Dietary Chinese herbal formula supplementation improves yolk fatty acid profile in aged laying hens

Chinese herbal formula (CHF) has the potential to improve the performance of aged laying hens through integrated regulation of various physiological functions. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary CHF supplementation on the yolk fatty acid profile in aged laying hens. A total of 144 healthy 307-day-old Xinyang black-feather laying hens were randomly allocated into two groups: a control group (CON, fed a basal diet) and a CHF group (fed a basal diet supplemented with 1% CHF; contained 0.30% Leonurus japonicus Houtt., 0.20% Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., 0.25% Ligustrum lucidum Ait., and 0.25% Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. for 120 days). The fatty acid concentrations in egg yolks were analyzed using a targeted metabolomics technology at days 60 and 120 of the trial. The results showed that dietary CHF supplementation increased (p < .05) the concentrations of several saturated fatty acids (SFA, including myristic acid and stearic acid), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA, including petroselinic acid, elaidic acid, trans-11-eicosenoic acid, and cis-11-eicosenoic acid), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, including linolelaidic acid, linoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid, α-linolenic acid, 11c,14c-eicosadienoic acid, eicosatrienoic acid, homo-γ-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid), and fatty acid indexes (total MUFA, n-3 and n-6 PUFA, PUFA/SFA, hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolaemic ratio, health promotion index, and desirable fatty acids) in egg yolks. Collectively, these findings suggest that dietary CHF supplementation could improve the nutritional value of fatty acids in egg yolks of aged laying hens, which would be beneficial for the production of healthier eggs to meet consumer demands.

Integrated UHPLC-MS untargeted metabolomics and gut microbe metabolism pathway-targeted metabolomics to reveal the prevention mechanism of Gushudan on kidney-yang-deficiency-syndrome rats

Gushudan (GSD) was a traditional Chinese prescription with the remarkable effect of kidney-tonifying and bone-strengthening. However, the potential prevention mechanisms of the GSD on kidney-yang-deficiency-syndrome (KYDS) and its regulation on gut microbe metabolism still need to be further systematically investigated. This study established untargeted urinary metabolomics based on RP/HILIC-UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS and combined with multivariate statistical analysis to discover differential metabolites and key metabolic pathways. And the gut microbe metabolism pathway-targeted metabolomic based on HILIC-UHPLC-MS/MS was developed and validated to simultaneously determine 15 gut microbe-mediated metabolites in urine samples from the control group (CON), KYDS model group (MOD), GSD-treatment group (GSD) and positive group (POS). The results showed that a total of 36 differential metabolites were discovered in untargeted metabolomics. These differential metabolites included proline, cytosine, butyric acid and nicotinic acid, which were primarily involved in the gut microbe metabolism, amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism and nucleotide metabolism. And GSD played a role in preventing KYDS by regulating these metabolic pathways. The targeted metabolomics found that the levels of 10 gut microbe-mediated metabolites had significant differences in different groups. Among them, compared with the CON group, the levels of lysine, tryptophan, phenylacetylglycine and hippuric acid were increased in the MOD group, while the levels of threonine, leucine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, succinic acid and butyric acid were decreased, which verified the disorders of gut microbe metabolism in the KYDS rats and GSD had a significant regulatory effect on this disorder. As well as by comparing analysis, it was found that the experimental results were consistent with previous metabolomics and microbiomics of fecal samples. Therefore, this integrated strategy of untargeted and targeted metabolomics not only elucidated the potential prevention mechanism of GSD on KYDS, but also provided a scientific basis for GSD preventing KYDS via the "gut-kidney" axis.

Monitoring Changes in Biochemical and Metabolite Profiles in Garlic Cloves during Storage

Storage is important for the garlic cloves industry because it is critical to enabling a year-round supply. This study aimed to investigate the changes in biochemical and metabolic profiles in garlic cloves in terms of different temperatures and cultivars during storage using nontargeted and targeted metabolomics. The results showed that the storage temperatures and times were important factors affecting the composition and metabolite content of garlic cloves. In detail, the metabolic profiling of garlic cloves changed significantly at 22 °C, which was mainly related to sprouting. Furthermore, γ-glutamyl peptide was converted into the corresponding flavor precursors or free amino acids, leading to the fluctuation in the amount of nutrients in garlic cloves. In contrast, the quality of garlic cloves remained stable for 290 days at 0 °C though metabolism still occurred, which indicated that the slight chemical changes did not impact the quality significantly and low temperature could prolong their dormancy.

Metabolic profiling of peri-implant crevicular fluid in peri-implantitis

OBJECTS

This study aims to explore the etiology of peri-implantitis by comparing the metabolic profiles in peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) from patients with healthy implants (PH) and those with peri-implantitis (PI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-six patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. PICF samples were collected and analyzed using both non-targeted and targeted metabolomics approaches. The relationship between metabolites and clinical indices including probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and marginal bone loss (MBL) was examined. Additionally, submucosal microbiota was collected and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to elucidate the association between the metabolites and microbial communities.

RESULTS

Significant differences in metabolic profiles were observed between the PH and PI groups, with 179 distinct metabolites identified. In the PI group, specific amino acids and fatty acids were significantly elevated compared to the PH group. Organic acids including succinic acid, fructose-6-phosphate, and glucose-6-phosphate were markedly higher in the PI group, showing positive correlations with mean PD, BOP, and MBL. Metabolites that increased in the PI group positively correlated with the presence of Porphyromonas and Treponema and negatively with Streptococcus and Haemophilus.

CONCLUSIONS

This study establishes a clear association between metabolic compositions and peri-implant condition, highlighting enhanced metabolite activity in peri-implantitis. These findings open avenues for further research into metabolic mechanisms of peri-implantitis and their potential therapeutic implications.

Integrating Targeted Metabolomics and Targeted Proteomics to Study the Responses of Wheat Plants to Engineered Nanomaterials

This manuscript presents a multiomics investigation into the metabolic and proteomic responses of wheat to molybdenum (Mo)- and copper (Cu)-based engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) exposure via root and leaf application methods. Wheat plants underwent a four-week growth period with a 16 h photoperiod (light intensity set at 150 μmol·m-2·s-1), at 22 °C and 60% humidity. Six distinct treatments were applied, including control conditions alongside exposure to Mo- and Cu-based ENMs through both root and leaf routes. The exposure dosage amounted to 6.25 mg of the respective element per plant. An additional treatment with a lower dose (0.6 mg Mo/plant) of Mo ENM exclusively through the root system was introduced upon the detection of phytotoxicity. Utilizing LC-MS/MS analysis, 82 metabolites across various classes and 24 proteins were assessed in different plant tissues (roots, stems, leaves) under diverse treatments. The investigation identified 58 responsive metabolites and 19 responsive proteins for Cu treatments, 71 responsive metabolites, and 24 responsive proteins for Mo treatments, mostly through leaf exposure for Cu and root exposure for Mo. Distinct tissue-specific preferences for metabolite accumulation were revealed, highlighting the prevalence of organic acids and fatty acids in stem or root tissues, while sugars and amino acids were abundant in leaves, mirroring their roles in energy storage and photosynthesis. Joint-pathway analysis was conducted and unveiled 23 perturbed pathways across treatments. Among these, Mo exposure via roots impacted all identified pathways, whereas exposure via leaf affected 15 pathways, underscoring the reliance on exposure route of metabolic and proteomic responses. The coordinated response observed in protein and metabolite concentrations, particularly in amino acids, highlighted a dynamic and interconnected proteomic-to-metabolic-to-proteomic relationship. Furthermore, the contrasting expression patterns observed in glutamate dehydrogenase (upregulation at 1.38 ≤ FC ≤ 1.63 with high Mo dose, and downregulation at 0.13 ≤ FC ≤ 0.54 with low Mo dose) and its consequential impact on glutamine expression (7.67 ≤ FC ≤ 39.60 with high Mo dose and 1.50 ≤ FC ≤ 1.95 with low Mo dose) following Mo root exposure highlighted dose-dependent regulatory trends influencing proteins and metabolites. These findings offer a multidimensional understanding of plant responses to ENMs exposure, guiding agricultural practices and environmental safety protocols while advancing knowledge on nanomaterial impacts on plant biology.

Exploration of the Amino Acid Metabolic Profiling and Pathway in Clonorchis sinensis-Infected Rats Revealed by the Targeted Metabolomic Analysis

Background: Clonorchiasis remains a serious public health problem. However, the molecular mechanism underlying clonorchiasis remains largely unknown. Amino acid (AA) metabolism plays key roles in protein synthesis and energy sources, and improves immunity in pathological conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the AA profiles of spleen in clonorchiasis and speculate the interaction between the host and parasite. Methods: Here targeted ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry was applied to discover the AA profiles in spleen of rats infected with Clonorchis sinensis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis (KEGG) was performed to characterize the dysregulated metabolic pathways. Results: Pathway analysis revealed that phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis and β-alanine metabolism were significantly altered in clonorchiasis. There were no significant correlations between 14 significant differential AAs and interleukin (IL)-1β. Although arginine, asparagine, histidine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine were positively correlated with IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α as well as aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase; β-alanine and 4-hydroxyproline were negatively correlated with IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α. Conclusion: This study reveals the dysregulation of AA metabolism in clonorchiasis and provides a useful insight of metabolic mechanisms at the molecular level.

Characterizing arginine, ornithine, and putrescine pathways in enteric pathobionts

Arginine-ornithine metabolism plays a crucial role in bacterial homeostasis, as evidenced by numerous studies. However, the utilization of arginine and the downstream products of its metabolism remain undefined in various gut bacteria. To bridge this knowledge gap, we employed genomic screening to pinpoint relevant metabolic targets. We also devised a targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) metabolomics method to measure the levels of arginine, its upstream precursors, and downstream products in cell-free conditioned media from enteric pathobionts, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, K. pneumoniae, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Acinetobacter baumannii, Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. Our findings revealed that all selected bacterial strains consumed glutamine, glutamate, and arginine, and produced citrulline, ornithine, and GABA in our chemically defined medium. Additionally, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, K. aerogenes, and P. fluorescens were found to convert arginine to agmatine and produce putrescine. Interestingly, arginine supplementation promoted biofilm formation in K. pneumoniae, while ornithine supplementation enhanced biofilm formation in S. epidermidis. These findings offer a comprehensive insight into arginine-ornithine metabolism in enteric pathobionts.

Orphan lysosomal solute carrier MFSD1 facilitates highly selective dipeptide transport

Orphan solute carrier (SLC) represents a group of membrane transporters whose exact functions and substrate specificities are not known. Elucidating the function and regulation of orphan SLC transporters is not only crucial for advancing our knowledge of cellular and molecular biology but can potentially lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies. Here, we provide evidence for the biological function of a ubiquitous orphan lysosomal SLC, the Major Facilitator Superfamily Domain-containing Protein 1 (MFSD1), which has remained phylogenetically unassigned. Targeted metabolomics revealed that dipeptides containing either lysine or arginine residues accumulate in lysosomes of cells lacking MFSD1. Whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings of HEK293-cells expressing MFSD1 on the cell surface displayed transport affinities for positively charged dipeptides in the lower mM range, while dipeptides that carry a negative net charge were not transported. This was also true for single amino acids and tripeptides, which MFSD1 failed to transport. Our results identify MFSD1 as a highly selective lysosomal lysine/arginine/histidine-containing dipeptide exporter, which functions as a uniporter.

Racial Differences in Vaginal Fluid Metabolites and Association with Systemic Inflammation Markers among Ovarian Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study

The vaginal microbiome differs by race and contributes to inflammation by directly producing or consuming metabolites or by indirectly inducing host immune response, but its potential contributions to ovarian cancer (OC) disparities remain unclear. In this exploratory cross-sectional study, we examine whether vaginal fluid metabolites differ by race among patients with OC, if they are associated with systemic inflammation, and if such associations differ by race. Study participants were recruited from the Ovarian Cancer Epidemiology, Healthcare Access, and Disparities Study between March 2021 and September 2022. Our study included 36 study participants with ovarian cancer who provided biospecimens; 20 randomly selected White patients and all 16 eligible Black patients, aged 50-70 years. Acylcarnitines (n = 45 species), sphingomyelins (n = 34), and ceramides (n = 21) were assayed on cervicovaginal fluid, while four cytokines (IL-1β, IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-6) were assayed on saliva. Seven metabolites showed >2-fold differences, two showed significant differences using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test (p < 0.05; False Discovery Rate > 0.05), and 30 metabolites had coefficients > ±0.1 in a Penalized Discriminant Analysis that achieved two distinct clusters by race. Arachidonoylcarnitine, the carnitine adduct of arachidonic acid, appeared to be consistently different by race. Thirty-eight vaginal fluid metabolites were significantly correlated with systemic inflammation biomarkers, irrespective of race. These findings suggest that vaginal fluid metabolites may differ by race, are linked with systemic inflammation, and hint at a potential role for mitochondrial dysfunction and sphingolipid metabolism in OC disparities. Larger studies are needed to verify these findings and further establish specific biological mechanisms that may link the vaginal microbiome with OC racial disparities.

Targeted ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry procedures for the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism: validation through ERNDIM external quality assessment schemes

OBJECTIVES

Early diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) is crucial to ensure early detection of conditions which are treatable. This study reports on targeted metabolomic procedures for the diagnosis of IEM of amino acids, acylcarnitines, creatine/guanidinoacetate, purines/pyrimidines and oligosaccharides, and describes its validation through external quality assessment schemes (EQA).

METHODS

Analysis was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC H-class system coupled to a Waters Xevo triple-quadrupole (TQD) mass spectrometer, operating in both positive and negative electrospray ionization mode. Chromatographic separation was performed on a CORTECS C18 column (2.1 × 150, 1.6 µm). Data were collected by multiple reaction monitoring.

RESULTS

The internal and EQA results were generally adequate, with a few exceptions. We calculated the relative measurement error (RME) and only a few metabolites displayed a RME higher than 30 % (asparagine and some acylcarnitine species). For oligosaccharides, semi-quantitative analysis of an educational panel clearly identified the 8 different diseases included.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, we have validated our analytical system through an external quality control assessment. This validation will contribute to harmonization between laboratories, thus improving identification and management of patients with IEM.

Anti-neuroinflammatory effect of hydroxytyrosol: a potential strategy for anti-depressant development

Introduction: Depression is a complex psychiatric disorder with substantial societal impact. While current antidepressants offer moderate efficacy, their adverse effects and limited understanding of depression's pathophysiology hinder the development of more effective treatments. Amidst this complexity, the role of neuroinflammation, a recognized but poorly understood associate of depression, has gained increasing attention. This study investigates hydroxytyrosol (HT), an olive-derived phenolic antioxidant, for its antidepressant and anti-neuroinflammatory properties based on mitochondrial protection. Methods: In vitro studies on neuronal injury models, the protective effect of HT on mitochondrial ultrastructure from inflammatory damage was investigated in combination with high-resolution imaging of mitochondrial substructures. In animal models, depressive-like behaviors of chronic restraint stress (CRS) mice and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats were examined to investigate the alleviating effects of HT. Targeted metabolomics and RNA-Seq in CUMS rats were used to analyze the potential antidepressant pathways of HT. Results: HT protected mitochondrial ultrastructure from inflammatory damage, thus exerting neuroprotective effects in neuronal injury models. Moreover, HT reduced depressive-like behaviors in mice and rats exposed to CRS and CUMS, respectively. HT's influence in the CRS model included alleviating hippocampal neuronal damage and modulating cytokine production, mitochondrial dysfunction, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling. Targeted metabolomics in CUMS rats revealed HT's effect on neurotransmitter levels and tryptophan-kynurenine metabolism. RNA-Seq data underscored HT's antidepressant mechanism through the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathways, key in nerve fiber functions, myelin formation, microglial differentiation, and neural regeneration. Discussion: The findings underscore HT's potential as an anti-neuroinflammatory treatment for depression, shedding light on its antidepressant effects and its relevance in nutritional psychiatry. Further investigations are warranted to comprehensively delineate its mechanisms and optimize its clinical application in depression treatment.

Exploring rat corpus cavernosum alterations induced by finasteride treatment and withdrawal

Despite its efficacy for treating androgenetic alopecia, finasteride, an inhibitor of 5α-reductase (i.e., the enzyme converting testosterone, T, into dihydrotestosterone, DHT), is associated with several side effects including sexual dysfunction (e.g., erectile dysfunction). These side effects may persist after drug suspension, inducing the so-called post-finasteride syndrome (PFS). The effects of subchronic treatment with finasteride (i.e., 20 days) and its withdrawal (i.e., 1 month) in rat corpus cavernosum have been explored here. Data obtained show that the treatment was able to decrease the levels of the enzyme 5α-reductase type II in the rat corpus cavernosum with increased T and decreased DHT levels. This local change in T metabolism was linked to mechanisms associated with erectile dysfunction. Indeed, by targeted metabolomics, we reported a decrease in the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, measured by the citrulline/arginine ratio and confirmed by the decrease in NO2 levels, and a decrease in ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) activity, measured by citrulline/ornithine ratio. Interestingly, the T levels are negatively correlated with NOS activity, while those of DHT are positively correlated with OTC activity. Finasteride treatment also induced alterations in the levels of other molecules involved in the control of penile erection, such as norepinephrine and its metabolite, epinephrine. Indeed, plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, suggesting an impairment of these mediators. Interestingly, these modifications were restored by suspension of the drug. Altogether, the results reported here indicate that finasteride treatment, but not its withdrawal, affects T metabolism in the rat corpus cavernosum, and this alteration was linked to mechanisms associated with erectile dysfunction. Data here reported could also suggest that the PFS sexual side effects are more related to dysfunction in a sexual central control rather than peripheral compromised condition.

Chemo-Selective Single-Cell Metabolomics Reveals the Spatiotemporal Behavior of Exogenous Pollutants During Xenopus Laevis Embryogenesis

In-depth profiling of embryogenesis-associated endogenous and exogenous metabolic changes can reveal potential bio-effects resulting from human-made chemicals and underlying mechanisms. Due to the lack of potent tools for monitoring spatiotemporal distribution and bio-transformation behavior of dynamic metabolites at single-cell resolution, however, how and to what extent environmental chemicals may influence or interfere embryogenesis largely remain unclear. Herein, a zero-sample-loss micro-biopsy-based mass spectrometric platform is presented for quantitative, chemo-selective, high-coverage, and minimal-destructive profiling of development-associated cis-diol metabolites, which are critical for signal transduction and epigenome regulation, at both cellular level and tissue level of Xenopus laevis. Using this platform, three extraordinary findings that are otherwise hard to achieve are revealed: 1) there are characteristically different cis-diol metabolic signatures among oocytes, anterior and posterior part of tailbud-stage embryos; 2) halogenated cis-diols heavily accumulate at the posterior part of tailbud-stage embryos of Xenopus laevis; 3) dimethachlon, a kind of exogenous fungicide that is widely used as pesticide, may be bio-transformed and accumulated in vertebrate animals in environment. Thus, this study opens a new avenue to simultaneously monitoring intercellular and intraembryonic heterogeneity of endogenous and exogenous metabolites, providing new insights into metabolic remolding during embryogenesis and putting a warning on potential environmental risk.

Intercropping of Narrow-Leafed Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) and Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Affects the Flavonoid Composition of Both Crops

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a common cereal crop in agricultural production and is often included in legume-cereal intercropping. Flavonoids, a major class of secondary metabolites found in barley, are involved in plant defense and protection. However, the effect of intercropping on barley flavonoids remains unknown. Herein, an intercropping system involving barley and lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) was studied. Intercropping increased the level of luteolin in lupin roots. Lupin-barley intercropping considerably increased genistein, rutin, and apigenin in barley shoots. Genistein and apigenin were also detected in intercropped barley roots and rhizosphere soil. The three flavonoids have been reported as defense compounds, suggesting that lupin triggers a defense response in barley to strengthen its survival ability.

Targeted Metabolomics Analysis of Serum Amino Acids in T2DM Patients

Purpose

Amino acids are the important metabolites in the body and play a crucial role in biological processes. The purpose of this study is to provide a profile of amino acids change in the serum of T2DM patients and identify potential biomarkers.

Patients and Methods

In this study, we quantitatively determined the serum amino acid profiles of 30 T2DM patients and 30 healthy volunteers. T test and multivariate statistical analysis were used to identify candidate biomarkers with GraphPad Prism 9.5 software and MetaboAnalyst 5.0 on-line platform.

Results

Thirty-four amino acids were quantified, and 19 amino acid levels differed significantly between T2DM and Healthy groups. Screened by the specific screening criteria (VIP>1.0; P<0.05; FC>1.5, or FC<0.67) in MetaboAnalyst 5.0 platform, 8 amino acids were identified as potential biomarkers. Pearson rank correlation test showed 14 differential amino acids were significantly correlated with T2DM-related physiological parameters.

Conclusion

The results of this study provide theoretical basis for the subsequent development of dietary supplements for the prevention or treatment of T2DM and its complications.

Quantitative analysis of the glutathione pathway cellular metabolites by targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Glutathione, its biosynthesis intermediates, and other thiol metabolites are of central relevance for the redox homeostasis of cells. Their analysis is critical due to the facile interconversion of redox pairs during sampling, sample preparation, and data acquisition, in particular in the electrospray ionization interface. In this work, we propose a fast-targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method to accurately analyze 14 metabolites from the glutathione pathway. N-Ethylmaleimide reagent is added with the extraction solvent and instantly stabilizes the thiol-redox state by derivatization. Liquid chromatographic separation of the analytes was performed on a sub-2 μm superficially porous hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography column with sulfobetaine chemistry. Tandem mass spectrometry with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry in multiple-reaction monitoring acquisition mode allowed sensitive detection of the targeted metabolites with limits of quantification in the range of 5-25 nM. Run times of 3 min enable a high throughput analysis of cellular samples. For calibration, a 13 C-labelled cell extract was used as an internal standard. The method was validated and the concentrations of glutathione and its biosynthesis intermediates were determined in HeLa cells.

Phenylpropanoids Following Wounding and Infection of Sweet Sorghum Lines Differing in Responses to Stalk Pathogens

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) lines M81-E and Colman were previously shown to differ in responses to Fusarium thapsinum and Macrophomina phaseolina, stalk rot pathogens that can reduce the yields and quality of biomass and extracted sugars. Inoculated tissues were compared for transcriptomic, phenolic metabolite, and enzymatic activity during disease development 3 and 13 days after inoculation (DAI). At 13 DAI, M81-E had shorter mean lesion lengths than Colman when inoculated with either pathogen. Transcripts encoding monolignol biosynthetic and modification enzymes were associated with transcriptional wound (control) responses of both lines at 3 DAI. Monolignol biosynthetic genes were differentially coexpressed with transcriptional activator SbMyb76 in all Colman inoculations, but only following M. phaseolina inoculation in M81-E, suggesting that SbMyb76 is associated with lignin biosynthesis during pathogen responses. In control inoculations, defense-related genes were expressed at higher levels in M81-E than Colman. Line, treatment, and timepoint differences observed in phenolic metabolite and enzyme activities did not account for observed differences in lesions. However, generalized additive models were able to relate metabolites, but not enzyme activities, to lesion length for quantitatively modeling disease progression: in M81-E, but not Colman, sinapic acid levels positively predicted lesion length at 3 DAI when cell wall-bound syringic acid was low, soluble caffeic acid was high, and lactic acid was high, suggesting that sinapic acid may contribute to responses at 3 DAI. These results provide potential gene targets for development of sweet sorghum varieties with increased stalk rot resistance to ensure biomass and sugar quality.

Long-term rain exclusion in a Mediterranean forest: response of physiological and physico-chemical traits of Quercus pubescens across seasons

With climate change, an aggravation in summer drought is expected in the Mediterranean region. To assess the impact of such a future scenario, we compared the response of Quercus pubescens, a drought-resistant deciduous oak species, to long-term amplified drought (AD) (partial rain exclusion in natura for 10 years) and natural drought (ND). We studied leaf physiological and physico-chemical trait responses to ND and AD over the seasonal cycle, with a focus on chemical traits including major groups of central (photosynthetic pigments and plastoquinones) and specialized (tocochromanols, phenolic compounds, and cuticular waxes) metabolites. Seasonality was the main driver of all leaf traits, including cuticular triterpenoids, which were highly concentrated in summer, suggesting their importance to cope with drought and thermal stress periods. Under AD, trees not only reduced CO2 assimilation (-42%) in summer and leaf concentrations of some phenolic compounds and photosynthetic pigments (carotenoids from the xanthophyll cycle) but also enhanced the levels of other photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls, lutein, and neoxanthin) and plastochromanol-8, an antioxidant located in chloroplasts. Overall, the metabolomic adjustments across seasons and drought conditions reinforce the idea that Q. pubescens is highly resistant to drought although significant losses of antioxidant defenses and photoprotection were identified under AD.

Identification of Novel Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Atherosclerosis Using High-Resolution Metabolomics

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a metabolic disorder and the pre-stage of several cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and angina pectoris. Early detection of AS can provide the opportunity for effective management and better clinical results, along with the prevention of further progression of the disease. In the current study, an untargeted and targeted metabolomic approach was used to identify possible metabolic signatures that have altered levels in AS patients. A total of 200 serum samples from individuals with AS and normal were analyzed via liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. Univariate and multivariate analysis approaches were used to identify differential metabolites. A group of metabolites associated with bile acids, amino acids, steroid hormones, and purine metabolism were identified that are capable of distinguishing AS-risk sera from normal. Further, the targeted metabolomics approach confirmed that six metabolites, namely taurocholic acid, cholic acid, cortisol, hypoxanthine, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and isoleucine, were found to be significantly upregulated, while the concentrations of glycoursodeoxycholic acid, glycocholic acid, testosterone, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and valine were found to be significantly downregulated in the AS-risk sera. The receiver operating characteristic curves of three metabolites, including cortisol, hypoxanthine, and isoleucine, showed high sensitivity and specificity. Taken together, these findings suggest cortisol, hypoxanthine, and isoleucine as novel biomarkers for the early and non-invasive detection of AS. Thus, this study provides new insights for further investigations into the prevention and management of AS.

The effect of long-term moderate exercise on myocardial metabolome in rats

Regular moderate physical exercise is beneficial for the cardiovascular system. Our prior study has demonstrated a long-term moderate exercise (4-week of 60-min 74.0% V̇O2max treadmill running) is optimal in protecting from exhaustive exercise-induced cardiac ischemic injury. This study is aimed to investigate the effect of long-term moderate exercise on myocardial metabolome in rats. Thirteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into the control group (C) and the long-term moderate exercise group (E). The targeted metabolomics of the myocardium was analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) system. Results showed that the metabolites categories of bile acids (BAs), fatty acids (FAs), and phenylpropanoic acids were significantly decreased. The biosynthesis of unsaturated FAs pathway was significantly downregulated. The altered metabolites in the E Group included decreased FAs (pentadecanoic acid, 10Z-heptadecenoic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and 10Z-nonadecenoic acid), decreased BAs (chenodeoxycholic acid and beta-muricholic acid), decreased organic acids (glycolic acid and 2-hydroxyglutaric acid), decreased carbohydrate (N-acetylneuraminic acid, Neu5Ac), decreased amino acids (α-aminobutyric acid and norvaline), decreased phenylpropanoic acids (hydroxyphenyllactic acid), and benzoic acids (4-hydroxybenzoic acid and phthalic acid). The results indicated that long-term moderate exercise has promoted lipids utilization in myocardium while exerted little influence on carbohydrate metabolism and diminished many detrimental metabolites. Notably, decrease of myocardial carbohydrate Neu5Ac after long-term moderate exercise might predict a prospective metabolomics biomarker for cardioprotection. This research has displayed the effect of long-term moderate exercise on myocardial metabolomic profiling in rats and indicated some promising metabolites which can be applied for exercise benefits in future.

The Impact of Photosynthetic Characteristics and Metabolomics on the Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Tea Seeds

The synthesis of tea fatty acids plays a crucial role in determining the oil content of tea seeds and selecting tea tree varieties suitable for harvesting both leaves and fruits. However, there is limited research on fatty acid synthesis in tea trees, and the precise mechanisms influencing tea seed oil content remain elusive. To reveal the fatty acid biosynthesis mechanism, we conducted a photosynthetic characteristic and targeted metabolomics analysis in comparison between Jincha 2 and Wuniuzao cultivars. Our findings revealed that Jincha 2 exhibited significantly higher net photosynthetic rates (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rate (Tr) compared with Wuniuzao, indicating the superior photosynthetic capabilities of Jincha 2. Totally, we identified 94 metabolites with significant changes, including key hormone regulators such as gibberellin A1 (GA1) and indole 3-acetic acid (IAA). Additionally, linolenic acid, methyl dihydrojasmonate, and methylthiobutyric acid, precursors required for fatty acid synthesis, were significantly more abundant in Jincha 2 compared with Wuniuzao. In summary, our research suggests that photosynthetic rates and metabolites contribute to the increased yield, fatty acid synthesis, and oil content observed in Jincha 2 when compared with Wuniuzao.

Insight into the negative effect and lipid profile alterations in liver of mice exposed to methylimidazolium ionic liquids, a novel "green" solvent

Background

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been recognized as potential environmentally friendly solvents; however, their potential toxicity to living organisms warrants thorough investigation, particularly for novel-generation ILs in mammalian models.

Methods

In this study, we examined the hepatic effects and disruption of lipid metabolism in mice exposed to 1-heptyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C7[MIM]Cl), a novel ILs. After four weeks of oral administration at different dosages (2.38, 5.95, and 11.9 mg/kg b.w.), we conducted clinical chemistry analysis and histopathological examination of the liver to assess biochemical and structural changes.

Results

The low-dose C7[MIM]Cl group exhibited a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, while aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were elevated in both low-dose and high-dose groups without statistical significance. Histopathological examination showed inflammatory cell infiltration and red blood cell aggregation in the livers of mice exposed to C7[MIM]Cl, particularly in the high-dose group. Oxidative stress levels showed moderate changes in response to C7[MIM]Cl exposure. Notably, hepatic biochemical parameters revealed a dose-dependent increase in triglycerides (TG) levels with statistically significant differences compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.01). Targeted lipidomic analysis revealed notable alterations in liver lipids of mice exposed to C7[MIM]Cl, with lysophosphatidylethanolamine (18:0), phosphatidylcholines (18:0), and phosphatidylcholines (19:0) identified as critical lipids associated with C7[MIM]Cl exposure. Furthermore, metabolic pathway analyses demonstrated significant disturbances in the glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway.

Conclusion

These findings provide valuable insights into the hepatic effects of C7[MIM]Cl exposure and novel perspectives on the disruption of lipid metabolism underlying ILs toxicity.

Comparative analysis of bile metabolic profile in patients with biliary obstruction complicated by Clonorchis sinensis infection

Background

Clonorchiasis is an important foodborne parasitic disease. However, eggs of Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) cannot be detected in feces during biliary obstruction. Moreover, many diseases can cause biliary obstruction, such as gallstones, adenocarcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma and Ascaris lumbricoides infection. Therefore, it is of great significance to distinguish between patients of biliary obstruction and biliary obstruction with C. sinensis infection.

Methods

A total of 48 biliary obstruction patients were enrolled, including 23 infected with C. sinensis (C. sinensis) (OB+C.s) and 25 non-infected subjects (OB). The bile samples were collected by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF MS). Additionally, multivariate statistical analysis methods were employed to identify differential metabolites. Next, bile amino acid levels were determined by targeted metabolomics analysis.

Result

A total of 146 and 132 significant metabolites were identified in electrospray ionization (ESI)+ and ESI- modes, respectively. The levels of amino acids (asparagine, glutamate, ornithine) and polyamines (spermidine and spermine) were significantly changed. Targeted analysis showed that the levels of amino acids (such as L-arginine, L-glutamine, L-lysine, L-propionic, and L-tyrosine) were lower in OB+C.s patients compared to those in OB patients. Marked metabolic pathways were involved in "Glutathione metabolism", "Caffeine metabolism", "Alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism", "Arginine and proline metabolism", "Purine metabolism", "Beta-Alanine metabolism", and "D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism".

Conclusion

These results show that there were significant differences between OB+C.s and OB patients, especially in amino acids. The metabolic signature and perturbations in metabolic pathways may help to better distinguish OB+C.s and OB patients.

Simultaneous Comparison of Aqueous Humor and Serum Metabolic Profiles of Diabetic and Nondiabetic Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery-A Targeted and Quantitative Metabolomics Study

The aim of this study was to compare the aqueous humor (AH) and serum concentrations of metabolites in diabetic (n = 36) and nondiabetic (n = 36) senior adults undergoing cataract surgery. Blood samples were collected before surgery and AH during surgery. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based targeted metabolomic and lipidomic analyses of samples were performed using the AbsoluteIDQ® p180 kit. Out of 188 metabolites targeted by the kit, 41 and 133 were detected in >80% of AH and serum samples, respectively. Statistical analysis performed to indicate metabolites differentiating diabetic and nondiabetic patients showed 8 and 20 significant metabolites in AH and serum, respectively. Pathway analysis performed for significant metabolites revealed that galactose metabolism is mostly affected in the AH, while arginine biosynthesis is mostly affected in the serum. Among metabolites that differentiate diabetic and nondiabetic patients, arginine was the only metabolite common to both serum and AH samples, as well as the only one with a decreased concentration in both body fluids of diabetic patients. Concentrations of the rest were elevated in AH and lowered in serum. This may suggest different mechanisms of diabetes-related dysregulation of the local metabolism in the eye in comparison to systemic changes observed in the blood.

Integration of Metabolomics, Lipidomics, and Proteomics Reveals the Metabolic Characterization of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Metabolic dysfunction is associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) development. However, omics studies investigating metabolic changes in NASH patients are limited. In this study, metabolomics and lipidomics in plasma, as well as proteomics in the liver, were performed to characterize the metabolic profiles of NASH patients. Moreover, the accumulation of bile acids (BAs) in NASH patients prompted us to investigate the protective effect of cholestyramine on NASH. The liver expression of essential proteins involved in FA transport and lipid droplets was significantly elevated in patients with NASH. Furthermore, we observed a distinct lipidomic remodeling in patients with NASH. We also report a novel finding suggesting an increase in the expression of critical proteins responsible for glycolysis and the level of glycolytic output (pyruvic acid) in patients with NASH. Furthermore, the accumulation of branched chain amino acids, aromatic amino acids, purines, and BAs was observed in NASH patients. Similarly, a dramatic metabolic disorder was also observed in a NASH mouse model. Cholestyramine not only significantly alleviated liver steatosis and fibrosis but also reversed NASH-induced accumulation of BAs and steroid hormones. In conclusion, NASH patients were characterized by perturbations in FA uptake, lipid droplet formation, glycolysis, and accumulation of BAs and other metabolites.

Metabolomic characterization benefits the identification of acute lung injury in patients with type A acute aortic dissection

Introduction: Acute aortic dissection (AAD) often leads to the development of acute lung injury (ALI). However, the early detection and diagnosis of AAD in patients with ALI pose significant challenges. The objective of this study is to investigate distinct metabolic alterations in the plasma samples of AAD patients with ALI, AAD patients without ALI, and healthy individuals. Method: Between September 2019 and September 2022, we retrospectively collected data from 228 AAD patients who were diagnosed with ALI through post-surgery chest X-ray and PaO2/FiO2 assessments. Univariate analysis was employed to identify pre-surgery risk factors for ALI. Additionally, we conducted high-throughput target metabolic analysis on 90 plasma samples, comprising 30 samples from AAD patients with ALI, 30 from patients with AAD only, and 30 from healthy controls. After LC-MS spectral processing and metabolite quantification, the recursive feature elimination with cross-validation (RFECV) analysis based on the random forest was used to select the optimal metabolites as a diagnostic panel for the detection of AAD patients with ALI. The support vector machines (SVM) machine learning model was further applied to validate the diagnostic accuracy of the established biomarker panel. Results: In the univariate analysis, preoperative β-HB and TNF-α exhibited a significant association with lung injury (OR = 0.906, 95% CI 0.852-0.965, p = 0.002; OR = 1.007, 95% CI 1.003-1.011, p < 0.0001). The multiple-reaction monitoring analysis of 417 common metabolites identified significant changes in 145 metabolites (fold change >1.2 or <0.833, p < 0.05) across the three groups. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed notable differences between AAD patients and healthy controls. When compared with the non-ALI group, AAD patients with ALI displayed remarkable upregulation in 19 metabolites and downregulation in 4 metabolites. Particularly, combining citric acid and glucuronic acid as a biomarker panel improved the classification performance for distinguishing between the ALI and non-ALI groups. Discussion: Differentially expressed metabolites in the ALI group were primarily involved in amino acids biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism (TCA cycle), arginine and proline metabolism, and glucagon signaling pathway. These findings demonstrate a great potential of the targeted metabolomic approach for screening, routine surveillance, and diagnosis of pulmonary injury in patients with AAD.

Insights into the metabolite profiles of Rubus chingii Hu at different developmental stages of fruit

The fruits of Rubus chingii Hu have high medicinal and nutritional values. However, the metabolite profiles of R. chingii, especially the alterations during different development stages of fruit, have not been comprehensively analyzed, hindering the effective utilization of the unique species. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the metabolites of R. chingii fruit at four developmental stages using systematic untargeted and targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics analysis and identified 682 metabolites. Significant changes were observed in metabolite accumulation and composition in fruits during the different developmental stages. The contents of the index components, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside and ellagic acid, were the highest in immature fruit. The analysis identified 64 differentially expressed flavonoids and 39 differentially expressed phenolic acids; the accumulation of most of these differentially expressed metabolites decreased with the developmental stages of fruit from immaturity to maturity. These results confirmed that the developmental stages of fruit are a critical factor in determining its secondary metabolite compositions. This study elucidated the metabolic profile of R. chingii fruit at different stages of development to understand the dynamic changes in metabolites.

Quantitative, Targeted Analysis of Gut Microbiota Derived Metabolites Provides Novel Biomarkers of Early Diabetic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most debilitating complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as it progresses silently to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The discovery of novel biomarkers of early DKD becomes acute, as its incidence is reaching catastrophic proportions. Our study aimed to quantify previously identified metabolites from serum and urine through untargeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-ESI+-MS) techniques, such as the following: arginine, dimethylarginine, hippuric acid, indoxyl sulfate, p-cresyl sulfate, L-acetylcarnitine, butenoylcarnitine and sorbitol. The study concept was based on the targeted analysis of selected metabolites, using the serum and urine of 20 healthy subjects and 90 T2DM patients with DKD in different stages (normoalbuminuria-uACR < 30 mg/g; microalbuminuria-uACR 30-300 mg/g; macroalbuminuria-uACR > 300 mg/g). The quantitative evaluation of metabolites was performed with pure standards, followed by the validation methods such as the limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ). The following metabolites from this study resulted as possible biomarkers of early DKD: in serum-arginine, dimethylarginine, hippuric acid, indoxyl sulfate, butenoylcarnitine and sorbitol and in urine-p-cresyl sulfate.

GC/MS-Based Analysis of Fatty Acids and Amino Acids in H460 Cells Treated with Short-Chain and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: A Highly Sensitive Approach

The important metabolic characteristics of cancer cells include increased fat production and changes in amino acid metabolism. Based on the category of tumor, tumor cells are capable of synthesizing as much as 95% of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids through de novo synthesis, even in the presence of sufficient dietary lipid intake. This fat transformation starts early when cell cancerization and further spread along with the tumor cells grow more malignant. In addition, local catabolism of tryptophan, a common feature, can weaken anti-tumor immunity in primary tumor lesions and TDLN. Arginine catabolism is likewise related with the inhibition of anti-tumor immunity. Due to the crucial role of amino acids in tumor growth, increasing tryptophan along with arginine catabolism will promote tumor growth. However, immune cells also require amino acids to expand and distinguish into effector cells that can kill tumor cells. Therefore, it is necessary to have a deeper understanding of the metabolism of amino acids and fatty acids within cells. In this study, we established a method for the simultaneous analysis of 64 metabolites consisting of fatty acids and amino acids, covering biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and fatty acid biosynthesis using the Agilent GC-MS system. We selected linoleic acid, linolenic acid, sodium acetate, and sodium butyrate to treat H460 cells to validate the current method. The differential metabolites observed in the four fatty acid groups in comparison with the control group indicate the metabolic effects of various fatty acids on H460 cells. These differential metabolites could potentially become biomarkers for the early diagnosis of lung cancer.

Simultaneous Quantitation and Discovery (SQUAD) Analysis: Combining the Best of Targeted and Untargeted Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics

Untargeted and targeted approaches are the traditional metabolomics workflows acquired for a wider understanding of the metabolome under focus. Both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses. The untargeted, for example, is maximizing the detection and accurate identification of thousands of metabolites, while the targeted is maximizing the linear dynamic range and quantification sensitivity. These workflows, however, are acquired separately, so researchers compromise either a low-accuracy overview of total molecular changes (i.e., untargeted analysis) or a detailed yet blinkered snapshot of a selected group of metabolites (i.e., targeted analysis) by selecting one of the workflows over the other. In this review, we present a novel single injection simultaneous quantitation and discovery (SQUAD) metabolomics that combines targeted and untargeted workflows. It is used to identify and accurately quantify a targeted set of metabolites. It also allows data retro-mining to look for global metabolic changes that were not part of the original focus. This offers a way to strike the balance between targeted and untargeted approaches in one single experiment and address the two approaches' limitations. This simultaneous acquisition of hypothesis-led and discovery-led datasets allows scientists to gain more knowledge about biological systems in a single experiment.

Differentiating Huangjiu with Varying Sugar Contents from Different Regions Based on Targeted Metabolomics Analyses of Volatile Carbonyl Compounds

Huangjiu is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world. It is usually made by fermenting grains, and Qu is used as a saccharifying and fermenting agent. In this study, we identified differential carbonyl compounds in Huangjiu with varying sugar contents from different regions. First, we developed and validated a detection method for volatile carbonyl compounds in Huangjiu, and for optimal extraction, 5 mL of Huangjiu and 1.3 g/L of O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine hydrochloride (PFBHA) were incubated at 45 °C for 5 min before extracting the volatile carbonyl compounds at 45 °C for 35 min. Second, the targeted quantitative analysis of 50 carbonyl compounds in Huangjiu showed high levels of Strecker aldehydes and furans. Finally, orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to differentiate between Huangjiu with different sugar contents, raw materials, and region of origin. A total of 19 differential carbonyl compounds (VIP > 1, p < 0.05) were found in Huangjiu with different sugar contents (semidry and semisweet Huangjiu), and 20 differential carbonyl compounds (VIP > 1, p < 0.05) were found in different raw materials for Huangjiu production (rice and nonrice Huangjiu). A total of twenty-two and eight differential carbonyl compounds, with VIP > 1 and p < 0.05, were identified in semidry and semisweet Huangjiu from different regions (Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Fujian), respectively.

Targeted lipidomics data of COVID-19 patients

The dataset provided with this article describes a targeted lipidomics analysis performed on the serum of COVID-19 patients characterized by different degree of severity. As the ongoing pandemic has posed a challenging threat for humanity, the data here presented belong to one of the first lipidomics studies carried out on COVID-19 patients’ samples collected during the first pandemic waves. Serum samples were obtained from hospitalized patients with a molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection detected after nasal swab, and categorized as mild, moderate, or severe according to pre-established clinical descriptors. The MS-based targeted lipidomic analysis was performed by MRM using a Triple Quad 5500+ mass spectrometer, and the quantitative data were acquired on a panel of 483 lipids. The characterization of this lipidomic dataset has been outlined using multivariate and univariate descriptive statistics and bioinformatics tools.

Metabolomics Identifies a Panel of Diagnostic Biomarkers for Early Human Embryonic Development Arrest

Early embryonic development arrest (EEDA) is a unique form of early spontaneous abortion in pregnant women, which is previously suggested to be associated with metabolic abnormalities. Noninvasive biomarkers would significantly improve its diagnosis and clinical outcome. Here, we performed a targeted metabolomics study in plasma from EEDA patients (n = 27) and normal pregnant women (NPW, n = 27) using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to identify potential diagnostic marker metabolites. Our results showed significantly different plasma metabolic profiles between EEDA patients and NPW. Particularly, EEDA patients showed significant alterations in amino acid, carbohydrate, and vitamin metabolism, which were characterized by 21 significantly increased metabolites and five decreased metabolites in plasma. Further receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that an optimal combination of S-methyl-5'-thioadenosine, kynurenine, leucine, and malate could be used as a panel of metabolites for EEDA diagnosis. The area under the curve of the metabolite panel was 0.941, suggesting a better performance than any single metabolite for the diagnosis of EEDA. In summary, our study identifies a panel of differential metabolites in plasma that could act as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of EEDA in clinical settings.

Amelioration of Colitis by a Gut Bacterial Consortium Producing Anti-Inflammatory Secondary Bile Acids

The Integrative Human Microbiome Project and other cohort studies have indicated that inflammatory bowel disease is accompanied by dysbiosis of gut microbiota, decreased production of secondary bile acids, and increased levels of primary bile acids. Secondary bile acids, such as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), have been reported to be anti-inflammatory, yet it remains to be studied whether introducing selected bacteria strains to restore bile acid metabolism of the gut microbiome can alleviate intestinal inflammation. In this study, we screened human gut bacterial strains for bile acid metabolism and designed a consortium of three species, including Clostridium AP sp000509125, Bacteroides ovatus, and Eubacterium limosum, and named it BAC (bile acid consortium). We showed that the three-strain gut bacterial consortium BAC is capable of converting conjugated primary bile acids taurochenodeoxycholic acid and glycochenodeoxycholic acid to secondary bile acids UDCA and LCA in vitro. Oral gavage treatment with BAC in mice resulted in protective effects against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, including reduced weight loss and increased colon length. Furthermore, BAC treatment increased the fecal level of bile acids, including UDCA and LCA. BAC treatment enhanced intestinal barrier function, which may be attributed to the increased activation of the bile acid receptor TGR5 by secondary bile acids. Finally, we examined the remodeling of gut microbiota by BAC treatment. Taken together, the three-strain gut bacterial consortium BAC restored the dysregulated bile acid metabolism and alleviated DSS-induced colitis. Our study provides a proof-of-concept demonstration that a rationally designed bacterial consortium can reshape the metabolism of the gut microbiome to treat diseases. IMPORTANCE Secondary bile acids have been reported to be anti-inflammatory, yet it remains to be studied whether introducing selected bacteria strains to restore bile acid metabolism of the gut microbiome can alleviate intestinal inflammation. To address this gap, we designed a consortium of human gut bacterial strains based on their metabolic capacity to produce secondary bile acids UDCA and LCA, and we evaluated the efficacy of single bacterial strains and the bacterial consortium in treating the murine colitis model. We found that oral gavage of the bacterial consortium to mice restored secondary bile acid metabolism to increase levels of UDCA and LCA, which induced the activation of TGR5 to improve gut-barrier integrity and reduced the inflammation in murine colitis. Overall, our study demonstrates that rationally designed bacterial consortia can reshape the metabolism of the gut microbiome and provides novel insights into the application of live biotherapeutics for treating IBD.

Longitudinal associations of plasma metabolites with persistent fatigue among colorectal cancer survivors up to 2 years after treatment

The underlying biological mechanisms causing persistent fatigue complaints after colorectal cancer treatment need further investigation. We investigated longitudinal associations of circulating concentrations of 138 metabolites with total fatigue and subdomains of fatigue between 6 weeks and 2 years after colorectal cancer treatment. Among stage I-III colorectal cancer survivors (n = 252), blood samples were obtained at 6 weeks, and 6, 12 and 24 months posttreatment. Total fatigue and fatigue subdomains were measured using a validated questionnaire. Tandem mass spectrometry was applied to measure metabolite concentrations (BIOCRATES AbsoluteIDQp180 kit). Confounder-adjusted longitudinal associations were analyzed using linear mixed models, with false discovery rate (FDR) correction. We assessed interindividual (between-participant differences) and intraindividual longitudinal associations (within-participant changes over time). In the overall longitudinal analysis, statistically significant associations were observed for 12, 32, 17 and three metabolites with total fatigue and the subscales "fatigue severity," "reduced motivation" and "reduced activity," respectively. Specifically, higher concentrations of several amino acids, lysophosphatidylcholines, diacylphosphatidylcholines, acyl-alkylphosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins were associated with less fatigue, while higher concentrations of acylcarnitines were associated with more fatigue. For "fatigue severity," associations appeared mainly driven by intraindividual associations, while for "reduced motivation" stronger interindividual associations were found. We observed longitudinal associations of several metabolites with total fatigue and fatigue subscales, and that intraindividual changes in metabolites over time were associated with fatigue severity. These findings point toward inflammation and an impaired energy metabolism due to mitochondrial dysfunction as underlying mechanisms. Mechanistic studies are necessary to determine whether these metabolites could be targets for intervention.

A Novel Nanosafety Approach Using Cell Painting, Metabolomics, and Lipidomics Captures the Cellular and Molecular Phenotypes Induced by the Unintentionally Formed Metal-Based (Nano)Particles

Additive manufacturing (AM) or industrial 3D printing uses cutting-edge technologies and materials to produce a variety of complex products. However, the effects of the unintentionally emitted AM (nano)particles (AMPs) on human cells following inhalation, require further investigations. The physicochemical characterization of the AMPs, extracted from the filter of a Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) 3D printer of iron-based materials, disclosed their complexity, in terms of size, shape, and chemistry. Cell Painting, a high-content screening (HCS) assay, was used to detect the subtle morphological changes elicited by the AMPs at the single cell resolution. The profiling of the cell morphological phenotypes, disclosed prominent concentration-dependent effects on the cytoskeleton, mitochondria, and the membranous structures of the cell. Furthermore, lipidomics confirmed that the AMPs induced the extensive membrane remodeling in the lung epithelial and macrophage co-culture cell model. To further elucidate the biological mechanisms of action, the targeted metabolomics unveiled several inflammation-related metabolites regulating the cell response to the AMP exposure. Overall, the AMP exposure led to the internalization, oxidative stress, cytoskeleton disruption, mitochondrial activation, membrane remodeling, and metabolic reprogramming of the lung epithelial cells and macrophages. We propose the approach of integrating Cell Painting with metabolomics and lipidomics, as an advanced nanosafety methodology, increasing the ability to capture the cellular and molecular phenotypes and the relevant biological mechanisms to the (nano)particle exposure.

Integrated untargeted and targeted metabolomics to reveal therapeutic effect and mechanism of Alpiniae oxyphyllae fructus on Alzheimer's disease in APP/PS1 mice

Introduction: Alpiniae oxyphyllae Fructus (AOF) has been abundantly utilized for the treatment of diarrhea, dyspepsia, kidney asthenia, and abdominal pain in China. AOF is effective for treating AD in clinical trials, but its exact mode of action is yet unknown. Methods: In this study, metabolomics was combined to ascertain the alterations in plasma metabolism in APP/PS1 transgenic mice, the therapy of AOF on model mice, and the dynamic variations in 15 bile acids (BAs) concentration. Results: 31 differential biomarkers were finally identified in APP/PS1 group vs. the WT group. The levels of 16 metabolites like sphinganine (Sa), lyso PE (20:2), lysoPC (17:0), glycocholic acid (GCA), deoxycholicacid (DCA) were increased in APP/PS1 group, and those of 15 metabolites like phytosphingosine, cer (d18:0/14:0), and fumaric acid were reduced in APP/PS1 group. After AOF treatment, 29 of the 31 differential metabolites showed a tendency to be back-regulated, and 15 metabolites were significantly back-regulated, including sphinganine (Sa), lyso PE (20:2), glycocholic acid (GCA), deoxycholic acid (DCA). The relationship between BAs level and AD had been received increasing attention in recent years, and we also found notable differences between DCA and GCA in different groups. Therefore, a BAs-targeted metabonomic way was established to determine the level of 15 bile acids in different groups. The consequence demonstrated that primary BAs (CA, CDCA) declined in APP/PS1 model mice. After 3 months of AOF administration, CA and CDCA levels showed an upward trend. Conjugated primary bile acids (TCA, GCA, TCDCA, GCDCA), and secondary bile acids (DCA, LCA, GDCA, TDCA, TLCA GLCA) ascended in APP/PS1 group. After 3 months of AOF treatment, the levels of most BAs decreased to varying degrees. Notably, the metabolic performance of DCA and GCA in different groups was consistent with the predictions of untargeted metabolomics, validating the correctness of untargeted metabolomics. Discussion: According to metabolic pathways of regulated metabolites, it was prompted that AOF ameliorated the symptom of AD mice probably by regulating bile acids metabolism. This study offers a solid foundation for further research into the AOF mechanism for the therapy of AD.

Serum metabolic profiling of rats infected with Clonorchis sinensis using LC-MS/MS method

Background

Clonorchiasis is an important foodborne parasitic disease. The omics-based-techniques could illuminate parasite biology and further make innovations in the research for parasitic diseases. However, knowledge about the serum metabolic profiles and related metabolic pathways in clonorchiasis is very limited.

Methods

A untargeted ultra-high performance liquid tandem chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) was used to profile the serum metabolites of rats at both 4 and 8 weeks post infection (wpi) with Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis). Additionally, multivariate statistical analysis methods were employed to identify differential metabolites. Next, serum amino acids and phosphatidylcholines (PCs) levels were determined by targeted metabolomics analysis.

Result

A total of 10530 and 6560 ions were identified in ESI+ and ESI- modes. The levels of phosphatidylcholines, glycerophosphocholine and choline were significantly changed, with the shift in lipid metabolism. Significant changes were also observed in amino acids (isoleucine, valine, leucine, threonine, glutamate and glutamine). Targeted analysis showed that BCAAs (isoleucine, valine, leucine) levels significantly increased at 4 wpi and decreased at 8 wpi; threonine was increased at 8 wpi, whereas glutamate and glutamine showed a decreasing trend at 8 wpi. Additionally, the level of 17 PCs were significantly changed in infected rats. Marked metabolic pathways were involved in clonorchiasis, including glycerophospholipid metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, histidine metabolism and pyrimidine metabolism.

Conclusion

These results show that C. sinensis infection can cause significant changes in the rat serum metabolism, especially in amino acids and lipids. The metabolic signature together with perturbations in metabolic pathways could provide more in depth understanding of clonorchiasis and further make potential therapeutic interventions.

Metabolic Signature of Energy Metabolism Alterations and Excess Nitric Oxide Production in Culture Media Correlate with Low Human Embryo Quality and Unsuccessful Pregnancy

Notwithstanding the great improvement of ART, the overall rate of successful pregnancies from implanted human embryos is definitely low. The current routine embryo quality assessment is performed only through morphological criteria, which has poor predictive capacity since only a minor percentage of those in the highest class give rise to successful pregnancy. Previous studies highlighted the potentiality of the analysis of metabolites in human embryo culture media, useful for the selection of embryos for implantation. In the present study, we analyzed in blind 66 human embryo culture media at 5 days after in vitro fertilization with the aim of quantifying compounds released by cell metabolism that were not present as normal constituents of the human embryo growth media, including purines, pyrimidines, nitrite, and nitrate. Only some purines were detectable (hypoxanthine and uric acid) in the majority of samples, while nitrite and nitrate were always detectable. When matching biochemical results with morphological evaluation, it was found that low grade embryos (n = 12) had significantly higher levels of all the compounds of interest. Moreover, when matching biochemical results according to successful (n = 17) or unsuccessful (n = 25) pregnancy, it was found that human embryos from the latter group released higher concentrations of hypoxanthine, uric acid, nitrite, and nitrate in the culture media. Additionally, those embryos that developed into successful pregnancies were all associated with the birth of healthy newborns. These results, although carried out on a relatively low number of samples, indicate that the analysis of the aforementioned compounds in the culture media of human embryos is a potentially useful tool for the selection of embryos for implantation, possibly leading to an increase in the overall rate of ART.

Metabolomic profiles in night shift workers: A cross-sectional study on hospital female nurses

Background and aim

Shift work, especially including night shifts, has been found associated with several diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cancers, and cardiovascular, mental, gastrointestinal and sleep disorders. Metabolomics (an omics-based methodology) may shed light on early biological alterations underlying these associations. We thus aimed to evaluate the effect of night shift work (NSW) on serum metabolites in a sample of hospital female nurses.

Methods

We recruited 46 nurses currently working in NSW in Milan (Italy), matched to 51 colleagues not employed in night shifts. Participants filled in a questionnaire on demographics, lifestyle habits, personal and family health history and work, and donated a blood sample. The metabolome was evaluated through a validated targeted approach measuring 188 metabolites. Only metabolites with at least 50% observations above the detection limit were considered, after standardization and log-transformation. Associations between each metabolite and NSW were assessed applying Tobit regression models and Random Forest, a machine-learning algorithm.

Results

When comparing current vs. never night shifters, we observed lower levels of 21 glycerophospholipids and 6 sphingolipids, and higher levels of serotonin (+171.0%, 95%CI: 49.1-392.7), aspartic acid (+155.8%, 95%CI: 40.8-364.7), and taurine (+182.1%, 95%CI: 67.6-374.9). The latter was higher in former vs. never night shifters too (+208.8%, 95%CI: 69.2-463.3). Tobit regression comparing ever (i.e., current + former) and never night shifters returned similar results. Years worked in night shifts did not seem to affect metabolite levels. The Random-Forest algorithm confirmed taurine and aspartic acid among the most important variables in discriminating current vs. never night shifters.

Conclusions

This study, although based on a small sample size, shows altered levels of some metabolites in night shift workers. If confirmed, our results may shed light on early biological alterations that might be related to adverse health effects of NSW.

Targeted metabolomics reveals serum changes of amino acids in mild to moderate ischemic stroke and stroke mimics

Background

The pathophysiological processes linked to an acute ischemic stroke (IS) can be reflected in the circulating metabolome. Amino acids (AAs) have been demonstrated to be one of the most significant metabolites that can undergo significant alteration after a stroke.

Methods

We sought to identify the potential biomarkers for the early detection of IS using an extensive targeted technique for reliable quantification of 27 different AAs based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). A cohort with 216 participants was enrolled, including 70 mild to moderate ischemic stroke patients (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale < 15, MB group), 76 stroke mimics (MM group) and 70 healthy controls (NC group).

Results

It was found that upon comparing MB and MM to control patients, AAs shifts were detected via partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) and pathway analysis. Interestingly, MB and MM exhibited similar AAs pattern. Moreover, ornithine, asparagine, valine, citrulline, and cysteine were identified for inclusion in a biomarker panel for early-stage stroke detection based upon an AUC of 0.968 (95% CI 0.924-0.998). Levels of ornithine were positively associated with infract volume, 3 months mRS score, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score in MB. In addition, a metabolites biomarker panel, including ornithine, taurine, phenylalanine, citrulline, cysteine, yielded an AUC of 0.99 (95% CI 0.966-1) which can be employed to effectively discriminate MM patients from control.

Conclusion

Overall, alternations in serum AAs are characteristic metabolic features of MB and MM. AAs could serve as promising biomarkers for the early diagnosis of MB patients since mild to moderate IS patients were enrolled in the study. The metabolism of AAs can be considered as a key indicator for both the prevention and treatment of IS.

Metabolic biomarkers of risperidone-induced weight gain in drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia

Background

Risperidone is a commonly prescribed antipsychotic drug with a potential side effect of weight gain. However, the pathophysiological mechanism is still poorly understood. Here, we sought to identify potential biomarkers of risperidone-induced weight gain by using a targeted metabolomics approach.

Methods

We enrolled 30 subjects who received risperidone monotherapy for 8  weeks from a prospective longitudinal cohort study for drug-naïve schizophrenia patients. Plasma metabolites were measured by targeted metabolomics Biocrates MxP® Quant 500 Kit at baseline and 8-week follow-up.

Results

After 8  weeks of risperidone treatment, the levels of 48 differential metabolites were upregulated, including lysophosphatidylcholines (2), phosphatidylcholines (PC) (8), cholesteryl esters (CE) (3), and triglycerides (35), while 6 differential metabolites namely PC aa C38:6, methionine (Met), α-aminobutyric acid (AABA), TrpBetaine, CE (22:6), and Taurocholic acid (TCA) were downregulated. Interestingly, the reduction of PC aa C38:6, AABA and CE (22:6) was linearly related with increased BMI. Further multiple regression analysis showed that the changes of PC aa C38:6 and AABA were independent contributors of increased BMI. In addition, baseline levels of PC aa C36:5, CE (20:5) and AABA had positive relationships with the change of BMI.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate phosphatidylcholines and amino acids may serve as biomarkers for risperidone-induced weight gain.

Mechanism of Guilu Erxian ointment based on targeted metabolomics in intervening in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer outcome in older patients with poor ovarian response of kidney-qi deficiency type

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of Guilu Erxian ointment on the outcome of IVF-ET in older patients with poor ovarian response infertility of kidney-qi deficiency type, and to verify and analyze the mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine on improving older patients with poor ovarian response infertility of kidney-qi deficiency type from the perspective of metabolomics using targeted metabolomics technology, identify the related metabolic pathways, and provide metabolic biomarker basis and clinical treatment ideas for improving older patients with poor ovarian response infertility.

METHODS

This study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, and a total of 119 infertile patients who underwent IVF-ET at Shandong Center for Reproduction and Genetics of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine were selected. Eighty older patients with infertility undergoing IVF were randomly divided into older treatment group and older placebo group, and another 39 young healthy women who underwent IVF-ET or ICSI due to male factors were selected as the normal control group. Flexible GnRH antagonist protocol was used for ovulation induction in all three groups, and Guilu Erxian ointment and placebo groups started taking Guilu Erxian ointment and placebo from the third day of menstruation until IVF surgery. And ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UHPLC-QTRAP MS) was used to detect metabolites in the three groups of samples.

RESULTS

Compared with the placebo group, the number of oocytes retrieved, 2PN fertilization, high-quality embryos, total number of available embryos and estrogen on HCG day were increased in the treatment group, and the differences were statistically significant (P > 0.05), but the clinical pregnancy rate of fresh embryos and frozen embryos were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The results of targeted metabolomics analysis showed that follicular fluid in the treatment group clustered with the normal young group and deviated from the placebo group. A total of 55 significant differential metabolites were found in the follicular fluid of older patients with poor ovarian response of kidney-qi deficiency type and patients in the normal young group, after Guilu Erxian ointment intervention, Metabolites such as L-Aspartic acid, Glycine, L-Serine, Palmitoleic Acid, Palmitelaidic acid, L-Alanine, Gamma-Linolenic acid, Alpha-Linolenic Acid, and N-acetyltryptophan were down-regulated, mainly involving amino acid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism.

CONCLUSION

Guilu Erxian ointment can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and IVF outcomes of older patients with poor ovarian response of kidney-qi deficiency type. There were differences in follicular fluid metabolites between older patients with poor ovarian response of kidney-qi deficiency type and normal women. L-Aspartic acid, L-Alanine, Aminoadipic acid, L-Asparagine, L-Arginine, L-Serine, Gamma- Linolenic acid, Pentadecanoic acid and Alpha-Linolenic Acid are closely related to older patients with poor ovarian response due to deficiency of kidney-qi and may be inferred as biomarkers. The mechanism of Guilu Erxian ointment intervention may be mainly through amino acid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism regulation.

Serum Phospholipids Are Potential Therapeutic Targets of Aqueous Extracts of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) against Obesity and Insulin Resistance

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is rich in phenolic compounds with antiobesogenic and antidiabetic effects. In this study, the effects of aqueous extracts of two varieties of Hibiscus sabdariffa, Alma blanca (white-yellow color) and Cuarenteña (purple color), were evaluated for the prevention of obesity and insulin resistance in rats fed a high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFD), identifying targeted molecules through global metabolomics. After sixteen weeks, both roselle aqueous extracts prevented body weight gain, and white roselle extract ameliorated insulin resistance and decreased serum free fatty acid levels. Moreover, white roselle extract decreased 18:0 and 20:4 lysophosphatidylethanolamines and purple roselle extract increased 16:0 and 20:4 lysophosphatidylinositol compared to HFFD-fed rats. These results demonstrate that roselle's beneficial health effects are variety-dependent. Interestingly, the white roselle extract showed a greater beneficial effect, probably due to its high contents of organic and phenolic acids, though its consumption is not as popular as that of the red/purple varieties.

Clover Root Uptake of Cereal Benzoxazinoids (BXs) Caused Accumulation of BXs and BX Transformation Products Concurrently with Substantial Increments in Clover Flavonoids and Abscisic Acid

Metabolomic studies on root uptake and transformation of bioactive compounds, like cereal benzoxazinoids (BXs) in non-BX producing plants, are very limited. Therefore, a targeted mass-spectrometry-based metabolomics study was performed to elucidate the root uptake of BXs in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and the impact of absorbed BXs on intrinsic clover secondary metabolites. Clover plants grew in a medium containing 100 μM of individual BXs (five aglycone and one glycoside BXs) for 3 weeks. Subsequently, plant tissues were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to quantify the BXs and clover secondary metabolite concentrations. All BXs were taken up by clover roots and translocated to the shoots. Upon uptake of 2,4-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIBOA), 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA), 2-hydroxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (HBOA), and 2-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (HBOA-glc), the parent compounds and a range of transformation products were seen in the roots and shoots. The individual BX concentrations ranged from not detected (nd) to 469 μg/g of dry weight (dw) and from nd to 170 μg/g of dw in the roots and shoots, respectively. The root uptake of BXs altered the composition of intrinsic clover secondary metabolites. In particular, the concentration of flavonoids and the hormone abscisic acid increased substantially in comparison to control plants.

Impact of Acetate versus Citrate Dialysates on Intermediary Metabolism-A Targeted Metabolomics Approach

Acetate is widely used as a dialysate buffer to avoid the precipitation of bicarbonate salts. However, even at low concentrations that wouldn’t surpass the metabolic capacity of the Krebs tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, other metabolic routes are activated, leading to undesirable clinical consequences by poorly understood mechanisms. This study aims to add information that could biologically explain the clinical improvements found in patients using citrate dialysate. A unicentric, cross-over, prospective targeted metabolomics study was designed to analyze the differences between two dialysates, one containing 4 mmol/L of acetate (AD) and the other 1 mmol/L of citrate (CD). Fifteen metabolites were studied to investigate changes induced in the TCA cycle, glycolysis, anaerobic metabolism, ketone bodies, and triglyceride and aminoacidic metabolism. Twenty-one patients completed the study. Citrate increased during the dialysis sessions when CD was used, without surpassing normal values. Other differences found in the next TCA cycle steps showed an increased substrate accumulation when using AD. While lactate decreased, pyruvate remained stable, and ketogenesis was boosted during dialysis. Acetylcarnitine and myo-inositol were reduced during dialysis, while glycerol remained constant. Lastly, glutamate and glutarate decreased due to the inhibition of amino acidic degradation. This study raises new hypotheses that need further investigation to understand better the biochemical processes that dialysis and the different dialysate buffers induce in the patient’s metabolism.

Comparative analysis of right ventricular metabolic reprogramming in pre-clinical rat models of severe pulmonary hypertension-induced right ventricular failure

Background

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) leads to right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy and failure (RVF). The precise mechanisms of the metabolic basis of maladaptive PH-induced RVF (PH-RVF) are yet to be fully elucidated. Here we performed a comparative analysis of RV-metabolic reprogramming in MCT and Su/Hx rat models of severe PH-RVF using targeted metabolomics and multi-omics.

Methods

Male Sprague Dawley rats (250–300 gm; n = 15) were used. Rats received subcutaneous monocrotaline (60 mg/kg; MCT; n = 5) and followed for ~30-days or Sugen (20 mg/kg; Su/Hx; n = 5) followed by hypoxia (10% O₂; 3-weeks) and normoxia (2-weeks). Controls received saline (Control; n = 5). Serial echocardiography was performed to assess cardiopulmonary hemodynamics. Terminal RV-catheterization was performed to assess PH. Targeted metabolomics was performed on RV tissue using UPLC-MS. RV multi-omics analysis was performed integrating metabolomic and transcriptomic datasets using Joint Pathway Analysis (JPA).

Results

MCT and Su/Hx rats developed severe PH, RV-hypertrophy and decompensated RVF. Targeted metabolomics of RV of MCT and Su/Hx rats detected 126 and 125 metabolites, respectively. There were 28 and 24 metabolites significantly altered in RV of MCT and Su/Hx rats, respectively, including 11 common metabolites. Common significantly upregulated metabolites included aspartate and GSH, whereas downregulated metabolites included phosphate, α-ketoglutarate, inositol, glutamine, 5-Oxoproline, hexose phosphate, creatine, pantothenic acid and acetylcarnitine. JPA highlighted common genes and metabolites from key pathways such as glycolysis, fatty acid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, TCA cycle, etc.

Conclusions

Comparative analysis of metabolic reprogramming of RV from MCT and Su/Hx rats reveals common and distinct metabolic signatures which may serve as RV-specific novel therapeutic targets for PH-RVF.

A preliminary study on the relationship between environmental endocrine disruptors and precocious puberty in girls

OBJECTIVES

To explore the associations of environmental endocrine disruptors on precocious puberty in girls.

METHODS

This was a case-control study in which 30 girls with precocious puberty and 46 age- and race-matched prepubertal females were enrolled. The concentrations of 10 environment endocrine disruptors (bisphenol A, bisphenol B, butylparaben, propylparaben, ethvlparaben, methylparaben, mono-butyl phthalate, mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, monoethyl phthalate, and monomethyl phthalate) in urine and 10 steroid hormones (dihydrotestosterone, corticosterone, hydrocortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, 17α-hydroxy progesterone, 4-androstene-3,17-dione, estrone, deoxycorticosterone, pregnenolone, and dehydroepiandrosterone) in serum were detected with the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

RESULTS

According to the Mann-Whitney U test, urinary levels of bisphenol A, monobutyl phthalate, and monomethyl phthalate were significantly higher in the precocious group than in the prepubertal group, and blood levels of hydrocortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, and pregnenolone were significantly lower in the precocious group than in the prepubertal group (p<0.05, VIP>1).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings confirm the association between phthalate exposure and the incidence of precocious puberty in girls. Control and reduction of children exposure to phthalate esters should be considered as a health priority.

Novel biomarkers identifying hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and its obstructive variant based on targeted amino acid metabolomics

BACKGROUND

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an underdiagnosed genetic heart disease worldwide. The management and prognosis of obstructive HCM (HOCM) and non-obstructive HCM (HNCM) are quite different, but it also remains challenging to discriminate these two subtypes. HCM is characterized by dysmetabolism, and myocardial amino acid (AA) metabolism is robustly changed. The present study aimed to delineate plasma AA and derivatives profiles, and identify potential biomarkers for HCM.

METHODS

Plasma samples from 166 participants, including 57 cases of HOCM, 52 cases of HNCM, and 57 normal controls (NCs), who first visited the International Cooperation Center for HCM, Xijing Hospital between December 2019 and September 2020, were collected and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based on targeted AA metabolomics. Three separate classification algorithms, including random forest, support vector machine, and logistic regression, were applied for the identification of specific AA and derivatives compositions for HCM and the development of screening models to discriminate HCM from NC as well as HOCM from HNCM.

RESULTS

The univariate analysis showed that the serine, glycine, proline, citrulline, glutamine, cystine, creatinine, cysteine, choline, and aminoadipic acid levels in the HCM group were significantly different from those in the NC group. Four AAs and derivatives (Panel A; proline, glycine, cysteine, and choline) were screened out by multiple feature selection algorithms for discriminating HCM patients from NCs. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in Panel A yielded an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.83 (0.75-0.91) in the training set and 0.79 (0.65-0.94) in the validation set. Moreover, among 10 AAs and derivatives (arginine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, proline, alanine, asparagine, creatine, tryptophan, ornithine, and choline) with statistical significance between HOCM and HNCM, 3 AAs (Panel B; arginine, proline, and ornithine) were selected to differentiate the two subgroups. The AUC values in the training and validation sets for Panel B were 0.83 (0.74-0.93) and 0.82 (0.66-0.98), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The plasma AA and derivatives profiles were distinct between the HCM and NC groups. Based on the differential profiles, the two established screening models have potential value in assisting HCM screening and identifying whether it is obstructive.

Acclimation and Compensating Metabolite Responses to UV-B Radiation in Natural and Transgenic Populus spp. Defective in Lignin Biosynthesis

Plants have evolved to protect leaf mesophyll tissue from damage caused by UV-B radiation by producing an array of UV-absorbing secondary metabolites. Flavonoids (phenolic glycosides) and sinapate esters (hydroxycinnamates) have been implicated as UV-B protective compounds because of the accumulation in the leaf epidermis and the strong absorption in the wavelengths corresponding to UV. Environmental adaptations by plants also generate a suite of responses for protection against damage caused by UV-B radiation, with plants from high elevations or low latitudes generally displaying greater adaptation or tolerance to UV-B radiation. In an effort to explore the relationships between plant lignin levels and composition, the origin of growth elevation, and the hierarchical synthesis of UV-screening compounds, a collection of natural variants as well as transgenic Populus spp. were examined for sensitivity or acclimation to UV-B radiation under greenhouse and laboratory conditions. Noninvasive, ecophysiological measurements using epidermal transmittance and chlorophyll fluorescence as well as metabolite measurements using UPLC-MS generally revealed that the synthesis of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and lignin precursors are increased in Populus upon moderate to high UV-B treatment. However, poplar plants with genetic modifications that affect lignin biosynthesis, or natural variants with altered lignin levels and compositions, displayed complex changes in phenylpropanoid metabolites. A balance between elevated metabolic precursors to protective phenylpropanoids and increased biosynthesis of these anthocyanins, flavonoids, and lignin is proposed to play a role in the acclimation of Populus to UV-B radiation and may provide a useful tool in engineering plants as improved bioenergy feedstocks.