technology. However, various types of nanoparticles can affect the host metabolome. Considering the increasing proportion of nano-based vaccines, this review compiles and analyses how COVID-19 and nanoparticles affect lipids, amino acids, and carbohydrates metabolism. A search was conducted on PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science for available information on the interrelationship between metabolomics and immunity in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the effect of nanoparticles on metabolite levels. It was clear that SARS-CoV-2 disrupted several pathways to ensure a sufficient supply of its building blocks to facilitate its replication. Such information can help in developing treatment strategies against viral infections and COVID-19 based on interventions that overcome these metabolic changes. Furthermore, it showed that even drug-free nanoparticles can exert an influence on biological systems as evidenced by metabolomics.