PubMed

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2025 Jan 18;290:117753. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117753. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPlastics and pesticides are commonly used and often coexist in the environment. As pollinating insects, honeybees are simultaneously exposed to both these toxins. However, there has been no study on the toxic effects of nano-polystyrene plastics (nanoPS) and cyfluthrin (Cy) on the Apis cerana cerana Fabricius until now. This study found that nanoPS did not significantly impact the mortality of Apis cerana cerana but could reduce cyfluthrin-induced mortality. Additionally, nanoPS caused damage to the honeybee gut and hindered the development of the hypopharyngeal glands, whereas cyfluthrin did not produce these pathological changes. Concerning the detoxification-related genes, the two toxins alone and in combination significantly promoted the expression of P450 9E2 and Cyp9Q3 genes, and the upregulation trend was found more significant for the combination. Regarding immune gene expression, exposure to a single toxin or both toxins significantly down-regulated the abaecin gene, but only exposure to nanoPS significantly decreased apidaecin expression. The changes in metabolites and metabolic pathways in honeybees after ingesting nanoPS were also studied. This study highlights the toxicity of nano-microplastics and Cy alone and in combination to Apis cerana cerana Fabricius and provides new insights into the potential ecological risks of nanoPS.PMID:39827611 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117753

J Environ Manage. 2025 Jan 18;374:124075. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124075. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTCrop diseases significantly threaten global food security, driving the need for innovative control strategies. This study explored using ZnO-TiO2@MSC, a novel nanomaterial synthesized using a corn stover template, to enhance disease resistance in tomato plants. In vitro assays demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity of ZnO-TiO2@MSC against the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst. DC3000) by disrupting bacterial cell membranes and modulating oxidative stress-related gene expression. When applied to tomato leaves in pot trials, ZnO-TiO2@MSC achieved 79.83% control of bacterial leaf spot disease while promoting plant growth and photosynthesis. The nanomaterial triggered plant defense mechanisms, upregulating resistance genes and increasing the activities of key enzymes. Metabolomic profiling revealed elevated lipids, lipid-like molecules, and organic acid derivative levels in treated leaves, suggesting cell membrane remodeling as part of the defense response. These findings highlight the potential of biologically-templated nanomaterials like ZnO-TiO2@MSC as multifunctional tools for sustainable disease management in crops. The corn stover-based synthesis approach also provides a way to valorize agricultural waste. Further research is needed to understand the long-term impacts and viability of field-scale application of ZnO-TiO2@MSC as an alternative to conventional pesticides.PMID:39827603 | DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124075

Food Chem. 2025 Jan 16;472:142936. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.142936. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe impacts of various aging techniques on meat quality and metabolism alterations over time were investigated. Meat tenderness improved with aging, whereas prolonged aging negatively impacted color and oxidative stability. Dry-aging (DA) group exhibited significantly higher (P < 0.05) weight loss, lipid oxidation, and carbonyl contents, along with significantly lower (P < 0.05) centrifugal loss, cooking loss, a* value, and sulfhydryl content compared to wet-aging (WA) group. Substantial amounts of small peptides, amino acids, and amino acid derivatives were detected in the 28 d aged samples. Higher abundances of benzenoids, lipids and lipid-like molecules, amino acids and their derivatives, and alkyl phosphates were found in the WA group, while dialkyl ethers, fatty acids, fatty acid metabolites, and hydroxy acids showed higher intensities in the DA and dry-aging in bag groups. These findings provide comprehensive metabolome information and their underlying relation with meat quality changes during aging under different aging methods.PMID:39827567 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.142936

J Agric Food Chem. 2025 Jan 19. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c09151. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAlteration of the gut microbiota and its metabolites plays a key role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here, we investigated the mechanism of saponins, a byproduct from quinoa (SQ) processing, in regulating IBD. SQ ameliorated gut microbiota dysbiosis revealed by 16S rRNA sequencing and improved colonic antioxidant activities and barrier integrity in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated mice. Broad-spectrum antibiotics further proved that the gut-protective effects of SQ were mediated by gut microbiota. Next, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) of SQ-induced gut microbiota/metabolites to inoculate DSS-treated mice alleviated colitis significantly. Untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics revealed that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was enriched as a microbial metabolite after SQ supplementation. UDCA was then found to attenuate DSS-induced colitis in vivo by targeting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, which was also verified in a Caco-2 cell model treated with a TLR4 agonist/antagonist. Overall, our findings established that gut microbiota-UDCA-TLR4/NF-κB signaling plays a key role in mediating the protective effects of SQ.PMID:39827465 | DOI:10.1021/acs.jafc.4c09151

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2025 Jan 17;290:117754. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117754. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTCadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic agricultural pollutant that inhibits the growth and development of plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance plant tolerance to Cd, but the regulatory mechanisms in Allium fistulosum (green onion) are unclear. This study used a Cd treatment concentration of 1.5 mg·kg-1, which corresponds to the risk control threshold for soil pollution in Chinese agricultural land, to examine the effects and molecular mechanisms of AMF inoculation on the growth and physiology of green onion under Cd stress. AMF formed an effective symbiotic relationship with green onion roots under Cd stress, increased plant biomass, improved root structure and enhanced root vitality. AMF-colonized green onion had reduced Cd content in roots and leaves by 63.00 % and 46.50 %, respectively, with Cd content being higher in the roots than in the leaves. The ameliorative effect of AMF on Cd toxicity was mainly due to a reduction in malondialdehyde content in leaves (30.12 %) and an enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities (peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and reduced glutathione) that mitigated damage from excessive reactive oxygen species. In addition, AMF induced secretion of easily extractable glomalin soil protein and total glomalin-related soil protein and inhibited the translocation of Cd to the shoots. Transcriptomic and metabolomic correlation analyses revealed that differentially expressed genes and metabolites in AMF-inoculated green onion under Cd stress were predominantly enriched in the "phenylpropanoid biosynthesis" and "phenylalanine metabolism" pathways, upregulated the expression of the HCT, PRDX6, HPD, MIF, and HMA3 genes, and accumulation of the phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose metabolites. Thus, AMF enhance Cd tolerance in green onions by sequestering Cd in roots, restricting its translocation, modulating antioxidant defenses and inducing the expression of genes involved in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism pathways. Collectedly, we for the first time revealed the mechanism of AMF alleviating the toxicity of Cd to green onion, providing a theoretical foundation for the safe production and sustainable cultivation of green onion in Cd-contaminated soils.PMID:39826408 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117754

Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 18;15(1):2428. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-86726-0.ABSTRACTWe hypothesized that daily exercise promotes joint health by upregulating anti-inflammatory mediators via adaptive molecular and metabolic changes in the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP). We tested this hypothesis by conducting time-resolved analyses between 1 and 14 days of voluntary wheel running exercise in C57BL/6J mice. IFP structure and cellularity were evaluated by histomorphology, picrosirius red collagen staining, and flow cytometry analysis of stromal vascular fraction cells. Joint inflammation and metabolism were evaluated by multiplex gene expression analysis of synovium-IFP tissue and synovial fluid metabolomics, respectively. Exercise transiently increased cytokine and chemokine gene expression in synovium-IFP tissue, resolving within the first 5 days of exercise. The acute inflammatory response was associated with decreased adipocyte size and elevated CD45+Gr1+ myeloid cells, increased collagen content, and oxidized phospholipids. Exercise acutely altered synovial fluid metabolites, characterized by increased amino acids, peptides, bile acids, sphingolipids, dicarboxylic acids, and straight medium chain fatty acids and decreased hydroxy fatty acids and diacylglycerols. Between 5 and 14 days of exercise, inflammation, collagen, and adipocyte size returned to pre-exercise levels, and CD206+ immuno-regulatory macrophages increased. Thus, although the onset of new daily exercise transiently induced synovium-IFP inflammation and altered tissue structure, sustained daily exercise promoted IFP homeostasis.PMID:39827311 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-86726-0

Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 18;15(1):2404. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-86604-9.ABSTRACTEnvironmental stresses, particularly salinity, pose significant challenges to global crop production, notably impacting the growth and yield of rice. Integrating gene expression and metabolomics data offers valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms driving salt tolerance in plants. This study examined the effects of high salinity on the roots and shoots of rice genotypes with contrasting tolerances: CSR28 (tolerant) and IR28 (sensitive) at the seedling stage. Our phenotypic and physiological assessments indicated significant differences in response to prolonged salinity exposure between the two genotypes. Notably, osmoprotectants, including amino acids and sugars, exhibited increased accumulation, whereas most organic acids showed a decline. Linear regression analyses established significant correlations between the levels of proline, myoinositol, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and their respective encoding genes: OsP5CS2, OsIMP, OsNCA1a, and OsSOD-Fe. Furthermore, a relationship was identified between H2O2 content and the expression of glycolate oxidase (GLO), highlighting its role in initiating defense mechanisms under salinity stress. Our findings indicated specific metabolites and genes associated with distinct organs, genotypes, and timepoints that can serve as biomarkers for the development of new salt-tolerant rice varieties.PMID:39827270 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-86604-9

Anim Microbiome. 2025 Jan 18;7(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s42523-024-00373-w.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: As the pet population grows, there is increasing attention on the health and well-being of companion animals. Weaning, a common challenge for young mammals, often leads to issues such as diarrhea, growth retardation, and in severe cases, even mortality. However, the specific changes in gut microbiota and metabolites in kittens following weaning remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of the dynamic changes in the gut microbiota, serum metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and immune function of kittens at various time points: days 0, 4, and 30 post-weaning.RESULTS: Significant changes in the immune response and gut microbiota were observed in kittens following weaning. Specifically, IgM levels increased significantly (P < 0.01, n = 20), while IgA and IgG levels showed a sustained elevation. Weaning also disrupted the intestinal microbiota, leading to notable changes in serum metabolism. On day 4 post-weaning, there was a decrease in beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroides vulgatus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Anaerostipes caccae, and Butyricico-ccaceae. However, by day 30, beneficial bacteria including Candidatus Arthro-mitus, Holdemanella, and Bifidobacterium had increased (P < 0.05, n = 20). Serum metabolites showed clear separation across time points, with day 0 and day 4 exhibiting similar patterns. A total of 45 significantly altered metabolites (P < 0.05, n = 20) were identified, primarily related to vitamins, steroids, peptides, organic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment in eight metabolic pathways, with key changes in arginine metabolism and biosynthesis. Additionally, bacteria such as Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides stercoris, Leuconostoc citreum, and Bifidobacterium adolescentis were positively correlated with serum metabolic changes, emphasizing the link between gut microbiota and systemic metabolism (P < 0.05, n = 20).CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that the composition and function of intestinal microorganisms as well as serum metabolic profiles of weaned kittens presented dynamic changes. These findings not only deepen our understanding of the effects of weaning on kitten health, but also provide valuable insights into post-weaning nutritional regulation strategies for kittens.PMID:39827164 | DOI:10.1186/s42523-024-00373-w

Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2025 Jan 18;24(1):21. doi: 10.1186/s12933-024-02566-8.ABSTRACTThe global increase in human life expectancy, coupled with an unprecedented rise in the prevalence of obesity, has led to a growing clinical and socioeconomic burden of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Mechanistically, the molecular and cellular hallmarks of aging are omnipresent in HFpEF and are further exacerbated by obesity and associated metabolic diseases. Conversely, weight loss strategies, particularly caloric restriction, have shown promise in improving health status in patients with HFpEF and are considered the gold standard for promoting longevity and healthspan (disease-free lifetime) in model organisms. In this review, we implicate fundamental mechanisms of aging in driving HFpEF and elucidate how caloric restriction mitigates the disease progression. Furthermore, we discuss the potential for pharmacologically mimicking the beneficial effects of caloric restriction in HFpEF using clinically approved and emerging caloric restriction mimetics. We surmise that these compounds could offer novel therapeutic avenues for HFpEF and alleviate the challenges associated with the implementation of caloric restriction and other lifestyle modifications to reduce the burden of HFpEF at a population level.PMID:39827109 | DOI:10.1186/s12933-024-02566-8

Chin J Traumatol. 2025 Jan 3:S1008-1275(24)00182-2. doi: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2024.08.011. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPURPOSE: Organ damage caused by electric shock has attracted great attention. Some animal investigations and clinical cases have suggested that electric shock can induce liver injury. This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism of liver injury induced by electric shock.METHODS: Healthy male C57BL/6J mice aged 6-8 weeks were romandly divided into two groups: control group and electric shock group. Mice in the electric shock group were shocked on the top of the skull with an electric baton (20 kV) for 5 sec, while mice in the control group were exposed to only the acoustic and light stimulation produced by the electric baton. The effect of electric shock on liver function was evaluated by histological and biochemical analysis, and a metabolomics and transcriptomics study was performed to investigate how electric shock might induce liver damage. All data of this study were analyzed using a two-tailed unpaired Student's t-test in SPSS 22.0 Statistical Package.RESULTS: The electric shock group had significantly higher serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels than the control group (p < 0.001), and the shock notably caused cytoplasmic swelling and vacuolization, mild inflammatory cell (mainly macrophages and monocytes) infiltration and acute focal necrosis in hepatocytes (p < 0.001). A total of 47 differential metabolites and 249 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected using metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses. These differential metabolites were significantly enriched in primary bile acid biosynthesis (p < 0.05). Gene ontology functional analysis of the DEGs revealed that electric shock disturbed a key biological process involved in the inflammatory response in the mouse liver, and a significant number of DEGs were enriched in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes-identified pathways related to inflammation, such as the interleukin-17, tumor necrosis factor and mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling pathway. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that bile acid metabolism disturbance including up-regulation of the taurochenodesoxycholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and taurocholic acid, and down-regulation of chenodeoxycholic acid clycine conjugate may contribute to the electric shock-induced inflammatory response.CONCLUSION: Electric shock can induce liver inflammatory injury through the interleukin-17, tumor necrosis factor, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, and the bile acid metabolism disturbance including up-regulation of the taurochenodesoxycholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and taurocholic acid, and down-regulation of chenodeoxycholic acid clycine conjugate may contribute to inflammatory liver injury following electric shock.PMID:39827045 | DOI:10.1016/j.cjtee.2024.08.011

Microb Pathog. 2025 Jan 16:107307. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107307. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses significant challenges to global public health. The major cause of AMR development is previous use of antibiotics, hospitalization, and the lack of efficient methods for screening AMR pathogens. Mass spectrometry techniques offer rapid, sensitive, and early detection of AMR both on proteomics and metabolomics levels. Hence, a metabolomics analysis on clinical isolates of A. baumannii was conducted to understand the resistance patterns exhibited by these isolates. A. baumannii (ATCC strain) and its clinical isolates (n=26) were screened against five antibiotics i.e., ciprofloxacin, colistin, cefixime, gentamicin, and co-amoxiclav to obtain their resistance profile using antibiogram and MIC methods. After that, all the samples were analyzed in both positive and negative modes of Flow Injection-High Resolution-Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (FI-HR-ESI-MS) after 6 h of incubation. Data analysis revealed the identification of a total of 43 metabolites., The metabolites were then subjected to chemometric analysis to find any significant association of the metabolites with an increase in the MIC values. The chemometric analysis resulted in a total of eleven metabolites with p-values< 0.05 to be significantly associated with the resistance of A. baumannii isolates against the drugs. The concentrations of two metabolites, pyochelin, and L-serine, increased sequentially with the increase in MIC values (increase in resistance) of ciprofloxacin and cefixime, respectively. The study showed a significant association of metabolites with the resistance in A. baumannii isolates and can play a potential role in the development of new therapeutics against the arising antimicrobial resistance of A. baumannii towards various antibiotic drugs.PMID:39826862 | DOI:10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107307

J Ethnopharmacol. 2025 Jan 16:119338. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2025.119338. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Di Dang Tang is a classic formula from Shang Han Lun, originally used to treat conditions such as blood stasis and heat accumulation. It is widely applied in the treatment of diabetes and its complications, but its effects on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus-related Cognitive Dysfunction (T2DM-CD) remain unclear.AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aimed to investigate the metabolic characteristics of patients with T2DM-CD. Additionally, it sought to evaluate the effects of Di Dang Tang on cognitive function in T2DM-CD model rats by targeting the metabolic pathways identified in the clinical analysis, exploring the underlying mechanisms through animal experiments.METHODS: Fasting venous serum was collected from patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) to detect metabolism-related products, and KEGG annotation analysis was performed. Separately, thirty rats were randomly divided using a random number table method, with six rats selected as the blank control group. Twenty-four successfully modeled rats were then randomly divided into the model group and three Di Dang Tang groups (low, medium, and high doses). After administering the medication, the relevant indicators in the rats were assessed.RESULTS: Clinical metabolomics detected 32 key differential metabolites between the T2DM-CD and the blank control groups. Between the T2DM-CD and T2DM groups, 29 key differential metabolites were identified. In animal experiments, blood glucose levels in the model group were significantly higher compared to the blank control group at the same time points, whereas the high dose groups of Di Dang Tang exhibited reduced blood glucose levels at weeks 6 and 8 relative to the model group. In the Morris water maze test, the model group had longer escape latencies than the blank control group. The medium and high dose groups of Di Dang Tang showed shorter latencies. Additionally, compared to the model group, the Di Dang Tang groups spent more time and covered more distance in the target quadrant but had reduced average proximity and fewer platform entries. HE staining observation of the hippocampal CA1 area showed no apparent pathological changes in the blank group, obvious pathological damage in the model group, and no significant pathological changes in the medium and high dose groups of Di Dang Tang. Compared to the blank control group, the model group showed significant increases in the levels of Arachidonic Acid (AA), Ceramide (Cer), Glutamate (Glu), TNF- α, IL-1β, TG, and LDL-C, and a significant decrease in HDL-C levels. Compared to the model group, the groups of Di Dang Tang significantly modulated the levels of the above indicators. In Western Blot (WB) assays, compared to the blank control group, the model group rats exhibited significantly higher levels of cPLA2, PKC, ERK, and JNK , and significantly lower levels of claudin-5, NMDA, CaMKII, CREB, and BDNF. The Di Dang Tang groups significantly altered the levels of the above indicators compared to the model group.CONCLUSION: Amino acid metabolism, sphingolipid signaling pathways, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and various signaling pathways play significant roles in the pathogenesis of T2DM-CD. Di Dang Tang can improve learning and memory abilities in T2DM model rats and ameliorate cognitive impairments, potentially by regulating metabolic levels and inflammatory responses.PMID:39826792 | DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2025.119338

J Ethnopharmacol. 2025 Jan 16:119371. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2025.119371. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Emilia sonchifolia is a very widely used traditional Chinese medicine, with the efficacy of heat-clearing, detoxicating, dissipating blood stasis, reducing swelling and relieving pain. As a widely used traditional miao herb, Emilia sonchifolia is often used to treat upper respiratory tract infections, oral ulcer, pneumonia, mastitis, enteritis, bacillum, urinary tract infection, sores, eczema, falls and injuries, etc. In fact, many cases of liver injury caused by Emilia sonchifolia have been reported clinically. However, the mechanisms underlying hepatotoxicity induced by Emilia sonchifolia remain poorly understood.AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the acute and chronic hepatotoxicity of water extract from Emilia sonchifolia, identify its hepatotoxic metabolites, and elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying Emilia sonchifolia-induced hepatotoxicity.MATERIAL AND METHOD: The chemical components in the water extract of Emilia sonchifolia were identified using mass spectrometry. The acute toxicity study was conducted by orally administering a gradient dose of water extract of Emilia sonchifolia ranging from 0 to 37.6 g/kg. Mice were orally administered a water extract of Emilia sonchifolia at a dose of 13.72 g/kg/d for 14 days to induce liver injury. The hepatotoxicity was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining as well as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mechanisms of hepatotoxicity were explored through transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics analysis. Meanwhile, the core pathways related to the hepatotoxicity of Emilia sonchifolia were analyzed and validated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and ELISA.RESULT: The present study demonstrates that the water extract of Emilia sonchifolia can induce hepatotoxicity in mice. We found that the water extract of Emilia sonchifolia contained hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, such as seneciphyllin, senecionine, rinderine, echimidine, retrorsine and echimidine N-oxide. A dose of 19.20 g/kg or higher of the water extract of Emilia sonchifolia caused acute liver failure and death in mice. A dose of 13.72 g/kg or lower of the water extract of Emilia sonchifolia produced dose-dependent acute hepatotoxicity. Meanwhile, a dose of 13.72 g/kg of the water extract from Emilia sonchifolia induced chronic hepatotoxicity in mice. Furthermore, the results of liver transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics indicate that the mechanism of hepatotoxicity induced by the water extract of Emilia sonchifolia is associated with ferroptosis caused by abnormalities in bile acid accumulation, lipid and bilirubin accumulation, and glutathione metabolism. The validation experiment results demonstrate that in mice treated with the water extract of Emilia sonchifolia, the gene levels of Cyp2c29, Cyp3a41a and Ugt2b1 decreased while the gene level of Hsd3b3 increased. In mice treated with a water extract of Emilia sonchifolia, the levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total bile acids, alkaline phosphatase, and γ-glutamyl transferase were significantly elevated. Additionally, in mice treated with a water extract of Emilia sonchifolia, the levels of malondialdehyde increased while the levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase decreased.CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results suggest that the water extract of Emilia sonchifolia can cause hepatotoxicity in mice. The chronic hepatotoxicity of Emilia sonchifolia is associated with Cyp2c29, Cyp3a41a, Ugt2b1, and Hsd3b3-mediated cholestasis, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis.PMID:39826791 | DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2025.119371

Bioresour Technol. 2025 Jan 16:132081. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132081. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe temporal dynamics of bacterial and fungal communities significantly impact the manure composting process, yet viral communities are often underexplored. Bulk metagenomes, viromes, metatranscriptomes, and metabolomes were integrated to investigate dynamics of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus and virus-host interactions throughout a 63-day composting process. A total of 473 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs), predominantly Caudoviricetes, showed distinct phase-dependent differentiation. In phase I (initial-mesophilic), viruses targeted Gammaproteobacteria and Firmicutes, utilizing restriction-modification (RM) systems. In phase II (thermophilic-maturing), viruses infected Alphaproteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Planctomycetes, employing CRISPR-Cas systems. Lysogenic and lytic viruses exerting differential effects on bacterial pathogens across phases. Additionally, six types of auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) related to galactose and cysteine metabolisms were identified. The homologous lineages of AMGs with bacterial genes, along with the significant temporal correlation observed between virus-host-metabolite interactions, underscore the critical yet often overlooked role of viral communities in modulating microbial metabolisms and pathogenesis within composting ecosystems.PMID:39826761 | DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132081

Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jan 16:139972. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139972. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAcanthopanax senticosus, a celebrated herbal remedy, has been cherished in China for its health-promoting properties for over two millennia. The plant's key bioactive constituent, A. senticosus polysaccharide (ASPS), has recently attracted significant interest due to its exceptional biological activities. Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly examine the foundational research and development prospects of ASPS to establish a theoretical basis for its future investigation and practical application. In light of this, a comprehensive review of ASPS has been assembled, drawing from the latest literature sourced from Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Elsevier databases. The research indicates that the primary extraction techniques for ASPS include hot water extraction (HWE), ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE), deep eutectic solvent-assisted extraction (DESE), and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE). Each method has its own characteristics: HWE is simple and easy; DESE and EAE are mild, preserving the polysaccharide structure; while UAE enhances efficiency quickly. Composed predominantly of mannose, glucose, galactose, galacturonic acid, and rhamnose, ASPS exhibits a broad molecular weight spectrum, extending from 2.98 kDa to 150 kDa. The polysaccharide has demonstrated a spectrum of pharmacological effects, such as anti-oxidant, immuno-modulatory, anti-tumor, intestinal protective, and anti-diabetic actions. Furthermore, this review delves into patents featuring ASPS as the principal ingredient, assessing the current landscape and identifying challenges in the development and utilization of ASPS. It aims to provide invaluable insights into ASPS, facilitating the advancement of commercial products and fostering promising industrial applications across both basic research and the food and pharmaceutical sectors.PMID:39826744 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139972

Fitoterapia. 2025 Jan 16:106394. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106394. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe pericarp of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (ZBM) is an edible spice with medicinal value, and it has anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular protective effects. This study investigated the therapeutic effect of ZBM on atherosclerosis (AS) and its potential mechanisms. An in vivo experimental model of AS was established on apolipoprotein-E deficient (ApoE-/-) mice to evaluate the efficacy of ZBM. Serum metabolomics combined with the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation model were subsequently conducted to analyze the mechanisms. Results showed that ZBM effectively alleviated blood lipid disorders, aortic lipid accumulation, and intimal thickness in mice. Metabolomics indicated that ZBM mainly regulated 5 major metabolic pathways, including TCA cycle, steroid hormone biosynthesis, sphingolipid metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, which affected lipid metabolism and cell proliferation. Further experiments showed that ZBM inhibited VSMC proliferation likely because it blocked the signal transducer activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation and activated nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway, resulting in G0/G1 phase arrest and reactive oxygen species (ROS) clearance.PMID:39826616 | DOI:10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106394

Clin Rheumatol. 2025 Jan 18. doi: 10.1007/s10067-024-07294-8. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic inflammatory and difficult-to-treat autoimmune disease. Timosaponin AIII (TAIII), a plant-derived steroidal saponin, effectively inhibits cell proliferation, induces apoptosis, and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. This study explored the mechanisms of action of TAIII in SS treatment by studying gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) using fecal metabolomics.METHODS: The model group used non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. The treatment group was classified into TAIII and hydroxychloroquine groups. The gut microbiota, SCFAs, and metabolites were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively.RESULTS: TAIII effectively alleviated dry mouth in NOD mice, slowed the progression of salivary gland tissue injury, reduced inflammatory factor expression, and increased the levels of aquaporins 1 and 5. TAIII regulated SCFA content and tryptophan metabolism by altering the abundance of the Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, thereby reducing the inflammatory response. TAIII can improve imbalances in the gut microbiota and the metabolic levels of related SCFAs and tryptophan, thereby reducing the level of inflammation.CONCLUSION: The significant differences observed in the abundance of the Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group between the treatment and control groups indicated the potential relationship between bacteria and metabolites in SS. Key Points • The safe and effective treatment of SS with traditional Chinese medicine • Multi-means study on intestinal flora, short-chain fatty acids, and metabonomics.PMID:39826048 | DOI:10.1007/s10067-024-07294-8

Amino Acids. 2025 Jan 18;57(1):10. doi: 10.1007/s00726-024-03442-1.ABSTRACTMetabolomics provide a promising tool for understanding dementia pathogenesis and identifying novel biomarkers. This study aimed to identify amino acid biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Vascular Dementia (VD). By amino acid metabolomics, the concentrations of amino acids were determined in the serum of AD and VD patients as well as age-matched healthy controls. Several differences in the concentration of amino acids were observed in AD patients compared to both healthy controls and VD patients. However, no significant distinction was found between healthy controls and VD patients. Considering comorbidities, cystine levels were higher in AD than in VD among non-diabetic patients, but not in those with diabetes. Notably, creatine, spermidine, cystine, and tyrosine demonstrated favorable results in decision curve analyses and good discriminative performances, suggesting their potential for clinical application. These fundings give novel perspectives of serum amino acids for predicting metabolic pathways in AD and VD pathogenesis.PMID:39825947 | DOI:10.1007/s00726-024-03442-1

J Neurochem. 2025 Jan;169(1):e16306. doi: 10.1111/jnc.16306.ABSTRACTAlzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques in the brain, contributing to neurodegeneration. This study investigates lipid alterations within these plaques using a novel, label-free, multimodal approach. Combining infrared (IR) imaging, machine learning, laser microdissection (LMD), and flow injection analysis mass spectrometry (FIA-MS), we provide the first comprehensive lipidomic analysis of chemically unaltered Aβ plaques in post-mortem human AD brain tissue. IR imaging revealed decreased lipid unsaturation within plaques, evidenced by a reduction in the alkene (=C-H) stretching vibration band. The high spatial resolution of IR imaging, coupled with machine learning-based plaque detection, enabled precise and label-free extraction of plaques via LMD. Subsequent FIA-MS analysis confirmed a significant increase in short-chain saturated lipids and a concomitant decrease in long-chain unsaturated lipids within plaques compared to the surrounding tissue. These findings highlight a substantial depletion of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) in Aβ plaques, suggesting a pivotal role for lipid dysregulation and oxidative stress in AD pathology. This study advances our understanding of the molecular landscape of Aβ plaques and underscores the potential of lipid-based therapeutic strategies in AD.PMID:39825731 | DOI:10.1111/jnc.16306

J Cardiothorac Surg. 2025 Jan 17;20(1):70. doi: 10.1186/s13019-024-03199-4.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis (AS) is increasingly recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease that significantly compromises vascular health and acts as a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases. Advancements in lipidomics and metabolomics have unveiled the complex role of fatty acid metabolism (FAM) in both healthy and pathological states. However, the specific roles of fatty acid metabolism-related genes (FAMGs) in shaping therapeutic approaches, especially in AS, remain largely unexplored and are a subject of ongoing research.METHODS: This study employed advanced bioinformatics techniques to identify and validate FAMGs associated with AS. We conducted differential expression analysis on a select list of 49 candidate FAMGs. GSEA and GSVA were utilized to elucidate the potential biological roles and pathways of these FAMGs. Subsequently, Lasso regression and SVM-RFE were applied to identify key hub genes and assess the diagnostic efficacy of seven FAMGs in distinguishing AS. The study also explored the correlation between these hub FAMGs and clinical features of AS. Validation of the expression levels of the seven FAMGs was performed using datasets GSE43292 and GSE9820.RESULTS: The study pinpointed seven FAMGs with a close association to AS: ACSBG2, ELOVL4, ACSL3, CPT2, ALDH2, HSD17B10, and CPT1B. Analysis of their biological functions underscored their significant involvement in critical processes such as fatty acid metabolism, small molecule catabolism, and nucleoside bisphosphate metabolism. The diagnostic potential of these seven FAMGs in AS differentiation showed promising results.CONCLUSIONS: This research has successfully identified seven key FAMGs implicated in AS, offering novel insights into the pathophysiology of the disease. These findings not only contribute to our understanding of AS but also present potential biomarkers for the disease, opening avenues for more effective monitoring and progression tracking of AS.PMID:39825440 | DOI:10.1186/s13019-024-03199-4