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Ecology and Evolution Jun 2024The mangrove fish () serves as a model for researching environmental adaptation and sexual development. To further such research, we sequenced and assembled a...
The mangrove fish () serves as a model for researching environmental adaptation and sexual development. To further such research, we sequenced and assembled a high-quality 842 Mb reference genome for . Comparative genomic analysis revealed 891 expanded gene families, including significantly expanded cytochrome P450 () detoxification genes known to be involved in xenobiotic defense. We identified 69 () across 18 families and 10 clans using multiple methods. Extensive RNA-seq and qPCR analysis demonstrated diverse spatiotemporal expression patterns of by developmental stage, tissue type, sex, and pollutant exposure (17β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (MT)). Many exhibited sexual dimorphism in gonads, suggesting reproductive roles in steroidogenesis, while their responsiveness to model toxicants indicates their importance in environmental adaptation through enhanced detoxification. Pathway analysis highlighted expanded genes in arachidonic acid metabolism, drug metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. This chromosome-level genomic resource provides crucial biological insights to elucidate the functional roles of expanded in environmental adaptation, sexual development, early life history, and conservation in the anthropogenically impacted mangrove habitats of . It also enables future ecotoxicology research leveraging as a pollution sentinel species.
PubMed: 38895576
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11565 -
Cancers May 2024This review delves into the enzymatic processes governing the initial stages of glycerophospholipid (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and... (Review)
Review
This review delves into the enzymatic processes governing the initial stages of glycerophospholipid (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine) and triacylglycerol synthesis. The key enzymes under scrutiny include GPAT and AGPAT. Additionally, as most AGPATs exhibit LPLAT activity, enzymes participating in the Lands cycle with similar functions are also covered. The review begins by discussing the properties of these enzymes, emphasizing their specificity in enzymatic reactions, notably the incorporation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into phospholipids. The paper sheds light on the intricate involvement of these enzymes in various diseases, including obesity, insulin resistance, and cancer. To underscore the relevance of these enzymes in cancer processes, a bioinformatics analysis was conducted. The expression levels of the described enzymes were correlated with the overall survival of patients across 33 different types of cancer using the GEPIA portal. This review further explores the potential therapeutic implications of inhibiting these enzymes in the treatment of metabolic diseases and cancer. By elucidating the intricate enzymatic pathways involved in lipid synthesis and their impact on various pathological conditions, this paper contributes to a comprehensive understanding of these processes and their potential as therapeutic targets.
PubMed: 38893234
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112115 -
Nutrients May 2024An imbalance of energy intake and expenditure is commonly considered as the fundamental cause of obesity. However, individual variations in susceptibility to obesity do...
An imbalance of energy intake and expenditure is commonly considered as the fundamental cause of obesity. However, individual variations in susceptibility to obesity do indeed exist in both humans and animals, even among those with the same living environments and dietary intakes. To further explore the potential influencing factors of these individual variations, male C57BL/6J mice were used for the development of obesity-prone and obesity-resistant mice models and were fed high-fat diets for 16 weeks. Compared to the obesity-prone mice, the obesity-resistant group showed a lower body weight, liver weight, adipose accumulation and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. 16S rRNA sequencing, which was conducted for fecal microbiota analysis, found that the fecal microbiome's structural composition and biodiversity had changed in the two groups. The genera , , and increased in the obesity-prone mice, and the genera , and were enriched in the obesity-resistant mice. Using widely targeted metabolomics analysis, 166 differential metabolites were found, especially those products involved in arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, which were significantly reduced in the obesity-resistant mice. Moreover, KEGG pathway analysis exhibited that AA metabolism was the most enriched pathway. Significantly altered bacteria and obesity-related parameters, as well as AA metabolites, exhibited strong correlations. Overall, the phenotypes of the obesity-prone and obesity-resistant mice were linked to gut microbiota and AA metabolism, providing new insight for developing an in-depth understanding of the driving force of obesity resistance and a scientific reference for the targeted prevention and treatment of obesity.
Topics: Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Diet, High-Fat; Obesity; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Arachidonic Acid; Mice; Feces; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Disease Models, Animal; Bacteria; Body Weight
PubMed: 38892512
DOI: 10.3390/nu16111579 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024is a perennial plant well known for its versatile medicinal properties, including hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, estrogen-like, and...
is a perennial plant well known for its versatile medicinal properties, including hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, estrogen-like, and antidepressant characteristics. It has been reported that plant age affects the quality of . This study aimed to explore the differential metabolome and transcriptome of 2-year (PN2) and 3-year-old (PN3) plant root samples. Principal component analysis of metabolome and transcriptome data revealed major differences between the two groups (PN2 vs. PN3). A total of 1813 metabolites and 28,587 genes were detected in this study, of which 255 metabolites and 3141 genes were found to be differential ( < 0.05) between PN2 vs. PN3, respectively. Among differential metabolites and genes, 155 metabolites and 1217 genes were up-regulated, while 100 metabolites and 1924 genes were down-regulated. The KEGG pathway analysis revealed differentially enriched metabolites belonging to class lipids ("13S-hydroperoxy-9Z, 11E-octadecadionic acid", "9S-hydroxy-10E, 12Z-octadecadionic acid", "9S-oxo-10E, 12Z-octadecadionic acid", and "9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecadionic acid"), nucleotides and derivatives (guanine and cytidine), and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid) were found to be enriched ( < 0.05) in PN3 compared to PN2. Further, these differentially enriched metabolites were found to be significantly ( < 0.05) regulated via linoleic acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction, and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways. Furthermore, the transcriptome analysis showed the up-regulation of key genes , , , gallate 1-beta-glucosyltransferase, and beta-D-glucosidase in various plants' secondary metabolic pathways and , , , , , , and genes observed in phytohormone signal transduction pathway that is involved in plant growth and development, and protection against the various stressors. This study concluded that the roots of a 3-year-old plant have better metabolome and transcriptome profiles compared to a 2-year-old plant with importantly enriched metabolites and genes in pathways related to metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction, and various biological processes. These findings provide insights into the plant's dynamic biochemical and molecular changes during its growth that have several implications regarding its therapeutic use.
PubMed: 38891250
DOI: 10.3390/plants13111441 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Edible crickets have recently been used as a new alternative protein source with high nutritional value. The nutritional and flavor-related value of edible crickets...
Edible crickets have recently been used as a new alternative protein source with high nutritional value. The nutritional and flavor-related value of edible crickets varies greatly depending on the species, growth conditions and processing conditions. However, few studies have investigated the effects of the diet fed to crickets during their growth phase on flavor. Therefore, in this study, we characterized the flavor-related factors of powder from crickets reared on apple by-products (ACP) by comparing them with those of powder from crickets reared on a control diet (CCP). The fatty acid composition and volatile compounds of each powder were determined using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, followed by sensory analysis and color measurement. A decrease in unsaturated fatty acids, specifically γ-linolenic acid, α-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, was observed in ACP. A total of 50 volatile compounds were identified, of which 11 were present in only ACP, while 39 were found in both powders. The sensory analysis showed that the overall balance score of ACP was higher than that of CCP, and according to the color measurements, ACP was darker than CCP. These differences between CCP and ACP might have been due to the differences in the chemical composition of the diets fed to the crickets during their growth phase. The results of this study suggest that one of the factors determining the food value of edible crickets, especially in terms of flavor, is the diet they are fed during their growth phase.
PubMed: 38890896
DOI: 10.3390/foods13111668 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is marked by hepatic steatosis accompanied by an inflammatory response. At present, there are no approved therapeutic agents for...
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is marked by hepatic steatosis accompanied by an inflammatory response. At present, there are no approved therapeutic agents for NAFLD. polysaccharide (DHP), an active ingredient extracted from the stems of , and exerts a protective effect against liver injury. However, the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action DHP against NAFLD remain unclear. DHP was extracted, characterized, and administered to mice in which NAFLD had been induced with a high-fat and high-fructose drinking (HFHF) diet. Our results showed that DHP used in this research exhibits the characteristic polysaccharide peak with a molecular weight of 179.935 kDa and is composed primarily of Man and Glc in a molar ratio of 68.97:31.03. DHP treatment greatly ameliorated NAFLD by significantly reducing lipid accumulation and the levels of liver function markers in HFHF-induced NAFLD mice, as evidenced by decreased serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC) and total triglyceride (TG). Furthermore, DHP administration reduced hepatic steatosis, as shown by H&E and Oil red O staining. DHP also inhibited the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway expression, thereby reducing levels of hepatic proinflammatory cytokines. Besides, untargeted metabolomics further indicated that 49 metabolites were affected by DHP. These metabolites are strongly associated the metabolism of glycine, serine, threonine, nicotinate and nicotinamide, and arachidonic acid. In conclusion, DHP has a therapeutic effect against NAFLD, whose underlying mechanism may involve the modulation of TLR4/NF-κB, reduction of inflammation, and regulation of the metabolism of glycine, serine, threonine, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism.
PubMed: 38887554
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1374158 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024The objective of this study is to review different methods to screen for the optimal model for preventing and treating chicken glandular and muscular gastritis syndrome....
The objective of this study is to review different methods to screen for the optimal model for preventing and treating chicken glandular and muscular gastritis syndrome. Twenty-four 40-day-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were randomly allocated into four groups ( = 6): polyethylene glycol + ammonium chloride group (M1 group), acetic acid + rhubarb group (M2 group), polyethylene glycol + rhubarb group (M3 group), and control group. The control group had free access to water, while the remaining groups received different doses of molding reagents added to their drinking water. The animal models were assessed based on clinical manifestations, histopathology findings, serological analysis, and composition of intestinal microbiota to establish an optimal approach for constructing an avian model of glandular and muscular gastritis. The SPF chickens in each model group exhibited typical symptoms of glandular and muscular gastritis, poor spirit, yellow loose stools with undigested feed, and enlargement and ulceration of the glandular and muscular stomach. Among these groups, the M3 group had the highest incidence rate of 100%. Compared to the control group, the body weight and body temperature of the chicken in the three model groups were reduced, and the glandular and muscular stomachs and duodenum showed different degrees of bleeding, mucosal abscission, and other pathological injuries. Additionally, the levels of serum IL-2 and α-amylase activity decreased while the content of IL-4 increased. After conducting 16s rDNA sequencing, it was observed that the abundance of , and was significantly increased in the model group compared to the control group. Conversely, there was a notable decrease in the levels of and , which are speculated to be associated with arachidonic acid metabolism, the NF-κB signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathways. The combination of polyethylene glycol and rhubarb emerged as the most effective method for establishing the glandular and muscular gastritis model in SPF chickens. This constructed chicken model displayed distinct signs of damage to the glandular and muscular stomach, inflammatory response, and disturbance in the intestinal flora, thereby providing a foundation for future research on the prevention and treatment of this syndrome.
PubMed: 38887537
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1343768 -
MedRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024We have shown that ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduce risk for heart failure, regardless of ejection fraction status. Ventricular remodeling and reduced...
BACKGROUND
We have shown that ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduce risk for heart failure, regardless of ejection fraction status. Ventricular remodeling and reduced ventricular performance precede overt hear failure, however there is little insight into how PUFAs contribute to maladaptive signaling over time. PUFAs are agonists for regulatory activity at g-protein coupled receptors such as Ffar4, and downstream as substrates for monooxygenases (e.g lipoxygenase, cytochrome p450, or cyclooxygenase (COX)) which mediate intracellular adaptive signaling.
METHODS
Plasma phospholipid PUFA abundance at Exam 1 as mass percent EPA, DHA, and arachidonic acid (AA) from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) were evaluated using pathway modeling to determine the association with time-dependent changes in left ventricular (LV) mass (LVM), end-diastolic LV volume (EDV), and end-systolic volume (ESV) measured by cardiac MRI at Exams 1 and 5. Ejection fraction (EF) and mass:volume (MV) were calculated posteriorly from the first three.
RESULTS
2,877 subjects had available MRI data. Participants with low AA and EPA had accelerated age-dependent declines in LVM. Males with low AA and EPA also had accelerated declines in EDV, but among females there was no PUFA association with EDV declines and exam 5 EDV status was positively associated with AA. Both sexes had nearly the same positive association of AA with changes in ESV.
CONCLUSION
Plasma phospholipid AA and EPA are prospectively associated with indices of heart remodeling, including ventricular remodeling and performance. Combined AA and EPA scarcity was associated with the most accelerated age-related changes and exam 5 status, while the greatest benefits were found among participants with both PUFAs. This suggests that both PUFAs are required for optimal slowing of age-related declines in ventricular function.
PubMed: 38883788
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.05.24308494 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for heart failure, and diabetes-induced heart failure severely affects patients' health and quality of life. Cuproptosis...
Potential molecular and cellular mechanisms of the effects of cuproptosis-related genes in the cardiomyocytes of patients with diabetic heart failure: a bioinformatics analysis.
BACKGROUND
Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for heart failure, and diabetes-induced heart failure severely affects patients' health and quality of life. Cuproptosis is a newly defined type of programmed cell death that is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular disease, but the molecular mechanisms involved are not well understood. Therefore, we aimed to identify biomarkers associated with cuproptosis in diabetes mellitus-associated heart failure and the potential pathological mechanisms in cardiomyocytes.
MATERIALS
Cuproptosis-associated genes were identified from the previous publication. The GSE26887 dataset was downloaded from the GEO database.
METHODS
The consistency clustering was performed according to the cuproptosis gene expression. Differentially expressed genes were identified using the limma package, key genes were identified using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA) method, and these were subjected to immune infiltration analysis, enrichment analysis, and prediction of the key associated transcription factors. Consistency clustering identified three cuproptosis clusters. The differentially expressed genes for each were identified using limma and the most critical MEantiquewhite4 module was obtained using WGCNA. We then evaluated the intersection of the MEantiquewhite4 output with the three clusters, and obtained the key genes.
RESULTS
There were four key genes: , , , and . , , and were negatively associated with multiple immune factors, while was positively associated, and T-cells accounted for a major proportion of this relationship with the immune system. Four enriched pathways were found to be associated: arachidonic acid metabolism, peroxisomes, fatty acid metabolism, and dorsoventral axis formation, which may be regulated by the transcription factor MECOM, through a change in protein structure.
CONCLUSION
HSDL2, BCO2, CORIN, and SNORA80E may regulate cardiomyocyte cuproptosis in patients with diabetes mellitus-associated heart failure through effects on the immune system. The product of the cuproptosis-associated gene is probably involved in myocardial fibrosis in patients with diabetes, which leads to the development of cardiac insufficiency.
Topics: Myocytes, Cardiac; Humans; Heart Failure; Computational Biology; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Regulatory Networks; Ferroptosis; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies
PubMed: 38883603
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1370387 -
Heliyon Jun 2024Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common environmental endocrine disruptor that negatively impairs male reproductive ability. This study aimed to explore the alterations in serum...
OBJECTIVE
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common environmental endocrine disruptor that negatively impairs male reproductive ability. This study aimed to explore the alterations in serum metabolomics that occur following BPA exposure and the mechanism via which BPA induces the death of testicular cells in a male mouse model.
METHODS
The mice were classified into two groups: BPA-exposed and control groups, and samples were collected for metabolomic determination, semen quality analysis, electron microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time PCR, pathological staining, and Western blot analysis.
RESULTS
BPA exposure caused testicular damage and significantly decreased sperm quality in mice. Combined with non-target metabolomic analysis, this was closely related to ferroptosis induced by abnormal metabolites of arachidonic acid and phosphatidylcholine, and the expression of its related genes, acyl CoA synthetase 4, glutathione peroxidase 4, lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3, and phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 1 were altered.
CONCLUSION
BPA induced ferroptosis, caused testicular damage, and reduced fertility by affecting lipid metabolism in male mice. Inhibiting ferroptosis may potentially function as a therapeutic strategy to mitigate the male reproductive toxicity induced by BPA.
PubMed: 38882385
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31667