Transcriptomic profiles reveal differences in zinc metabolism, inflammation, and tight junction proteins in duodenum from cholesterol gallstone subjects

Evaluation of homocysteine, vitamin, and trace element levels in women with gallstones

OBJECTIVE

It was aimed to examine the changes in homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin B12, which metabolize homocysteine from the body, and trace elements (zinc, copper, selenium, nickel) that affect the structure of tissues and epithelium in female patients with gallstone disease. Moreover, it was aimed to investigate the contribution of these selected parameters to the etiology of the disease and their usability in treatment according to the findings obtained.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty patients, including 40 female patients (Group I) and 40 completely healthy female individuals (Group II) were included in this study. Serum homocysteine, vitamin B12, folate, zinc, copper, selenium, and nickel levels were evaluated. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used in the analysis of vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels, and the ICP-MS method was used in the analysis of trace element levels.

RESULTS

Homocysteine levels in Group I were statistically significantly higher than in Group II. In terms of vitamin B12, zinc, and selenium, Group I levels were found to be statistically significantly lower than group II. There was no statistically significant difference between Group I levels and Group II in terms of copper, nickel, and folate.

CONCLUSION

It was suggested that homocysteine, vitamin B12, zinc, and selenium levels should be determined in patients with gallstone disease and that vitamin B12, which is especially important in the excretion of homocysteine from the body, and zinc and selenium, which prevent the free radical formation and protect from its effects, should be added to the diets of these patients.

Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of polyphenols in adipose tissue: role of gut microbiota, intestinal barrier integrity and zinc homeostasis

Obesity is associated with an imbalance of micro-and macro-nutrients, gut dysbiosis, and a "leaky" gut phenomenon. Polyphenols, such as curcumin, resveratrol, and anthocyanins may alleviate the systemic effects of obesity, potentially by improving gut microbiota, intestinal barrier integrity (IBI), and zinc homeostasis. The essential micronutrient zinc plays a crucial role in the regulation of enzymatic processes, including inflammation, maintenance of the microbial ecology, and intestinal barrier integrity. In this review, we focus on IBI- which prevents intestinal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) leakage - as a critical player in polyphenol-mediated protective effects against obesity-associated white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation. This occurs through mechanisms that block the movement of the bacterial endotoxin LPS across the gut barrier. Available research suggests that polyphenols reduce WAT and systemic inflammation via crosstalk with inflammatory NF-κB, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling and zinc homeostasis.

Metallothionein 2 activation by pravastatin reinforces epithelial integrity and ameliorates radiation-induced enteropathy

Background

Radiotherapy or accidental exposure to ionizing radiation causes severe damage of healthy intestinal tissues. Intestinal barrier function is highly sensitive to ionizing radiation, and loss of epithelial integrity results in mucosal inflammation, bacterial translocation, and endotoxemia. Few studies have of epithelial integrity as a therapeutic target to treat radiation toxicity. Here, we examined the effects of pravastatin (PS) and the molecular mechanisms underlying epithelial integrity on radiation-induced enteropathy.

Methods

The radio-mitigative effects of PS were evaluated in a minipig model by quantifying clinical symptoms, and performing histological and serological analyses and mRNA sequencing in intestinal tissues. To evaluate the role of intercellular junctions on radiation damage, we used tight junction regulator and metallothionein 2 (MT2) as treatments in a mouse model of radiation-induced enteropathy. Caco-2 monolayers were used to examine functional epithelial integrityand intercellular junction expression.

Finding

Using a minipig model of pharmaceutical oral bioavailability, we found that PS mitigated acute radiation-induced enteropathy. PS-treated irradiated minipigs had mild clinical symptoms, lower intestinal inflammation and endotoxin levels, and improved gastrointestinal integrity, compared with control group animals. The results of mRNA sequencing analysis indicated that PS treatment markedly influenced intercellular junctions by inhibiting p38 MAPK signaling in the irradiated intestinal epithelium. The PS-regulated gene MT2 improved the epithelial barrier via enhancement of intercellular junctions in radiation-induced enteropathy.

Interpretation

PS regulated epithelial integrity by modulating MT2 in radiation-damaged epithelial cells. These findings suggested that maintenance of epithelial integrity is a novel therapeutic target for treatment of radiation-induced gastrointestinal damage.

Funding

As stated in the Acknowledgments

Altered intestinal microflora and barrier injury in severe acute pancreatitis can be changed by zinc

To investigate the effect of zinc (Zn) supplementation on intestinal microflora changes and bacterial translocation in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), the rats were divided into the sham surgery (SS), SAP, SS + Zn, and SAP + Zn groups. Saline (0.1 mL/100g) and 5% sodium taurocholate were injected into the pancreaticobiliary duct of the rats in the SS and SAP + Zn groups, respectively. Intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg Zn was performed immediately after injecting saline or 5% sodium taurocholate into the rats in both groups. Serum amylase and Zn levels, plasma endogenous endotoxin, intestinal permeability, and the positive rate of intestinal bacterial translocation were detected, haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was performed, and the pancreatic tissue scores were calculated for each group. In addition, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed to evaluate the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to quantify the gene copy numbers of Escherichia, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus in the cecum. The levels of amylase and plasma endotoxin in the SAP group were significantly higher than those in the SS and SS + Zn groups. Intestinal mucosal permeability and intestinal bacterial translocation in the liver, pancreas, and mesenteric lymph nodes were increased in the SAP group. However, the levels of amylase and plasma endotoxin were decreased as a result of zinc supplementation in the SAP group. The expression of IL-1β and TNF-α was also reduced to a greater degree in the SAP + Zn group than in the SAP group. Moreover, alleviated intestinal mucosal permeability and intestinal bacterial translocation in the liver, pancreas, and mesenteric lymph nodes were found in the SAP + Zn group. The results of real-time quantitative PCR showed that the gene copy number of Escherichia increased with time, and the gene copy numbers of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium decreased over time. Zn supplementation prevented the release of TNF-α and IL-1β, alleviated intestinal permeability and endotoxemia, reduced bacterial translocation, and inhibited changes in pathogenic intestinal flora in rats with SAP.