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Beneficial Microbes Nov 2023Equol (4',7-isoflavandiol) has attracted considerable attention for its potential efficacy in treating hormonal diseases. In this study we collected samples from healthy...
Equol (4',7-isoflavandiol) has attracted considerable attention for its potential efficacy in treating hormonal diseases. In this study we collected samples from healthy Japanese individuals (n = 91) to observe the relationship between the abundance of equol-producing bacteria in their faeces and the concentration of equol in their urine. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting the dihydrodaidzein reductase gene (dhdr) was used to detect equol-producing bacteria. Equol producers, who were defined as individuals with >1000 nmol/l equol in their urine, exhibited 4-8 log10 copies of dhdr/g faeces of equol-producing bacteria. We assessed the accuracy of these findings by determining the rate of correspondence between possessing equol-producing bacteria and producing urinary equol. Of the 91 participants, 33 were found to be positive for both equol-producing bacteria and urinary equol, 52 were negative for both, one was positive for equol-producing bacteria and negative for urinary equol, and five were negative for equol-producing bacteria and positive for urinary equol. The sensitivity and specificity of the qPCR for detecting equol-producing bacteria were 86.8% and 98.1%, respectively. On the whole, the presence of equol-producing bacteria and urinary equol displayed 93.4% concordance, with a kappa coefficient of 0.862. No apparent correlation was observed between dhdr copy number in the faeces and urinary equol concentrations. Analysis of the faecal microbiota showed that alpha diversity indices (OTU, ACE, Chao1, Shannon) were significantly higher in equol producers. Specifically, the relative abundance of phylum Pseudomonadota was increased in non-equol producers, while abundance of genus Alistipes, Barnesiella, Butyricimonas, Odoribacter, and Ruminococcus, which produce short chain fatty acids and/or hydrogen, were only observed in equol producers. These results suggest that a certain amount of equol-producing bacteria must be present in the intestine to produce detectable levels of equol, and that equol productivity might be affected by other components of the microbiota.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Bacteria; East Asian People; Equol; Feces; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Healthy Volunteers; Japan; Microbiota; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 38656099
DOI: 10.1163/18762891-20230038 -
The World Allergy Organization Journal Apr 2024A low-clean living environment (LCLE) can increase gut microbial diversity and prevent allergic diseases, whereas gut microbial dysbiosis is closely related to the...
BACKGROUND
A low-clean living environment (LCLE) can increase gut microbial diversity and prevent allergic diseases, whereas gut microbial dysbiosis is closely related to the pathogenesis of asthma. Our previous studies suggested that soil in the LCLE is a key factor in shaping intestinal microbiota. We aimed to explore whether sterilized soil intake as a prebiotic while being incubated with microbes in the air can attenuate mouse asthma inflammation by modifying gut microbiota.
METHODS
16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the gut microbial composition, in combination with immune parameters measured in the lung and serum samples.
RESULTS
16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed significant differences in the fecal microbiota composition between the test and control mice, with a higher abundance of , and , which produce short-chain fatty acids and are beneficial for health in the test mice. Soil intake significantly downregulated the concentrations of IL-4 and IL-9 in serum and increased the expression of IFN-γ, which regulated the Th1/Th2 balance in the lung by polarizing the immune system toward Th1, alleviating ovalbumin-induced asthma inflammation. The effect of sensitization on gut microbiota was greater than that of air microbes and age together but weaker than that of soil.
CONCLUSIONS
Soil intake effectively reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines in asthmatic mice, possibly by promoting the growth of multiple beneficial bacteria. The results indicated that the development of soil-based prebiotic products might be used for allergic asthma management, and our study provides further evidence for the hygiene hypothesis.
PubMed: 38655570
DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2024.100897 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024Achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) reduces all-cause mortality. However, the mechanisms and risk factors for...
BACKGROUND
Achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) reduces all-cause mortality. However, the mechanisms and risk factors for liver fibrosis and portal hypertension post-SVR remain incompletely understood. In the gut-liver axis, mucosa-associated microbiota (MAM) substantially influence immune and metabolic functions, displaying spatial heterogeneity at the anatomical intestinal site. We analyzed MAM composition and function to isolate the locoregional MAM involved in chronic liver disease progression in HCV post-SVR patients.
METHODS
We collected MAM samples from three intestinal sites (terminal ileum, ascending colon, and sigmoid colon) via brushing during colonoscopy in 23 HCV post-SVR patients and 25 individuals without liver disease (controls). The 16S rRNA of bacterial DNA in specimens collected with a brush and in feces was sequenced. The molecular expression of intestinal tissues and hepatic tissues were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR.
RESULTS
In the post-SVR group, the microbial β-diversity of MAM, especially in the ascending colon, differed from the control group and was associated with liver fibrosis progression. In PICRUSt analysis, MAM in the ascending colon in the liver cirrhosis (LC) group showed compromised functions associated with the intestinal barrier and bile acid production, and FGF19 expression was markedly decreased in the terminal ileum biopsy tissue in the LC group. At the genus level, six short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacterial genera, , , , , , and were reduced in the ascending colon of post-SVR LC patients.
CONCLUSION
In patients of HCV post-SVR, we identified the association between the degree of liver fibrosis and dysbiosis of mucosa-associated SCFA-producing bacterial genera that may be related to intestinal barrier and bile acid production in the ascending colon.
Topics: Humans; Dysbiosis; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Middle Aged; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Colon, Ascending; Intestinal Mucosa; Sustained Virologic Response; Hepacivirus; Feces; Aged; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Bacteria; Adult; DNA, Bacterial; Bile Acids and Salts
PubMed: 38650735
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1371429 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024As a representative classical prescription, Sijunzi decoction has powerful therapeutic effects on spleen-stomach qi insufficiency. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic,...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
As a representative classical prescription, Sijunzi decoction has powerful therapeutic effects on spleen-stomach qi insufficiency. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, diffuse, and non-specifically inflammatory disorder, the etiology of which still remains unclear. In the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) perspective, splenic asthenia is the primary cause of UC. Based on this, Sijunzi decoction has been extensively used in TCM clinical practice to alleviate UC in recent years. However, the pharmacological mechanism of Sijunzi decoction in modern medicine is still not completely clear, which limits its clinical application.
AIM OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study was to investigate the Sijunzi decoction's curative effect on acute UC mice and probe into its potential pharmacological mechanism.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The UC mouse model was set up by freely ingesting a 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) solution. The relieving role of Sijunzi decoction on UC in mice was analyzed by evaluating the changes in clinical parameters, colon morphology, histopathology, inflammatory factor content, intestinal epithelial barrier protein expression level, and gut microbiota balance state. Finally, multivariate statistical analysis was conducted to elucidate the relationship between inflammatory factors, intestinal epithelial barrier proteins, and gut microbiota.
RESULTS
First, the research findings revealed that Sijunzi decoction could visibly ease the clinical manifestation of UC, lower the DAI score, and attenuate colonic damage. Moreover, Sijunzi decoction could also significantly inhibit IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α while increasing occludin and ZO-1 expression levels. Subsequently, further studies showed that Sijunzi decoction could remodel gut microbiota homeostasis. Sijunzi decoction was beneficial in regulating the levels of Alistipes, Akkermansia, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, and other bacteria. Finally, multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated that key gut microbes were closely associated with inflammatory factors and intestinal epithelial barrier proteins.
CONCLUSION
Sijunzi decoction can significantly prevent and treat UC. Its mechanism is strongly associated with the improvement of inflammation and intestinal epithelial barrier damage by regulating the gut microbiota.
PubMed: 38650625
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1360972 -
Research Square Apr 2024Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is common in people living with HIV (PLHIV) in high TB burden settings. Active TB is associated with specific stool taxa; however,...
BACKGROUND
Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is common in people living with HIV (PLHIV) in high TB burden settings. Active TB is associated with specific stool taxa; however, little is known about the stool microbiota and LTBI, including in PLHIV.
METHOD
Within a parent study that recruited adult females with HIV from Cape Town, South Africa into predefined age categories (18-25, 35-60 years), we characterised the stool microbiota of those with [interferon-γ release assay (IGRA)- and tuberculin skin test (TST)-positive] or without (IGRA- and TST- negative) LTBI (n=25 per group). 16S rRNA DNA sequences were analysed using QIIME2, Dirichlet Multinomial Mixtures, DESeq2 and PICRUSt2.
RESULTS
No α- or β-diversity differences occurred by LTBI status; however, LTBI-positives were depleted. Inferred metagenome data showed LTBI-negative-enriched pathways included several involved in methylglyoxal degradation, L-arginine, putrescine, 4-aminobutanoate degradation and L-arginine and ornithine degradation. Stool from LTBI-positives demonstrated differential taxa abundance based on a quantitative response to antigen stimulation (depletion associated with higher IGRA or TST responses, respectively). In LTBI-positives, older people had different β-diversities than younger people whereas, in LTBI-negatives, no differences occurred across age groups.
CONCLUSION
Amongst female PLHIV, those with LTBI had, vs. those without LTBI, Gemmiger-enriched, which are producers of short chain fatty acids. Taxonomic differences amongst people with LTBI occurred according to quantitative response to antigen stimulation and age. These data enhance our understanding of the microbiome's potential role in LTBI.
PubMed: 38645218
DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4182285/v1 -
BMC Pulmonary Medicine Apr 2024Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) exhibit a distinct gut microbiota profile; however, the causal association between gut microbiota, associated...
BACKGROUND
Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) exhibit a distinct gut microbiota profile; however, the causal association between gut microbiota, associated metabolites, and PAH remains elusive. We aimed to investigate this causal association and to explore whether dietary patterns play a role in its regulation.
METHODS
Summary statistics of gut microbiota, associated metabolites, diet, and PAH were obtained from genome-wide association studies. The inverse variance weighted method was primarily used to measure the causal effect, with sensitivity analyses using the weighted median, weighted mode, simple mode, MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO), and MR-Egger methods. A reverse Mendelian randomisation analysis was also performed.
RESULTS
Alistipes (odds ratio [OR] = 2.269, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.100-4.679, P = 0.027) and Victivallis (OR = 1.558, 95% CI 1.019-2.380, P = 0.040) were associated with an increased risk of PAH, while Coprobacter (OR = 0.585, 95% CI 0.358-0.956, P = 0.032), Erysipelotrichaceae (UCG003) (OR = 0.494, 95% CI 0.245-0.996, P = 0.049), Lachnospiraceae (UCG008) (OR = 0.596, 95% CI 0.367-0.968, P = 0.036), and Ruminococcaceae (UCG005) (OR = 0.472, 95% CI 0.231-0.962, P = 0.039) protected against PAH. No associations were observed between PAH and gut microbiota-derived metabolites (trimethylamine N-oxide [TMAO] and its precursors betaine, carnitine, and choline), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), or diet. Although inverse variance-weighted analysis demonstrated that elevated choline levels were correlated with an increased risk of PAH, the results were not consistent with the sensitivity analysis. Therefore, the association was considered insignificant. Reverse Mendelian randomisation analysis demonstrated that PAH had no causal impact on gut microbiota-derived metabolites but could contribute to increased the levels of Butyricicoccus and Holdemania, while decreasing the levels of Clostridium innocuum, Defluviitaleaceae UCG011, Eisenbergiella, and Ruminiclostridium 5.
CONCLUSIONS
Gut microbiota were discovered suggestive evidence of the impacts of genetically predicted abundancy of certain microbial genera on PAH. Results of our study point that the production of SCFAs or TMAO does not mediate this association, which remains to be explained mechanistically.
Topics: Humans; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Genome-Wide Association Study; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; Choline; Methylamines
PubMed: 38632547
DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-03008-7 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Essential oils are potential alternatives to antibiotics for preventing albicans (C. albicans) infection which is responsible for economic losses in the pigeon...
Essential oils are potential alternatives to antibiotics for preventing albicans (C. albicans) infection which is responsible for economic losses in the pigeon industry. essential oil (EO) can inhibit pathogens, particularly fungal pathogens but its potential beneficial effects on -infected pigeons remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the impact of . EO on antioxidant activity, immune response, intestinal barrier function, and intestinal microbiota in -infected pigeons. The pigeons were divided into four groups as follows: (1) NC group: uninfected/. EO untreated group; (2) PC group: infected/. EO untreated group; (3) LPA group: infected/1% . EO treated group; and (4) HPA group: infected/2% . EO treated group. The pigeons were infected with from day of age 35 to 41 and treated with . EO from day of age 42 to 44, with samples collected on day of age 45 for analysis. The results demonstrated that . EO prevented the reduction in the antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px causes by challenge in pigeons. Furthermore, . EO could decrease the relative expression of , , and in the ileum, as well as and in the crop, while increasing the relative expression of in the ileum and the crop and in the ileum in infected pigeons. Although the gut microbiota composition was not significantly affected by . EO, 2% . EO increased the abundance of and . In conclusion, the application of 2% . EO not only enhanced the level of antioxidant activity and the expression of genes related to intestinal barrier function but also inhibited inflammatory genes in -infected pigeons and increased the abundance of gut bacteria that are resistant to .
PubMed: 38628645
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1380277 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Mar 2024Excessive liver fat causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in laying hens, reducing egg production. Addressing NAFLD via bile-acid metabolism is gaining...
Excessive liver fat causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in laying hens, reducing egg production. Addressing NAFLD via bile-acid metabolism is gaining attention. We induced NAFLD in 7-week-old ISA female chickens with a high-cholesterol, low-choline diet (CLC) for 6 weeks. LC/MS was used to analyze serum and cecal bile acids, while cecal digesta DNA underwent 16S rRNA sequencing. The distribution of bile acid varied in healthy (CON) and CLC-fed chickens. CLC increased secondary bile acids (TLCA, TUDCA, THDCA, TDCA) in serum and primary bile acids (CDCA, TCDCA, isoDCA) in serum, as well as glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) in cecal contents. CLC upregulated bile-acid synthesis enzymes (CYP7A1, CYP8B1) in the liver. Bile-acid receptor gene expression (HNF4A, FXR, LXR) was similar between groups. Microbiota abundance was richer in CON (alpha-diversity), with distinct separation (beta-diversity) between CON and CLC. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio slightly decreased in CLC. Taxonomic analysis revealed higher , , in CLC but lower . CLC had more Mucispirillum, Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group, Shuttleworthia, and Olsenella, while CON had more Enterococcus, Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014, and Faecalibacterium. This study unveils bile-acid and microflora changes in a chicken NAFLD model, enhancing our understanding of fatty liver disease metabolism and aiding targeted interventions.
PubMed: 38612231
DOI: 10.3390/ani14070992 -
Nature Aging May 2024Understanding the molecular mechanisms of aging is crucial for enhancing healthy longevity. We conducted untargeted lipidomics across 13 biological samples from mice at...
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of aging is crucial for enhancing healthy longevity. We conducted untargeted lipidomics across 13 biological samples from mice at various life stages (2, 12, 19 and 24 months) to explore the potential link between aging and lipid metabolism, considering sex (male or female) and microbiome (specific pathogen-free or germ-free) dependencies. By analyzing 2,704 molecules from 109 lipid subclasses, we characterized common and tissue-specific lipidome alterations associated with aging. For example, the levels of bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate containing polyunsaturated fatty acids increased in various organs during aging, whereas the levels of other phospholipids containing saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids decreased. In addition, we discovered age-dependent sulfonolipid accumulation, absent in germ-free mice, correlating with Alistipes abundance determined by 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing. In the male kidney, glycolipids such as galactosylceramides, galabiosylceramides (Gal2Cer), trihexosylceramides (Hex3Cer), and mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerols were detected, with two lipid classes-Gal2Cer and Hex3Cer-being significantly enriched in aged mice. Integrated analysis of the kidney transcriptome revealed uridine diphosphate galactosyltransferase 8A (UGT8a), alkylglycerone phosphate synthase and fatty acyl-coenzyme A reductase 1 as potential enzymes responsible for the male-specific glycolipid biosynthesis in vivo, which would be relevant to sex dependency in kidney diseases. Inhibiting UGT8 reduced the levels of these glycolipids and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the kidney. Our study provides a valuable resource for clarifying potential links between lipid metabolism and aging.
Topics: Lipidomics; Aging; Animals; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Female; Microbiota; Sex Factors; Bacteria; Kidney; Transcriptome; Glycolipids; Ganglioside Galactosyltransferase
PubMed: 38609525
DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00610-6 -
International Immunopharmacology May 2024Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent intestinal disease with an increasing incidence worldwide that seriously affects the life of patients. Turtle peptide (TP) is a...
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent intestinal disease with an increasing incidence worldwide that seriously affects the life of patients. Turtle peptide (TP) is a bioactive peptide extracted from turtles that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-aging properties. However, studies investigating the effect of TP on the progression of UC are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate effects and underlying mechanisms of TP and its derivative peptide GPAGPIGPV (GP-9) in alleviating UC in mice. The results showed that 500 mg/kg TP treatment significantly ameliorated colitis symptoms and oxidative stress in UC mice. TP alleviated intestinal barrier damage in UC mice by promoting mucosal repair and increasing the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO1, occludin and claudin-1). TP also modulated the composition of the gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of the beneficial bacteria Anaerotignum, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Alistipes, and Lachno-spiraceae_NK4A136_group and decreasing the abundance of the harmful bacteria Prevotella_9 and Parasutterella. Furthermore, we characterized the peptide composition of TP and found that GP-9 ameliorated the symptoms of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, TP and its derivative peptides ameliorated DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors and modulating the composition of the intestinal microbiota; this study provides a theoretical basis for the application of TP and its derivative peptides for their anti-inflammatory activity.
Topics: Animals; Colitis, Ulcerative; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Dextran Sulfate; Mice; Peptides; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Turtles; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Toll-Like Receptor 4; NF-kappa B; Disease Models, Animal; Intestinal Mucosa; Colon; Humans; Oxidative Stress; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 38608475
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112024