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Guzzardi MA, La Rosa F, Granziera F, Panetta D, Pardo-Tendero M, Barone M, Turroni S, Faita F, Kusmic C, Brigidi P, Monleon D, Iozzo P. Gut-derived metabolites mediating cognitive development in 5-year-old children: Early-life transplant in mice has lasting effects throughout adulthood. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 114:94-110. [PMID: 37557963 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota has been causally linked to cognitive development. We aimed to identify metabolites mediating its effect on cognitive development, and foods or nutrients related to most promising metabolites. Faeces from 5-year-old children (DORIAN-PISAC cohort, including 90 general population families with infants, 42/48 females/males, born in 2011-2014) were transplanted (FMT) into C57BL/6 germ-free mice. Children and recipient mice were stratified by cognitive phenotype, or based on protective metabolites. Food frequency questionnaires were obtained in children. Cognitive measurements in mice included five Y-maze tests until 23 weeks post-FMT, and (at 23 weeks) PET-CT for brain metabolism and radiodensity, and ultrasound-based carotid vascular indices. Children (faeces, urine) and mice (faeces, plasma) metabolome was measured by 1H NMR spectroscopy, and the faecal microbiota was profiled in mice by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Cognitive scores of children and recipient mice were correlated. FMT-dependent modifications of brain metabolism were observed. Mice receiving FMT from high-cognitive or protective metabolite-enriched children developed superior cognitive-behavioural performance. A panel of metabolites, namely xanthine, hypoxanthine, formate, mannose, tyrosine, phenylalanine, glutamine, was found to mediate the gut-cognitive axis in donor children and recipient mice. Vascular indices partially explained the metabolite-to-phenotype relationships. Children's consumption of legumes, whole-milk yogurt and eggs, and intake of iron, zinc and vitamin D appeared to support protective gut metabolites. Overall, metabolites involved in inflammation, purine metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis mediate the gut-cognitive axis, and holds promise for screening. The related dietary and nutritional findings offer leads to microbiota-targeted interventions for cognitive protection, with long-lasting effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Angela Guzzardi
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Federica La Rosa
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Federico Granziera
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Daniele Panetta
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Mercedes Pardo-Tendero
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Health Research Institute INCLIVA/CIBERFES for Frailty and Healthy Aging, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Monica Barone
- Microbiomics Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Silvia Turroni
- Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Francesco Faita
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Claudia Kusmic
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Patrizia Brigidi
- Microbiomics Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Daniel Monleon
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Health Research Institute INCLIVA/CIBERFES for Frailty and Healthy Aging, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Patricia Iozzo
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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Panetta D, Guzzardi MA, La Rosa F, Granziera F, Terlizzi D, Kusmic C, Iozzo P. High-Resolution Cardiac Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Small Animals. J Vis Exp 2022. [PMID: 36591981 DOI: 10.3791/64066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) are among the most employed diagnostic imaging techniques, and both serve in understanding cardiac function and metabolism. In preclinical research, dedicated scanners with high sensitivity and high spatio-temporal resolution are employed, designed to cope with the demanding technological requirements posed by the small heart size and very high heart rates of mice and rats. In this paper, a bimodal cardiac PET/CT imaging protocol for experimental mouse and/or rat models of cardiac diseases is described, from animal preparation and image acquisition and reconstruction to image processing and visualization. In particular, the 18F-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG)-PET scan allows for the measurement and visualization of glucose metabolism in the different segments of the left ventricle (LV). Polar maps are convenient tools to display this information. The CT part consists of a time-resolved 3D reconstruction of the entire heart (4D-CT) using retrospective gating without electrocardiography (ECG) leads, allowing the morphofunctional evaluation of the LV and the subsequent quantification of the most important cardiac function parameters, such as ejection fraction (EF) and stroke volume (SV). Using an integrated PET/CT scanner, this protocol can be executed within the same anesthesia induction without the need to reposition the animal between different scanners. Hence, PET/CT can be seen as a comprehensive tool for the morphofunctional and metabolic evaluation of the heart in several small animal models of cardiac diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Federico Granziera
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology; Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies
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Granziera F, Guzzardi MA, Iozzo P. Associations between the Mediterranean Diet Pattern and Weight Status and Cognitive Development in Preschool Children. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13113723. [PMID: 34835979 PMCID: PMC8624841 DOI: 10.3390/nu13113723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunctions are a global health concern. Early-life diet and weight status may contribute to children’s cognitive development. For this reason, we explored the associations between habitual food consumption, body mass index (BMI) and cognitive outcomes in 54 preschool children belonging to the Pisa birth Cohort (PISAC). We estimated groups of foods, nutrients and calorie intakes through a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and Italian national databases. Then, we adopted the Mediterranean diet (MD) score to assess relative MD adherence. Cognition was examined using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales-Extended Revised (GMDS-ER). We found that higher, compared to low and moderate, adherence to MD was associated with higher performance scores. Furthermore, white meat consumption was positively related to BMI, and BMI (age–gender specific, z-scores) categories were negatively related to practical reasoning scores. All associations were independent of maternal IQ estimates, parents’ socioeconomic status, exclusive/non-exclusive breastfeeding, actual age at cognitive assessment and gender. In conclusion, in preschool children, very high adherence to MD seemed protective, whereas BMI (reinforced by the intake of white meat) was negatively associated with cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Granziera
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.G.); (P.I.)
- Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Angela Guzzardi
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.G.); (P.I.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-050-3152789
| | - Patricia Iozzo
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.G.); (P.I.)
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