Metabolomics analysis reveals an effect of homocysteine on arachidonic acid and linoleic acid metabolism pathway

Pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila Ameliorates Preeclampsia in Mice by Enhancing Gut Barrier Integrity, Improving Endothelial Function, and Modulating Gut Metabolic Dysregulation

Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious complication of pregnancy linked to endothelial dysfunction and an imbalance in the gut microbiota. While Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) has shown promise in alleviating PE symptoms, the use of live bacteria raises safety concerns. This study explored the potential of pasteurized A. muciniphila (pAKK) as a safer alternative for treating PE, focusing on its effects on endothelial function and metabolic regulation. A PE mouse model was induced via the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME, followed by treatment with either pAKK or live AKK. Fecal metabolomic profiling was performed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and in vivo and in vitro experiments were used to assess the effects of pAKK on endothelial function and metabolic pathways. pAKK exhibited therapeutic effects comparable to those of live AKK in improving L-NAME-induced PE-like phenotypes in mice, including enhanced gut barrier function and reduced endotoxemia. pAKK also promoted placental angiogenesis by restoring endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production. The in vitro experiments further confirmed that pAKK alleviated L-NAME-induced NO reduction and endothelial dysfunction in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Metabolomic analysis revealed that both pAKK and live AKK reversed metabolic disturbances in PE by modulating key metabolites and pathways related to unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, folate, and linoleic acid metabolism. As a postbiotic, pAKK may support existing treatments for preeclampsia by improving gut barrier function, restoring endothelial function, and regulating metabolic dysregulation, offering a safer alternative to live bacteria. These findings highlight the potential clinical value of pAKK as an adjunctive therapy in managing PE.

Discovery of 3-Formyl-N-(un)Substituted Benzylindole Pyrimidines as an Acaricidal Agent and Their Mechanism of Action

To discover the pronounced acaricide candidate, herein, a series of 3-formyl-N-(un)substituted benzylindole pyrimidines were prepared by structural modification of indoles at the N-1 and C-3 positions via the successive Vilsmeier-Haack-Arnold (VHA), aldol condensation, and cyclization reactions. The steric structures of nine compounds were undoubtedly confirmed by X-ray single-crystallography. Against Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval, compounds V-15, V-31, V-34, V-42, V-44, and V-60 exhibited promising acaricidal activity with LC50 values of 0.299-0.481 mg/mL. In particular, compound V-34 displayed 4.2 times the acaricidal activity of its precursor 6-methylindole. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging revealed that the construction of the cuticle layer of V-34-treated T. cinnabarinus was seriously destroyed. Furthermore, RNA-Seq analysis indicated that compound V-34 could regulate the homeostasis metabolism of T. cinnabarinus through arachidonic acid and linoleic acid metabolism and lysosome pathways. These results suggested that compound V-34 can be further studied as a lead acaricidal agent.

Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Inhibit the Contractile Responses of the Guinea Pig Lower Gastrointestinal Tract

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and are abundant in fish oil. These n-3 PUFAs have been reported to improve the lower gastrointestinal (LGI) disorders such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease through their anti-inflammatory effects. However, there are few studies on the effect of n-3 PUFAs on motility of the LGI tract, such as the ileum and colon, the parts frequently affected by these inflammatory disorders. To elucidate the effects of DHA and EPA on the LGI tract motility, we performed comparative evaluation of their effects and linoleic acid (LA), an n-6 PUFA, on contractions in the ileal and colonic longitudinal smooth muscles (LSMs) isolated from guinea pigs. In the ileal and colonic LSMs, DHA and EPA (3 × 10^-5 M each) significantly inhibited contractions induced by acetylcholine (ACh), histamine, and prostaglandin (PG) F_2α (vs. control), and these effects are stronger than that of LA (3 × 10^-5 M). In the colonic LSMs, DHA and EPA also significantly inhibited contractions induced by PGD₂ (vs. control). In addition, DHA and EPA significantly inhibited CaCl₂-induced ileal and colonic LSM contractions in Ca²⁺-free 80 mM-KCl solution (vs. control). Any ileal and colonic LSM contractions induced by ACh, histamine, PGF_2α, and CaCl₂ were completely suppressed by verapamil (10^-5 M), a voltage-gated/dependent Ca²⁺ channel (VGCC/VDCC) inhibitor. These findings suggest that DHA and EPA could improve the abnormal contractile functions of the LGI tract associated with inflammatory diseases, partly through inhibition of VGCC/VDCC-dependent ileal and colonic LSM contractions.

Hyperhomocysteinemia-related serum metabolome alterations not normalized by short-term folic acid treatment

INTRODUCTION

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCys) is an independent risk factor for various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's, and cancers. Folate deficiency is one of the significant reasons for HHCys. However, it is not known whether folate deficiency with HHCys is associated with any serum metabolites.

OBJECTIVES

Our objective was to identify the metabolic alterations in people having folate deficiency with HHCys and check whether a short-term folic acid therapy could reverse those metabolic changes.

METHODS

The study enrolled 34 participants aged between 18 and 40 years having folate deficiency (< 4.6 ng/mL) with HHCys (> 15 μmol/L) and 21 normal healthy individuals. A short-term intervention of oral folic acid (5 mg/day) was done in the HHCys group for 30 days. Untargeted metabolomics analysis of serum was performed in all study subjects before and after the folic acid treatment. Different univariate methods and the multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were employed to determine an association between homocysteine level and metabolite profile.

RESULTS

Metabolomics analysis data showed that many metabolites involved in the biochemical pathways of lipid metabolisms such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, glycerolipids, and phospholipids were downregulated in the HHCys group. Short-term oral folic acid therapy significantly reduced their serum homocysteine level. However, the metabolic pathway alterations observed in folate-deficient HHCys-condition were unaltered even after the folic acid treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed that people who have a folic acid deficiency with HHCys have an altered metabolite profile related to lipid metabolism, which cannot be reversed by short-term folic acid therapy.

Metabolic Groups Related to Blood Vitamin Levels and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Brazilian Children and Adolescents

Certain B-vitamins and vitamin A may be involved in inflammatory pathways associated with homocysteine and omega-3 fatty acids. The aims of this study were (i) to determine whether different metabolic profiles of B-vitamins and vitamin A in Brazilian children and adolescents were positively or negatively related to homocysteine and omega-3 fatty acids using k-means clustering analysis, (ii) compare nutrient intakes and metabolites between the different metabolic profiles, (iii) evaluate if the statistically significant metabolites found between the metabolic groups, can predict the variation of leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) levels, a biomarker of low-grade inflammation, in the total studied population. This cross-sectional study included 124 children and adolescents, aged 9-13 y old. Dietary intake was assessed by the food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour recall. Biomarkers for vitamins B2, B6, B12, folate and vitamin A were measured in plasma. Omega-3 fatty acids and homocysteine were measured in red blood cells (RBC). Two different metabolic profiles were found. Thirty of these individuals had overall average higher riboflavin, pyridoxal, and vitamin B12 plasma levels (metabolic group 1) compared to 94 individuals (group 2). Group 2 had lower dietary intake of vitamin B2, vitamin A, and vitamin B12 and higher RBC levels of homocysteine. EPA and DHA erythrocyte levels were not different between metabolic groups. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that blood cobalamin, riboflavin, pyridoxal and homocysteine combined, explained 9.0% of LTA4H levels variation in the total studied population. The metabolic group that had low plasma levels of riboflavin, pyridoxal, and cobalamin also had a lower dietary intake of B-vitamin and higher RBC homocysteine. The combined levels of the riboflavin, pyridoxal, cobalamin and homocysteine biomarkers can predict the variation of LTA4H in the total population studied, but it is not clear how this regulation occurs.

Randomized Trial on the Clinical Utility of a Novel Biomarker Panel to Identify Treatable Determinants of Chronic Pain

Millions suffer daily from chronic pain diagnosed anatomically and treated with opioids. Research shows that underlying nutritional, metabolic and oxidative stressors, which drive the development or worsening of chronic pain, are not diagnosed despite the fact that treatment of these primary pain pathways relieves pain and increases function. One of the main reasons for this gap in care is the lack of a simple diagnostic assay to help clinicians make these diagnoses. We examined the clinical utility of a urine-based pain biomarker panel. Primary care physicians were randomized into the test group and compared to controls. We measured their ability to make the diagnosis and treat a total of nine standardized patients, with common but challenging cases of chronic pain, over two rounds of data collection in a pre–post design using a fixed-effects model. Intervention doctors received educational materials on a novel pain biomarker panel after the baseline round and had access to biomarker test results. Provider responses were measured against evidence-based criteria. The two study arms at baseline provided similar, poor care for three different primary pain pathways: nutritional deficiencies (5.0% control versus 9.2% intervention treated, p = 0.208), metabolic abnormalities (1.0% control versus 0% for intervention treated, p = 0.314), and oxidative stress (1.2% control versus 0% intervention treated, p = 0.152). After the introduction of the Foundation Pain Index (FPI) biomarker test, physicians in the intervention group were 41.5% more likely to make the diagnosis of a micronutrient deficiency, 29.4% more likely to identify a treatable metabolic abnormality and 26.1% more likely to identify an oxidative stressor. These diagnostic and treatment improvements were seen across all three case types, ranging from a relative +54% (p = 0.004) for chronic neuropathic pain to +35% (p = 0.007) in chronic pain from other causes to +38% (p = 0.002) in chronic pain with associated mental health issues. Intervention doctors were also 75.1% more likely to provide a non-opioid treatment to patients on chronic opioids (O.R. 1.8, 95% C.I. 0.8–3.7), 62% less likely to order unnecessary imaging for their patients with low back pain (O.R. 0.38, 95% C.I. 0.15–0.97) and 66% less likely to order an unnecessary pain referral (O.R. 0.34, 95% C.I. 0.13–0.90). This experimental study showed significant clinical utility of a validated pain biomarker panel that determines nutritional deficiencies, metabolic abnormalities and oxidative stressors that drive underlying treatable causes of pain. When integrated into routine primary care practice, this testing approach could considerably improve diagnostic accuracy and provide more targeted, non-opioid treatments for patients suffering from chronic pain.

Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations are Associated with Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Metabolites in Young Children: Results from the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial

Vitamin D deficiency contributes to a multitude of health conditions, but its biological mechanisms are not adequately understood. Untargeted metabolomics offers the opportunity to comprehensively examine the metabolic profile associated with variations in vitamin D concentrations. The objective of the current analysis was to identify metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations. The current study included children of pregnant women in the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial, who had 25(OH)D and global metabolomics data at age 1 and 3 years. We assessed the cross-sectional associations between individual metabolites and 25(OH)D using linear regression adjusting for confounding factors. Twelve metabolites were significantly associated with plasma 25(OH)D concentrations at both age 1 and 3 after correction for multiple comparisons, including three members of the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism pathway (linoleate, arachidonate, and docosapentaenoate) inversely associated with 25(OH)D. These PUFAs along with four other significant metabolites were replicated in the independent Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) cohort. Both vitamin D and n-6 PUFAs are involved in inflammatory processes, and evidence from cell and animal studies demonstrate a plausible biological mechanism where the active form of 25(OH)D may influence n-6 PUFA metabolism. These relationships warrant further investigation in other populations.

Effect of Moxibustion on Hyperhomocysteinemia and Oxidative Stress Induced by High-Methionine Diet

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of moxibustion on the animal model of oxidative stress and cardiovascular injury induced by high-methionine diet (2% methionine and 3.5% fat on the basis of ordinary maintenance feed) during 12 weeks.

Methods

53 mice were divided into four groups: mice in the Control group (n = 8), mice in the Met group (n = 8), mice in the Met group (n = 8), mice in the Met group (n = 8), mice in the Met group (

Results

Compared with the Met group, our results indicated that through moxibustion intervention, the content of serum Hcy and its intermediate metabolite SAH can be reduced to a certain extent, and SOD, HO-1, and ox-LDL can be increased.

Conclusion

This study showed moxibustion's ability to enhance the body's antioxidation and protect vascular endothelial function, thus playing an early role in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Vascular Protection of TPE-CA on Hyperhomocysteinemia-induced Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction through AA Metabolism Modulated CYPs Pathway

A high concentration of homocysteine (Hcy) in plasma induces vascular endothelial dysfunction, and it may ultimately accelerate the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Although several B vitamins have been clinically applied for hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) treatment, the outcomes are not satisfied due to their limited therapeutic mechanism. Hence, in order to improve the curative effect, development of new effective therapeutic strategies should be put on the agenda. Total phenolic extracts of Citrus aurantium L. (TPE-CA) is a naturally obtained phenolic mixture, mainly containing flavones, flavanones and their glycosyl derivatives, flavonols, polymethoxyflavones and coumarins. Previous reports indicated that bioactive phenolic compounds possessed potent vascular protective effects and regarded as a protective agent against CVDs. Intriguingly, the exact mechanism underlying the suppressed effects of TPE-CA on HHcy could assist in revealing their therapy on CVDs. Here, the multi-targeted synergistic mechanism of TPE-CA on HHcy-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction was uncovered in a deduced manner. TPE-CA treatment exhibited an obvious superiority than that of B vitamins treatment. Network pharmacology was employed to identify the interrelationships among compounds, potential targets and putative pathways. Further experimental validation suggested that the treatment of TPE-CA for HHcy could not only effectively reduce the Hcy level in plasma through up-regulating transsulfuration pathway in Hcy metabolism, but also restore the HHcy-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction by activating cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) epoxygenase signal cascades and inhibiting CYPs hydroxylase signal cascades in arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism.