Integration of transcriptomics and metabonomics revealed the protective effects of hemp seed oil against methionine-choline-deficient diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice

Mechanisms of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma in Treating Osteoporosis in Rats: An Integrated Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (AR) in a rat osteoporosis (OP) model and elucidate its underlying regulatory network mechanisms mediating OP amelioration.

METHODS

Transcriptome profiling through RNA sequencing was utilized to identify differentially expressed genes in rat femoral tissues. Serum metabolic alterations were quantitatively assessed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A combined approach incorporating both transcriptomic and metabolomic datasets enabled the establishment of molecular interaction networks between metabolites and genes. Validation of crucial molecular targets was achieved via quantitative PCR and western-blotting technique, providing mechanistic insights into AR's anti-osteoporotic activity.

RESULTS

AR treatment markedly alleviated ovariectomy (OVX)-induced femoral impairment, effectively suppressing bone resorption while enhancing bone formation, ultimately ameliorating OP progression. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling revealed that AR intervention significantly altered the expression profiles of 698 genes and 28 endogenous metabolites in OP rats. Through constructing interaction networks of differentially expressed genes and metabolites, we identified seven pivotal metabolites and six hub genes, which were found to modulate amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and other bone metabolism-related pathways, forming a multi-omics regulatory axis underlying AR's therapeutic effects.

CONCLUSION

AR exerted therapeutic effects on OP in rat models through positive regulation of femoral transcriptional profiles and endogenous metabolites.

Picrosides-rich fraction from Picrorhiza kurroa attenuates steatohepatitis in zebrafish and mice by modulating lipid metabolism and inflammation

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become a serious public health concern with high global prevalence. The lack of safe and efficient treatment for the condition demands exploring new therapeutic solutions.

PURPOSE

In the present study, we investigated the protective efficacy of picrosides-rich fraction (PF) from Picrorhiza kurroa against steatohepatitis and revealed the molecular mechanism of action.

METHODS

PF was prepared and characterized using UPLC analysis. Initially, the efficacy of PF was studied on the zebrafish model of NASH. Further, a Methionine and Choline-Deficient (MCD) diet-induced NASH model in mice was employed to evaluate the hepatoprotective efficacy of PF by utilizing biochemical, histopathological and molecular studies.

RESULTS

The UPLC analysis revealed the presence of 29.11% and 29.86% picroside I and II in the PF, respectively. In the zebrafish model of NASH, PF treatment reduced the hepatic lipid accumulation and modulated the expressions of lipogenic, inflammatory, oxidative, and cellular stress genes. Further, in MCD diet-induced NASH in mice, PF treatment showed a significant improvement in body weights and serum liver injury markers. Reduced degenerative changes and fibrous tissue was observed in the PF-treated groups. The downregulated expression of Srebp1c, Cd36, Fas, Chrebp, Pparγ, and Hnf4α showed anti-lipogenic potential of PF treatment. NASH development followed oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation in the liver of mice. However, PF treatment encouraged mitochondrial biogenesis by upregulating Pgc1α, Tfam, and Nrf2 expressions. The elevated levels of NFκB, TNFα, IL6, TGFβ, and αSMA were also restored by PF, advocating its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrogenic effect.

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed that PF ameliorate the progression of NASH by increasing mitochondrial biogenesis and decreasing lipogenesis, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis.

In vivo mechanism of the interaction between trimethylamine lyase expression and glycolytic pathways

Recent studies confirmed that host-gut microbiota interactions modulate disease-linked metabolite TMA production via TMA lyase. However, microbial enzyme production mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the impact of dietary and intervention factors on gut microbiota, microbial gene expression, and the interplay between TMA lyase and glycolytic pathways in mice. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, metagenomics, and metabolomics, the gut microbiota composition and microbial functional gene expression profiles related to TMA lyase and glycolytic enzymes were determined. The results revealed that distinct diets and intervention factors altered gut microbiota, gene expression, and metabolites linked to glycine metabolism and glycolysis. Notably, an arabinoxylan-rich diet suppressed genes linked to choline, glycine, glycolysis, and TMA lyase, favoring glycine utilization via pyruvate pathways. Glycolytic inhibitors amplified these effects, mainly inhibiting pyruvate kinase. Our findings underscored the crosstalk between TMA lyase and glycolytic pathways, regulating glycine levels, and suggested avenues for targeted interventions and personalized diets to curb choline TMA lyase production.

Analysis of the liver-gut axis including metabolomics and intestinal flora to determine the protective effects of kiwifruit seed oil on CCl4-induced acute liver injury

The hepatoprotective effects of kiwifruit seed oil (KSO) were evaluated on acute liver injury (ALI) induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in vivo. Network pharmacology was used to predict active compounds and targets. Metabolomics and gut microbiota analyses were used to discover the activity mechanism of KSO. KSO improved the liver histological structure, significantly reduced serum proinflammatory cytokine levels, and increased liver antioxidant capacity. The metabolomics analysis showed that KSO may have hepatoprotective effects by controlling metabolites through its participation in signaling pathways like tryptophan metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, galactose metabolism, and bile secretion. The gut microbiota analysis demonstrated that KSO improved the composition and quantity of the gut flora. Network pharmacological investigations demonstrated that KSO operated by altering Ptgs2, Nos2, Ppara, Pparg and Serpine1 mRNA levels. All evidence shows that KSO has a hepatoprotective effect, and the mechanism is connected to the regulation of metabolic disorders and intestinal flora.

The Therapeutic Potential of Hemp Seed Oil in D-Galactose-Induced Aging Rat Model Was Determined through the Combined Assessment of 1H NMR Metabolomics and 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Aging is an irreversible process of natural degradation of bodily function. The increase in the aging population, as well as the rise in the incidence of aging-related diseases, poses one of the most pressing global challenges. Hemp seed oil, extracted from the seeds of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), possesses significant nutritional and biological properties attributed to its unique composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids and various antioxidant compounds. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the anti-aging mechanism of hemp seed oil. This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects and potential mechanisms of hemp seed oil in a D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging rat model through a combined analysis of metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics, significant alterations in serum and urine metabolic phenotypes were observed between the D-gal-induced aging rat model and the healthy control group. Eight and thirteen differentially expressed metabolites related to aging were identified in serum and urine, respectively. Treatment with hemp seed oil significantly restored four and ten potential biomarkers in serum and urine, respectively. The proposed pathways primarily included energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, one-carbon metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis revealed significant changes in the gut microbiota of aged rats. Compared to the model group, the hemp seed oil group exhibited significant alterations in the abundance of 21 bacterial taxa at the genus level. The results indicated that hemp seed oil suppressed the prevalence of pathogenic bacterial genera such as Streptococcus, Rothia, and Parabacteroides. Additionally, it facilitated the proliferation of the genera Lachnospirace_NK4B4_group and Lachnospirace_UCG_001, while also enhancing the relative abundance of the genus Butyricoccus; a producer of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These findings provided new insights into the pathogenesis of aging and further supported the potential utility of hemp seed oil as an anti-aging therapeutic agent.

Investigation of metabolite alterations in the kidneys of methionine-choline-deficient mouse by mass spectrometry imaging

Methionine and choline both are essential nutrients which are needed for methyl group metabolism. A methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet leads to pathological changes in the kidney. The mechanism of the MCD diet is complex, and fundamental research is still required to provide a better understanding of the driving forces behind it. We evaluated the regional effects of the MCD diet on the metabolites of mouse kidney tissue using desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging technology. A total of 20, 17, and 13 metabolites were significantly changed in the cortex, outer medulla, and inner medulla, respectively, of the mouse kidney tissue after the administration of the MCD diet. Among the discriminating metabolites, only three metabolites (guanidoacetic acid, serine, and nicotinamide riboside) were significantly increased, and all the other metabolites showed a significant decrease. The results showed that there were significant region-specific changes in the serine metabolism, carnitine metabolism, choline metabolism, and arginine metabolism. This study presents unique regional metabolic data, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular characteristics of the MCD diet in the kidney.

Oilomics: An important branch of foodomics dealing with oil science and technology

Oil is one of three nutritious elements. The application of omics techniques in the field of oil science and technology is attracted increasing attention. Oilomics, which emerged as an important branch of foodomics, has been widely used in various aspects of oil science and technology. However, there are currently no articles systematically reviewing the application of oilomics. This paper aims to provide a critical overview of the advantages and value of oilomics technology compared to traditional techniques in various aspects of oil science and technology, including oil nutrition, oil processing, oil quality, safety, and traceability. Moreover, this article intends to review major issues in oilomics and give a comprehensive, critical overview of the current state of the art, future challenges and trends in oilomics, with a view to promoting the optimal application and development of oilomics technology in oil science and technology.