The Geroprotective Drug Candidate CMS121 Alleviates Diabetes, Liver Inflammation, and Renal Damage in db/db Leptin Receptor Deficient Mice

Fecal Microbiome and Urine Metabolome Profiling of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent metabolic disorder with serious health consequences, necessitating both enhanced diagnostic methodologies and comprehensive elucidation of its pathophysiological mechanisms. We compared fecal microbiome and urine metabolome profiles in type 2 diabetes patients versus healthy controls to evaluate their respective diagnostic potential. Using a cohort of 94 subjects (48 diabetics, 46 controls), this study employed 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing for fecal microbiome analysis and GC-MS for urinary metabolomics. While fecal microbiome alpha diversity showed no significant differences between groups, urinary metabolomics demonstrated distinct structural patterns and higher evenness in type 2 diabetes patients. The study identified several diabetes-associated urinary metabolites, including elevated levels of glucose and inositol, along with decreased levels of 6 urine metabolites including glycolic acid, hippurate, and 2-aminoethanol. In the fecal microbiome, genera such as Escherichia-Shigella showed positive correlation with type 2 diabetes, while Lacticaseibacillus demonstrated negative correlation. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that urinary metabolites exhibited superior diagnostic potential compared to fecal microbiome features, with an area under the curve of 0.90 for the combined metabolite model versus 0.82 for the integrated bacterial taxa model. These findings suggest that urinary metabolomics may offer a more reliable approach for type 2 diabetes diagnosis compared to fecal 16S metabarcoding, while highlighting the potential of multi-marker panels for enhanced diagnostic accuracy.

CMS121: a novel approach to mitigate aging-related obesity and metabolic dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Modulated by differences in genetic and environmental factors, laboratory mice often show progressive weight gain, eventually leading to obesity and metabolic dyshomeostasis. Since the geroneuroprotector CMS121 has a positive effect on energy metabolism in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes, we investigated the potential of CMS121 to counteract the metabolic changes observed during the ageing process of wild type mice.

METHODS

Control or CMS121-containing diets were supplied ad libitum for 6 months, and mice were sacrificed at the age of 7 months. Blood, adipose tissue, and liver were analyzed for glucose, lipids, and protein markers of energy metabolism.

RESULTS

The CMS121 diet induced a 40% decrease in body weight gain and improved both glucose and lipid indexes. Lower levels of hepatic caspase 1, caspase 3, and NOX4 were observed with CMS121 indicating a lower liver inflammatory status. Adipose tissue from CMS121-treated mice showed increased levels of the transcription factors Nrf1 and TFAM, as well as markers of mitochondrial electron transport complexes, levels of GLUT4 and a higher resting metabolic rate. Metabolomic analysis revealed elevated plasma concentrations of short chain acylcarnitines and butyrate metabolites in mice treated with CMS121.

CONCLUSIONS

The diminished de novo lipogenesis, which is associated with increased acetyl-CoA, acylcarnitine, and butyrate metabolite levels, could contribute to safeguarding not only the peripheral system but also the aging brain. By mimicking the effects of ketogenic diets, CMS121 holds promise for metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, since these diets are hard to follow over the long term.

ACACA reduces lipid accumulation through dual regulation of lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function via AMPK- PPARα- CPT1A axis

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multifaceted metabolic disorder, whose global prevalence is rapidly increasing. Acetyl CoA carboxylases 1 (ACACA) is the key enzyme that controls the rate of fatty acid synthesis. Hence, it is crucial to investigate the function of ACACA in regulating lipid metabolism during the progress of NAFLD.

METHODS

Firstly, a fatty liver mouse model was established by high-fat diet at 2nd, 12th, and 20th week, respectively. Then, transcriptome analysis was performed on liver samples to investigate the underlying mechanisms and identify the target gene of the occurrence and development of NAFLD. Afterwards, lipid accumulation cell model was induced by palmitic acid and oleic acid (PA ∶ OA molar ratio = 1∶2). Next, we silenced the target gene ACACA using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or the CMS-121 inhibitor. Subsequently, experiments were performed comprehensively the effects of inhibiting ACACA on mitochondrial function and lipid metabolism, as well as on AMPK- PPARα- CPT1A pathway.

RESULTS

This data indicated that the pathways significantly affected by high-fat diet include lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function. Then, we focus on the target gene ACACA. In addition, the in vitro results suggested that inhibiting of ACACA in vitro reduces intracellular lipid accumulation, specifically the content of TG and TC. Furthermore, ACACA ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction and alleviate oxidative stress, including MMP complete, ATP and ROS production, as well as the expression of mitochondria respiratory chain complex (MRC) and AMPK proteins. Meanwhile, ACACA inhibition enhances lipid metabolism through activation of PPARα/CPT1A, leading to a decrease in intracellular lipid accumulation.

CONCLUSION

Targeting ACACA can reduce lipid accumulation by mediating the AMPK- PPARα- CPT1A pathway, which regulates lipid metabolism and alleviates mitochondrial dysfunction.

CMS121, a Novel Drug Candidate for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Age-Related Dementia

Old age is the major risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, old age-related changes in brain physiology have generally not been taken into consideration in developing drug candidates for the treatment of AD. This is at least partly because the role of these age-related processes in the development and progression of AD are still not well understood. Nevertheless, we and others have described an association between the oxytosis/ferroptosis non-apoptotic regulated cell death pathway and aging. Based on this association, we incorporated protection against this pathway as part of a cell-based phenotypic screening approach to identify novel drug candidates for the treatment of AD. Using this approach, we identified the fisetin derivative CMS121 as a potent neuroprotective molecule that is able to maintain cognitive function in multiple pre-clinical models of AD. Furthermore, we identified a key target of CMS121 as fatty acid synthase, a protein which had not been previously considered in the context of AD. Herein, we provide a comprehensive description of the development of CMS121, its preclinical activities, and the results of the toxicology testing that led to its IND approval.