Effect of L-arabinose and lactulose combined with Lactobacillus plantarum on obesity induced by a high-fat diet in mice

L-Arabinose, lactulose, and Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) have been reported to have glucolipid-lowering effects. Here, the effects of L-arabinose and lactulose combined with L. plantarum on obesity traits were investigated. According to the experimental results, the combination of L-arabinose, lactulose, and L. plantarum was more effective at reducing body weight, regulating glucolipid metabolism, and improving insulin resistance. Besides, this combination showed immunomodulatory activity by adjusting the T lymphocyte subsets and reduced the immune-related cytokine production. Moreover, it improved the gut barrier, ameliorated the disorder of gut microbiota, and upregulated the levels of SCFAs. More importantly, the AL group, LP group, and ALLP group showed different regulatory effects on the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus due to the presence of lactulose and L. plantarum. These findings elucidate that the combination of L-arabinose, lactulose, and L. plantarum constitutes a new synbiotic combination to control obesity by modulating glucolipid metabolism, immunomodulatory activity, inflammation, gut barrier, gut microbiota and production of SCFAs.

Tethering of soluble immune effectors to mucin and chitin reflects a convergent and dynamic role in gut immunity

The immune system employs soluble effectors to shape luminal spaces. Antibodies are soluble molecules that effect immunological responses, including neutralization, opsonization, antibody-dependent cytotoxicity and complement activation. These molecules are comprised of immunoglobulin (Ig) domains. The N-terminal Ig domains recognize antigen, and the C-terminal domains facilitate their elimination through phagocytosis (opsonization). A less-recognized function mediated by the C-terminal Ig domains of the IgG class of antibodies (Fc region) involves the formation of multiple low-affinity bonds with the mucus matrix. This association anchors the antibody molecule to the matrix to entrap potential pathogens. Even though invertebrates are not known to have antibodies, protochordates have a class of secreted molecules containing Ig domains that can bind bacteria and potentially serve a similar purpose. The VCBPs (V region-containing chitin-binding proteins) possess a C-terminal chitin-binding domain that helps tether them to chitin-rich mucus gels, mimicking the IgG-mediated Fc trapping of microbes in mucus. The broad functional similarity of these structurally divergent, Ig-containing, secreted effectors makes a case for a unique form of convergent evolution within chordates. This opinion essay highlights emerging evidence that divergent secreted immune effectors with Ig-like domains evolved to manage immune recognition at mucosal surfaces in strikingly similar ways. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sculpting the microbiome: how host factors determine and respond to microbial colonization'.

Sciadonic acid ameliorates cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression by modulating the immune response and altering the gut microbiota

BACKGROUND

Cyclophosphamide (Cy) is a frequently used chemotherapeutic drug, but long-term Cy treatment can cause immunosuppression and intestinal mucosal damage. The intestinal mucosal barrier and gut flora play important roles in regulating host metabolism, maintaining physiological functions and protecting immune homeostasis. Dysbiosis of the intestinal flora affects the development of the intestinal microenvironment, as well as the development of various external systemic diseases and metabolic syndrome.

RESULTS

The present study investigated the influence of sciadonic acid (SA) on Cy-induced immunosuppression in mice. The results showed that SA gavage significantly alleviated Cy-induced immune damage by improving the immune system organ index, immune response and oxidative stress. Moreover, SA restored intestinal morphology, improved villus integrity and activated the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway, stimulated cytokine production, and reduced serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. Furthermore, gut microbiota analysis indicated that SA increased t beneficial bacteria (Alistipes, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Rikenella and Odoribacter) and decreased pathogenic bacteria (norank-f-Oscillospiraceae, Ruminococcus and Desulfovibrio) to maintain intestinal homeostasis.

CONCLUSION

The present study provided new insights into the SA regulation of intestinal flora to enhance immune responses. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Gut microbiota-generated metabolites: missing puzzles to hosts' health, diseases, and aging

The gut microbiota, an intricate community of bacteria residing in the gastrointestinal system, assumes a pivotal role in various physiological processes. Beyond its function in food breakdown and nutrient absorption, gut microbiota exerts a profound influence on immune and metabolic modulation by producing diverse gut microbiota-generated metabolites (GMGMs). These small molecules hold potential to impact host health via multiple pathways, which exhibit remarkable diversity, and have gained increasing attention in recent studies. Here, we elucidate the intricate implications and significant impacts of four specific metabolites, Urolithin A (UA), equol, Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and imidazole propionate, in shaping human health. Meanwhile, we also look into the advanced research on GMGMs, which demonstrate promising curative effects and hold great potential for further clinical therapies. Notably, the emergence of positive outcomes from clinical trials involving GMGMs, typified by UA, emphasizes their promising prospects in the pursuit of improved health and longevity. Collectively, the multifaceted impacts of GMGMs present intriguing avenues for future research and therapeutic interventions. [BMB Reports 2024; 57(5): 207-215].

Chitosan revokes controlled-cortical impact generated neurological aberrations in circadian disrupted mice via TLR4-NLRP3 axis

The severity of inevitable neurological deficits and long-term psychiatric disorders in the aftermath of traumatic brain injury is influenced by pre-injury biological factors. Herein, we investigated the therapeutic effect of chitosan lactate on neurological and psychiatric aberrations inflicted by circadian disruption (CD) and controlled-cortical impact (CCI) injury in mice. Firstly, CD was developed in mice by altering sporadic day-night cycles for 2 weeks. Then, CCI surgery was performed using a stereotaxic ImpactOne device. Mice subjected to CCI displayed a significant disruption of motor coordination at 1-, 3- and 5-days post-injury (DPI) in the rotarod test. These animals showed anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze and forced-swim test at 14 and 15 DPI, respectively. Notably, mice subjected to CD + CCI exhibited severe cognitive impairment in Y-maze and novel object recognition tasks. The compromised neurological, psychiatric, and cognitive functions were mitigated in chitosan-treated mice (1 and 3 mg/mL). Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR assay results revealed the magnified responses of prima facie biomarkers like glial-fibrillary acidic protein and ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 in the pericontusional brain region of the CD + CCI group, indicating aggravated inflammation. We also noted the depleted levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and augmented expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-leucine-rich-containing family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) signaling [apoptosis-associated-speck-like protein (ASC), caspase-1, and interleukin 1-β] in the pericontusional area of CD + CCI group. CCI-induced changes in the astrocyte-glia and aggravated immune responses were ameliorated in chitosan-treated mice. These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of chitosan in CCI-induced brain injury may be mediated by inhibition of the TLR4-NLRP3 axis.

Gut microbiota in MAFLD: therapeutic and diagnostic implications

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is becoming a significant contributor to chronic liver disease globally, surpassing other etiologies, such as viral hepatitis. Prevention and early treatment strategies to curb its growing prevalence are urgently required. Recent evidence suggests that targeting the gut microbiota may help treat and alleviate disease progression in patients with MAFLD. This review aims to explore the complex relationship between MAFLD and the gut microbiota in relation to disease pathogenesis. Additionally, it delves into the therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiota, such as diet, exercise, antibiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and fecal microbiota transplantation, and discusses novel biomarkers, such as microbiota-derived testing and liquid biopsy, for their diagnostic and staging potential. Overall, the review emphasizes the urgent need for preventive and therapeutic strategies to address the devastating consequences of MAFLD at both individual and societal levels and recognizes that further exploration of the gut microbiota may open avenues for managing MAFLD effectively in the future.

Supplementation of Silymarin Alone or in Combination with Salvianolic Acids B and Puerarin Regulates Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolism to Improve High-Fat Diet-Induced NAFLD in Mice

Silymarin, salvianolic acids B, and puerarin were considered healthy food agents with tremendous potential to ameliorate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the mechanisms by which they interact with gut microbiota to exert benefits are largely unknown. After 8 weeks of NAFLD modeling, C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups and fed a normal diet, high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD supplemented with a medium or high dose of Silybum marianum extract contained silymarin or polyherbal extract contained silymarin, salvianolic acids B, and puerarin for 16 weeks, respectively. The untargeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing were used for molecular mechanisms exploration. The intervention of silymarin and polyherbal extract significantly improved liver steatosis and recovered liver function in the mice, accompanied by an increase in probiotics like Akkermansia and Blautia, and suppressed Clostridium, which related to changes in the bile acids profile in feces and serum. Fecal microbiome transplantation confirmed that this alteration of microbiota and its metabolites were responsible for the improvement in NAFLD. The present study substantiated that alterations of the gut microbiota upon silymarin and polyherbal extract intervention have beneficial effects on HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and suggested the pivotal role of gut microbiota and its metabolites in the amelioration of NAFLD.

Substituted Oligosaccharides as Protein Mimics: Deep Learning Free Energy Landscapes

Protein-protein complexes power the majority of cellular processes. Interfering with the formation of such complexes using well-designed mimics is a difficult, yet actively pursued, research endeavor. Due to the limited availability of results on the conformational preferences of oligosaccharides compared to polypeptides, the former have been much less explored than the latter as protein mimics, despite interesting ADMET characteristics. In this work, the conformational landscapes of a series of 956 substituted glucopyranose oligomers of lengths 3 to 12 designed as protein interface mimics are revealed using microsecond-time-scale, enhanced-sampling molecular dynamics simulations. Deep convolutional networks are trained on these large conformational ensembles, to predict the stability of longer oligosaccharide structures from those of their constituent trimer motifs. Deep generative adversarial networks are then designed to suggest plausible conformations for oligosaccharide mimics of arbitrary length and substituent sequences that can subsequently be used as input to docking simulations. Analyzing the performance of the neural networks also yields insights into the intricate collective effects that dominate oligosaccharide conformational dynamics.

A Comprehensive Review of Bovine Colostrum Components and Selected Aspects Regarding Their Impact on Neonatal Calf Physiology

Colostrum contains macro- and micronutrients necessary to meet the nutritional and energy requirements of the neonatal calf, bioactive components that intervene in several physiological aspects, and cells and microorganisms that modulate the calf's immune system and gut microbiome. Colostrum is sometimes mistaken as transition milk, which, although more nutritive than whole milk, has a distinct biochemical composition. Furthermore, most research about colostrum quality and colostrum management focuses on the transfer of maternal IgG to the newborn calf. The remaining components of colostrum and transition milk have not received the same attention, despite their importance to the newborn animal. In this narrative review, a large body of literature on the components of bovine colostrum was reviewed. The variability of these components was summarized, emphasizing specific components that warrant deeper exploration. In addition, the effects of each component present in colostrum and transition milk on several key physiological aspects of the newborn calf are discussed.

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf water extract attenuates type 2 diabetes mellitus by regulating gut microbiota dysbiosis, lipopolysaccharide elevation and endocannabinoid system disorder

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf is a well-known herbal medicine and has been used to treat diabetes in China for thousands of years. Our previous studies have proven mulberry leaf water extract (MLWE) could improve type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). However, it is still unclear whether MLWE could mitigate T2D by regulating gut microbiota dysbiosis and thereof improve intestinal permeability and metabolic dysfunction through modulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and endocannabinoid system (eCBs).

AIM OF STUDY

This study aims to explore the potential mechanism of MLWE on the regulation of metabolic function disorder of T2D mice from the aspects of gut microbiota, LPS and eCBs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gut microbiota was analyzed by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. LPS, N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-ararchidonylglycerol (2-AG) contents in blood were determined by kits or liquid phase chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. The receptors, enzymes or tight junction protein related to eCBs or gut barrier were detected by RT-PCR or Western blot, respectively.

RESULTS

MLWE reduced the serum levels of AEA, 2-AG and LPS, decreased the expressions of N-acylphophatidylethanolamine phospholipase D, diacylglycerol lipase-α and cyclooxygenase 2, and increased the expressions of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase (NAAA), alpha/beta hydrolases domain 6/12 in the liver and ileum and occludin, monoacylglycerol lipase and cannabinoid receptor 1 in the ileum of T2D mice. Furthermore, MLWE could change the abundances of the genera including Acetatifactor, Anaerovorax, Bilophila, Colidextribacter, Dubosiella, Gastranaerophilales, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Oscillibacter and Rikenella related to LPS, AEA and/or 2-AG. Moreover, obvious improvement of MLWE treatment on serum AEA level, ileum occludin expression, and liver FAAH and NAAA expression could be observed in germ-free-mimic T2D mice.

CONCLUSION

MLWE could ameliorate intestinal permeability, inflammation, and glucose and lipid metabolism imbalance of T2D by regulating gut microbiota, LPS and eCBs.

Dietary sodium acetate and sodium butyrate improve high-carbohydrate diet utilization by regulating gut microbiota, liver lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

BACKGROUND

Adequate level of carbohydrates in aquafeeds help to conserve protein and reduce cost. However, studies have indicated that high-carbohydrate (HC) diet disrupt the homeostasis of the gut-liver axis in largemouth bass, resulting in decreased intestinal acetate and butyrate level.

METHOD

Herein, we had concepted a set of feeding experiment to assess the effects of dietary sodium acetate (SA) and sodium butyrate (SB) on liver health and the intestinal microbiota in largemouth bass fed an HC diet. The experimental design comprised 5 isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets, including LC (9% starch), HC (18% starch), HCSA (18% starch; 2 g/kg SA), HCSB (18% starch; 2 g/kg SB), and HCSASB (18% starch; 1 g/kg SA + 1 g/kg SB). Juvenile largemouth bass with an initial body weight of 7.00 ± 0.20 g were fed on these diets for 56 d.

RESULTS

We found that dietary SA and SB reduced hepatic triglyceride accumulation by activating autophagy (ATG101, LC3B and TFEB), promoting lipolysis (CPT1α, HSL and AMPKα), and inhibiting adipogenesis (FAS, ACCA, SCD1 and PPARγ). In addition, SA and SB decreased oxidative stress in the liver (CAT, GPX1α and SOD1) by activating the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. Meanwhile, SA and SB alleviated HC-induced inflammation by downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, COX2 and Hepcidin1) through the NF-κB pathway. Importantly, SA and SB increased the abundance of bacteria that produced acetic acid and butyrate (Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1). Combined with the KEGG analysis, the results showed that SA and SB enriched carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism pathways, thereby improving the utilization of carbohydrates. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that growth performance was closely related to hepatic lipid deposition, autophagy, antioxidant capacity, inflammation, and intestinal microbial composition.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, dietary SA and SB can reduce hepatic lipid deposition; and alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation in largemouth bass fed on HC diet. These beneficial effects may be due to the altered composition of the gut microbiota caused by SA and SB. The improvement effects of SB were stronger than those associated with SA.

Models for barrier understanding in health and disease in lab-on-a-chips

The maintenance of body homeostasis relies heavily on physiological barriers. Dysfunction of these barriers can lead to various pathological processes, including increased exposure to toxic materials and microorganisms. Various methods exist to investigate barrier function in vivo and in vitro. To investigate barrier function in a highly reproducible manner, ethically, and high throughput, researchers have turned to non-animal techniques and micro-scale technologies. In this comprehensive review, the authors summarize the current applications of organ-on-a-chip microfluidic devices in the study of physiological barriers. The review covers the blood-brain barrier, ocular barriers, dermal barrier, respiratory barriers, intestinal, hepatobiliary, and renal/bladder barriers under both healthy and pathological conditions. The article then briefly presents placental/vaginal, and tumour/multi-organ barriers in organ-on-a-chip devices. Finally, the review discusses Computational Fluid Dynamics in microfluidic systems that integrate biological barriers. This article provides a concise yet informative overview of the current state-of-the-art in barrier studies using microfluidic devices.

A dual network cross-linked hydrogel with multifunctional Bletilla striata polysaccharide/gelatin/tea polyphenol for wound healing promotion

Wound healing is a dynamic and complex biological process, and traditional biological excipients cannot meet the needs of the wound healing process, and there is an urgent need for a biological dressing with multifunctionality and the ability to participate in all stages of wound healing. This study developed tea polyphenol (TP) incorporated multifunctional hydrogel based on oxidized Bletilla striata polysaccharide (OBSP) and adipic acid dihydrazide modified gelatin (Gel-ADH) with antimicrobial, antioxidant hemostatic, and anti-inflammatory properties to promote wound healing. The composite OBSP, Gel-ADH, TP (OBGTP) hydrogels prepared by double crosslinking between OBSP, TP and Gel-ADH via Schiff base bonding and hydrogen bonding had good rheological and swelling properties. The introduction of TP provided the composite hydrogel with excellent antioxidant antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coil). In the rat liver hemorrhage model and skin injury model, the OBGTP composite hydrogel had significant (p < 0.001) hemostatic ability, and had the ability to accelerate collagen deposition, reduce the expression of inflammatory factors, and promote rapid wound healing. In addition, OBGTP hydrogels had adhesive properties and good biocompatibility. In conclusion, OBGTP multifunctional composite hydrogels have great potential for wound healing applications.

Restoration of Intestinal Microbiota After Inulin Supplementation Halted: The Secondary Effect of Supplemented Inulin

SCOPE

Consumption of inulin could affect the intestinal microbiota composition. Hereby, it is aimed to investigate the intestinal microbial community restoration process when the inulin supplementation is terminated (i.e., the secondary effect).

METHODS AND RESULTS

The current study investigates the response and restoration of intestinal microbiota to/after high (Inulin-H) and low (Inulin-L) dosage of inulin supplementation or sequential antibiotics and inulin (Anti-Inulin-L) supplementation, based on analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences in C57BL/6 mice. The number of significantly changed genera in response to inulin is highest in Anti-Inulin-L (n = 66) group, followed by Inulin-H (n = 51) and Inulin-L (n = 38) group. After inulin supplementation stops, microbiota of all studied groups tend to recover to their original states, with highest percentage of inulin-responding microbes stay significantly different at Anti-Inulin-L (93.94%) group, followed by Inulin-H (74.51%) and Inulin-L (44.12%) groups. Of note, the relative abundance of some non-inulin-responding taxa significantly increases during restoration.

CONCLUSION

Sequential antibiotics and inulin supplementation induce greatest changes in the intestinal microbial composition, followed by high and low dosage of inulin. Additionally, the changes induce by supplemented inulin in the intestinal microbial community, provide a chance for some microbes to outcompete the other microbes during the spontaneous restoration.

Valeric acid reduction by chitosan oligosaccharide induces autophagy in a Parkinson's disease mouse model

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a central nervous system disease with the highest disability and mortality rate worldwide, and it is caused by a variety of factors. The most common medications for PD have side effects with limited therapeutic outcomes. Many studies have reported that chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) crossed blood-brain barrier to achieve a neuroprotective effect in PD. However, the role of COS in PD remains unclear. The present study demonstrated that COS increased dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and ameliorated dyskinesia in a PD mouse model. Moreover, COS reduced gut microbial diversity and faecal short-chain fatty acids. Valeric acid supplementation enhanced the inflammatory response in the colon and SN, and it reversed COS - suppressed dopamine neurons damage. Autophagy was involved in COS modulating inflammation through valeric acid. These results suggest that COS reduces bacterial metabolites - valeric acid, which diminishes inflammation via activating autophagy, ultimately alleviating PD.

Prospects of molecular hydrogen in cancer prevention and treatment

Gas signaling molecules, including carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), have been shown to have cancer therapeutic potential, pointing to a new direction for cancer treatment. In recent years, a series of studies have confirmed that hydrogen (H2), a weakly reductive gas, also has therapeutic effects on various cancers and can mitigate oxidative stress caused by radiation and chemotherapy, reducing tissue damage and immunosuppression to improve prognosis. Meanwhile, H2 also has immunomodulatory effects, inhibiting T cell exhaustion and enhancing T cell anti-tumor function. It is worth noting that human intestinal flora can produce large amounts of H2 daily, which becomes a natural barrier to maintaining the body's resistance to diseases such as tumors. Although the potential anti-tumor mechanisms of H2 are still to be investigated, previous studies have shown that H2 can selectively scavenge highly toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibit various ROS-dependent signaling pathways in cancer cells, thus inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. The ROS scavenging ability of H2 may also be the underlying mechanism of its immunomodulatory function. In this paper, we review the significance of H2 produced by intestinal flora on the immune homeostasis of the body, the role of H2 in cancer therapy and the underlying mechanisms, and the specific application of H2 to provide new ideas for the comprehensive treatment of cancer patients.

Production, effects, and applications of fructans with various molecular weights

Fructan, a widespread functional polysaccharide, has been used in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and material production fields because of its versatile physicochemical properties and biological activities. Inulin from plants and levan from microorganisms are two of the most extensively studied fructans. Fructans from different plants or microorganisms have inconsistent molecular weights, and the molecular weight of fructan affects its properties, functions, and applications. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the production and application of fructans having various molecular weights, and biotechnological processes have been explored to produce tailor-made fructans from sucrose. This review encompasses the introduction of extraction, enzymatic transformation, and fermentation production processes for fructans with diverse molecular weights. Notably, it highlights the enzymes involved in fructan biosynthesis and underscores their physiological effects, with a special emphasis on their prebiotic properties. Moreover, the applications of fructans with varying molecular weights are also emphasized.

The Degree of Inulin Polymerization Is Important for Short-Term Amelioration of High-Fat Diet (HFD)-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction and Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Rats

Inulin, a non-digestible polysaccharide, has gained attention for its prebiotic properties, particularly in the context of obesity, a condition increasingly understood as a systemic inflammatory state linked to gut microbiota composition. This study investigates the short-term protective effects of inulin with different degrees of polymerization (DPn) against metabolic health deterioration and gut microbiota alterations induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in Sprague Dawley rats. Inulin treatments with an average DPn of 7, 14, and 27 were administered at 1 g/kg of bodyweight to HFD-fed rats over 21 days. Body weight, systemic glucose levels, and proinflammatory markers were measured to assess metabolic health. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that inulin27 significantly reduced total weight gain and systemic glucose levels, suggesting a DPn-specific effect on metabolic health. The study also observed shifts in gut microbial populations, with inulin7 promoting several beneficial taxa from the Bifidobacterium genera, whilst inducing a unique microbial composition compared to medium-chain (DPn 14) and long-chain inulin (DPn: 27). However, the impact of inulin on proinflammatory markers and lipid metabolism parameters was not statistically significant, possibly due to the short study duration. Inulin with a higher DPn has a more pronounced effect on mitigating HFD-induced metabolic health deterioration, whilst inulin7 is particularly effective at inducing healthy microbial shifts. These findings highlight the benefits of inulin as a dietary adjuvant in obesity management and the importance of DPn in optimizing performance.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Artemisia argyi H. Fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum in the LPS-Induced RAW 264.7 Cells and DSS-Induced Colitis Model

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by abnormal immune responses in the intestinal mucosa and gut microorganisms. Unlike other mugworts, Artemisia argyi H. (A. argyi H.) enhances antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects, but the improvement effects against gut inflammation have not yet been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to confirm the alleviation of the inflammatory state in the gut by A. argyi H. fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum (FAA), using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis models. In vitro, FAA (10, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL) was pretreated into RAW 264.7 cells, followed with LPS (100 ng/mL), which induced the cell damage. Meanwhile, in vivo, FAA (100, 200 mg/kg/day) was orally administered into 6-week-old C57BL/6N mice for 3 weeks. During the last week of FAA administration, 2.5% DSS was used to induce colitis. The results showed that FAA reduced the production of nitric oxide (p < 0.0001), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 (p < 0.0001), and IL-1β (p < 0.0001) in the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, in the DSS-induced colitis model, FAA alleviated clinical symptoms (p < 0.001), inhibited the inflammatory state by reducing the production of TNF-α (p < 0.0001) and interferon-γ in intestinal immune cells (p < 0.0001), and strengthened the intestinal barrier by increasing the number of goblet cells (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effects were confirmed by the alleviation of histological damage (p < 0.001) and down-regulation of the expression of inflammatory proteins (TLR4, p < 0.0001; MyD88, p < 0.0001; Cox-2, p < 0.0001). These results suggest the potential of FAA as a dietary ingredient for preventing inflammation in the gut.

Inulin protects against the harmful effects of dietary emulsifiers on mice gut microbiome

Background

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases is increasing, especially in developing countries, with adoption of Western-style diet. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two emulsifiers including lecithin and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) on the gut microbiota, intestinal inflammation and the potential of inulin as a means to protect against the harmful effects of emulsifiers.

Methods

In this study, male C57Bl/6 mice were divided into five groups (n:6/group) (control, CMC, lecithin, CMC+inulin, and lecithin+inulin). Lecithin and CMC were diluted in drinking water (1% w/v) and inulin was administered daily at 5 g/kg for 12 weeks. Histological examination of the ileum and colon, serum IL-10, IL-6, and fecal lipocalin-2 levels were analyzed. 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region amplicon sequencing was performed on stool samples.

Results

In the CMC and lecithin groups, shortening of the villus and a decrease in goblet cells were observed in the ileum and colon, whereas inulin reversed this effect. The lipocalin level, which was 9.7 ± 3.29 ng in the CMC group, decreased to 4.1 ± 2.98 ng with the administration of inulin. Bifidobacteria and Akkermansia were lower in the CMC group than the control, while they were higher in the CMC+inulin group. In conclusion, emulsifiers affect intestinal health negatively by disrupting the epithelial integrity and altering the composition of the microbiota. Inulin is protective on their harmful effects. In addition, it was found that CMC was more detrimental to microbiota composition than lecithin.

ROS Balance Autoregulating Core-Shell CeO2@ZIF-8/Au Nanoplatform for Wound Repair

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays important roles in living organisms. While ROS is a double-edged sword, which can eliminate drug-resistant bacteria, but excessive levels can cause oxidative damage to cells. A core-shell nanozyme, CeO2@ZIF-8/Au, has been crafted, spontaneously activating both ROS generating and scavenging functions, achieving the multi-faceted functions of eliminating bacteria, reducing inflammation, and promoting wound healing. The Au Nanoparticles (NPs) on the shell exhibit high-efficiency peroxidase-like activity, producing ROS to kill bacteria. Meanwhile, the encapsulation of CeO2 core within ZIF-8 provides a seal for temporarily limiting the superoxide dismutase and catalase-like activities of CeO2 nanoparticles. Subsequently, as the ZIF-8 structure decomposes in the acidic microenvironment, the CeO2 core is gradually released, exerting its ROS scavenging activity to eliminate excess ROS produced by the Au NPs. These two functions automatically and continuously regulate the balance of ROS levels, ultimately achieving the function of killing bacteria, reducing inflammation, and promoting wound healing. Such innovative ROS spontaneous regulators hold immense potential for revolutionizing the field of antibacterial agents and therapies.

The effect of in vitro simulated colonic pH gradients on microbial activity and metabolite production using common prebiotics as substrates

BACKGROUND

The interplay between gut microbiota (GM) and the metabolization of dietary components leading to the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) is affected by a range of factors including colonic pH and carbohydrate source. However, there is still only limited knowledge on how the GM activity and metabolite production in the gastrointestinal tract could be influenced by pH and the pH gradient increases along the colon.

RESULTS

Here we investigate the effect of pH gradients corresponding to levels typically found in the colon on GM composition and metabolite production using substrates inulin, lactose, galactooligosaccharides (GOS), and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in an in vitro colon setup. We investigated 3 different pH regimes (low, 5.2 increasing to 6.4; medium, 5.6 increasing to 6.8 and high, 6.0 increasing to 7.2) for each fecal inoculum and found that colonic pH gradients significantly influenced in vitro simulated GM structure, but the influence of fecal donor and substrate was more pronounced. Low pH regimes strongly influenced GM with the decreased relative abundance of Bacteroides spp. and increased Bifidobacterium spp. Higher in vitro simulated colonic pH promoted the production of SCFAs in a donor- and substrate-dependent manner. The butyrate producer Butyricimonas was enriched at higher pH conditions, where also butyrate production was increased for inulin. The relative abundance of Phascolarctobacterium, Bacteroides, and Rikenellaceae also increased at higher colonic pH, which was accompanied by increased production of propionate with GOS and FOS as substrates.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, our results show that colonic substrates such as dietary fibres influence GM composition and metabolite production, not only by being selectively utilized by specific microbes, but also because of their SCFA production, which in turn also influences colonic pH and overall GM composition and activity. Our work provides details about the effect of the gradients of rising pH from the proximal to distal colon on fermenting dietary substrates in vitro and highlights the importance of considering pH in GM research.

Gelatin-based dynamic response antioxidant, anti-inflammatory multifunctional hydrogel for enhanced diabetic wound repair

Diabetic wound therapy presents significant challenges in the clinical environment, where persistent bleeding, disturbed inflammatory regulation, impaired cellular proliferation, and impaired tissue remodeling are major features of diabetic wound healing. However, current treatment strategies need to be considered in the context of the dynamic and complex needs of chronic wound healing. Here, multifunctional dynamic boronic acid cross-linked hydrogels were prepared by the reaction of gelatin (Gel) inoculated with 5-carboxy 3-nitrophenylboronic acid (NPBA) and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to achieve rapid gelation at pH = 7.4, EGCG could interact electrostatically with cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMP) to achieve the effective loading of AMP in the hydrogels. This hydrogel can be injected and adhered to skin defects in diabetic patients to provide a barrier and rapid hemostasis. In a high glucose microenvironment, the rapid release of AMP effectively kills bacteria, while the responsive release of EGCG eliminates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promotes macrophage M2 polarization. In addition, the hydrogel had excellent biocompatibility and degradability properties, degraded completely after 3 days of subcutaneous injection, and was non-toxic in H&E staining of major organs and serum liver function indices in mice. This multifunctional injectable hydrogel accelerates diabetic skin wound repair and is a promising dressing for the precise treatment of diabetic wounds.

Gut microbiota and metabolic biomarkers in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a replacement of the nomenclature employed for NAFLD, is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide. Despite its high global prevalence, NAFLD is often under-recognized due to the absence of reliable noninvasive biomarkers for diagnosis and staging. Growing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome plays a significant role in the occurrence and progression of NAFLD by causing immune dysregulation and metabolic alterations due to gut dysbiosis. The rapid advancement of sequencing tools and metabolomics has enabled the identification of alterations in microbiome signatures and gut microbiota-derived metabolite profiles in numerous clinical studies related to NAFLD. Overall, these studies have shown a decrease in α-diversity and changes in gut microbiota abundance, characterized by increased levels of Escherichia and Prevotella, and decreased levels of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium in patients with NAFLD. Furthermore, bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, trimethylamine N-oxide, and tryptophan metabolites are believed to be closely associated with the onset and progression of NAFLD. In this review, we provide novel insights into the vital role of gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Specifically, we summarize the major classes of gut microbiota and metabolic biomarkers in NAFLD, thereby highlighting the links between specific bacterial species and certain gut microbiota-derived metabolites in patients with NAFLD.

Differences in physicochemical, rheological, and prebiotic properties of inulin isolated from five botanical sources and their potential applications

This study compares the physicochemical and prebiotic properties of inulin isolated from five botanical sources. The average degree of polymerization (DP) for inulin ranged from 5.00 to 13.33. Notably, inulin from Dahlia tubers (DP = 13) and Platycodonis Radix (DP = 8) demonstrated granular, clustered morphology under SEM, semi-crystalline structures via X-ray diffraction, and exhibited shear-thinning behaviors from shear rate 1 s-1 to 500 s-1. In contrast, inulin from Jerusalem artichoke (DP = 5), chicory root (DP = 7), and Asparagi Radix (DP = 5) showcased rough flake morphologies under SEM, amorphous structures in X-ray patterns, and similar shear-thinning behaviors. All inulin types showed acid stability at pH levels below 2.0, with a reducing sugar conversion ratio (RRS) under 1 %. Furthermore, the isolated inulin from the different sources presented prebiotic capacity when added as a sole carbon source in the culture media of the probiotics Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium longum. This study provides the properties of inulin from various sources, thereby offering a reference for the selection of appropriate inulin in industrial applications based on the desired characteristics of the final product.

Impact of fermented feed of soybean hulls and rapeseed cake on immunity, antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota in Chahua chicken

The present study investigated the effects of replacing part of the basal diet with 2-stage fermented feed (FF) (soybean hulls:rapeseed cake (2:1, m/m)) on the growth performance, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of Chahua chicken. A total of 160 Chahua chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups to receive a control diet or diet with 5%, 10%, or 15% of the basal diet replaced by FF, respectively for 56 d. The results showed that FF significantly improved the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of Chahua chickens (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Chahua chicken receiving the diet added with 15% FF significantly increased (P < 0.05). Chahua chicken in both the 10% and 15% groups showed increased serum IgG and IgM and decreased malondialdehyde. Serum interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma significantly increased in all FF groups. Compared with the CON group, higher ileal villus height (VH) was found in the 10% FF group. Treatment with FF significantly increased the ileal villus height/crypt depth (VH/CD) ratio, jejunal VH, and jejunal VH/CD ratio while reducing ileal and jejunal CD. The modified gut microbiota composition was observed in the Chahua chicken fed a diet containing FF, in particular, with the increased abundance of Faecalibacterium and Lactobacillus. The abundance of Lactobacillus significantly increased in the 10% and 15% FF groups (all P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between Lactobacillus and VH (R = 0.38, P = 0.10, Figure 3B), AH/CD ratio (R = 0.63, P = 0.003), and a negative correlation with CD (R = -0.72, P = 0.001). These results indicate that FF improves immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health and consequently enhances growth performance in Chahua chicken.

Synthesis and Characterization of Slow-Release Chitosan Oligosaccharide Pyridine Schiff Base Copper Complexes with Antifungal Activity

Herein, a series of chitosan oligosaccharide copper complexes modified with pyridine groups (CPSx-Cu complexes) were successfully prepared via the Schiff base reaction and ion complexation reaction for slow-release fungicide. The structures of the synthesized derivatives were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the unit configuration of the complexes was calculated using Gaussian software. The slow-release performance experiment demonstrated that the cumulative copper ion release rate of CPSx-Cu complexes was dependent on the type of substituents on the pyridine ring. Furthermore, the in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of the CPSx-Cu complexes were investigated. At a concentration of 0.4 mg/mL, CPSx-Cu complexes completely inhibited the growth of Pythium vexans and Phytophthora capsici. Results indicated that CPSx-Cu complexes with slow-release ability exhibited better antifungal activity than thiodiazole-copper and copper sulfate basic. This study confirmed that combining chitosan oligosaccharide with bioactive pyridine groups and copper ions is an effective approach to further developing slow-release copper fungicides, providing new possibilities for the application of copper fungicides in green agriculture. This study lays the foundation for further studies on biogreen copper fungicides.

Water-soluble red fluorescent protein dimers for hypoxic two-photon photodynamic therapy

In this study, two water-soluble red fluorescent protein (RFP) dimers, FP2R' and FP2R'', were synthesized by linking two phenothiazine-based RFP chromophore analogues through alkyl chains or alkoxy chains for hypoxic two-photon photodynamic therapy. RFP dimers are heavy-atom-free two-photon photosensitizers in which the intersystem crossing process is boosted by S and N heteroatoms. In terms of the aqueous solubility, the saturation concentration of FP2R'' was 3.5 mM, the emission wavelength was 677 nm, the singlet oxygen yield was 18%, and the two-photon absorption coefficient (β) was 2.1 × 10-11 cm W-1. Further, the RFP dimer FP2R'' showed excellent biocompatibility, negligible dark toxicity, and could produce 1O2 and O2˙- simultaneously. Under 460 nm illumination, the photosensitizer FP2R'' showed high phototoxicity with an IC50 value of 4.08 μM in an hypoxia environment, indicating that the photosensitizer FP2R'' has an excellent anti-hypoxia ability. In addition, the photosensitizer FP2R'' demonstrated a precise localization ability to lysosomes and its Pearson's colocalization coefficient was 0.94, which could guide the aggregation of photosensitizers in the lysosomes of tumor cells to effectively improve its photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect. In particular, when exposed to 800 nm two-photon excitation, FP2R'' effectively produced 1O2 and O2˙- in zebrafish and exhibited a bright two-photon fluorescence imaging capability. At the same time, the efficacy of two-photon photodynamic therapy mediated by the photosensitizer FP2R'' was verified in the tumor zebrafish model, and the growth of tumor cells in zebrafish was significantly inhibited under a two-photon laser irradiation. The water-soluble two-photon photosensitizer FP2R'' that was reasonably constructed in this study can be used as a high-efficiency hypoxic two-photon photosensitizer to inhibit deep tumor tissues.

Lab-on-chip technologies for exploring the gut-immune axis in metabolic disease

The continued rise in metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus poses a global health burden, necessitating further research into factors implicated in the onset and progression of these diseases. Recently, the gut-immune axis, with diet as a main regulator, has been identified as a possible role player in their development. Translation of conventional 2D in vitro and animal models is however limited, while human studies are expensive and preclude individual mechanisms from being investigated. Lab-on-chip technology therefore offers an attractive new avenue to study gut-immune interactions. This review provides an overview of the influence of diet on gut-immune interactions in metabolic diseases and a critical analysis of the current state of lab-on-chip technology to study this axis. While there has been progress in the development of "immuno-competent" intestinal lab-on-chip models, with studies showing the ability of the technology to provide mechanical cues, support longer-term co-culture of microbiota and maintain in vivo-like oxygen gradients, platforms which combine all three and include intestinal and immune cells are still lacking. Further, immune cell types and inclusion of microenvironment conditions which enable in vivo-like immune cell dynamics as well as host-microbiome interactions are limited. Future model development should focus on combining these conditions to create an environment capable of hosting more complex microbiota and immune cells to allow further study into the effects of diet and related metabolites on the gut-immune ecosystem and their role in the prevention and development of metabolic diseases in humans.

Research progress on the mechanism of probiotics regulating cow milk allergy in early childhood and its application in hypoallergenic infant formula

Some infants and young children suffer from cow's milk allergy (CMA), and have always mainly used hypoallergenic infant formula as a substitute for breast milk, but some of these formulas can still cause allergic reactions. In recent years, it has been found that probiotic nutritional interventions can regulate CMA in children. Scientific and reasonable application of probiotics to hypoallergenic infant formula is the key research direction in the future. This paper discusses the mechanism and clinical symptoms of CMA in children. This review critically ex- amines the issue of how probiotics use intestinal flora as the main vector to combine with the immune system to exert physiological functions to intervene CMA in children, with a particular focus on four mechanisms: promoting the early establishment of intestinal microecological balance, regulating the body's immunity and alleviating allergic response, enhancing the intestinal mucosal barrier function, and destroying allergen epitopes. Additionally, it overviews the development process of hypoallergenic infant formula and the research progress of probiotics in hypoallergenic infant formula. The article also offers suggestions and outlines potential future research directions and ideas in this field.

Exploring the interplay between posttraumatic stress disorder, gut microbiota, and inflammatory biomarkers: a comprehensive meta-analysis

Introduction

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most common mental health disorder to develop following exposure to trauma. Studies have reported conflicting results regarding changes in immune biomarkers and alterations in the abundance of bacterial taxa and microbial diversity in patients with PTSD.

Aim

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to summarize existing studies examining gut microbiota characteristics and changes in immune biomarkers in patients with PTSD.

Methods

Relevant studies were systematically searched in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, published in English between January 1, 1960, and December 1, 2023. The outcomes included changes in abundance and diversity in gut microbiota (gut microbiota part) and changes in immune biomarkers (immune part).

Results

The meta-analysis included a total of 15 studies, with 9 focusing on changes in inflammatory biomarkers and 6 focusing on changes in gut microbiota composition in patients with PTSD. No differences were observed between groups for all inflammatory biomarkers (P≥0.05). Two of the six studies found that people with PTSD had less alpha diversity. However, the overall Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) for the Shannon Diversity Index was not significant (SMD 0.27, 95% CI -0.62-0.609, p = 0.110). Regarding changes in abundance, in two of the studies, a significant decrease in Lachnospiraceae bacteria was observed.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis provides a comprehensive overview of gut microbiota characteristics in PTSD, suggesting potential associations with immune dysregulation. Future research should address study limitations, explore causal relationships, and consider additional factors influencing immune function in individuals with PTSD.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk, identifier CRD42023476590.

Abnormalities in microbiota/butyrate/FFAR3 signaling in aging gut impair brain function

Aging-related abnormalities in gut microbiota are associated with cognitive decline, depression, and anxiety, but underlying mechanisms remain unstudied. Here, our study demonstrated that transplanting old gut microbiota to young mice induced inflammation in the gut and brain coupled with cognitive decline, depression, and anxiety. We observed diminished mucin formation and increased gut permeability ("leaky gut") with a reduction in beneficial metabolites like butyrate because of decline in butyrate-producing bacteria in the aged gut microbiota. This led to suppressed expression of butyrate receptors, free fatty acid receptors 2 and 3 (FFAR2/3). Administering butyrate alleviated inflammation, restored mucin expression and gut barriers, and corrected brain dysfunction. Furthermore, young mice with intestine-specific loss of FFAR2/3 exhibited gut and brain abnormalities akin to those in older mice. Our results demonstrate that reduced butyrate-producing bacteria in aged gut microbiota result in low butyrate levels and reduced FFAR2/3 signaling, leading to suppressed mucin formation that increases gut permeability, inflammation, and brain abnormalities. These findings underscore the significance of butyrate-FFAR2/3 agonism as a potential strategy to mitigate aged gut microbiota-induced detrimental effects on gut and brain health in older adults.

Inulin: Unveiling its potential as a multifaceted biopolymer in prebiotics, drug delivery, and therapeutics

In recent years, inulin has gained much attention as a promising multifunctional natural biopolymer with numerous applications in drug delivery, prebiotics, and therapeutics. It reveals a multifaceted biopolymer with transformative implications by elucidating the intricate interplay between inulin and the host, microbiome, and therapeutic agents. Their flexible structure, exceptional targetability, biocompatibility, inherent ability to control release behavior, tunable degradation kinetics, and protective ability make them outstanding carriers in healthcare and biomedicine. USFDA has approved Inulin as a nutritional dietary supplement for infants. The possible applications of inulin in biomedicine research inspired by nature are presented. The therapeutic potential of inulin goes beyond its role in prebiotics and drug delivery. Recently, significant research efforts have been made towards inulin's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties for their potential applications in treating various chronic diseases. Moreover, its ability to reduce inflammation and modulate immune responses opens new avenues for treating conditions such as autoimmune disorders and gastrointestinal ailments. This review will attempt to illustrate the inulin's numerous and interconnected roles, shedding light on its critical contributions to the advancement of healthcare and biomedicine and its recent advancement in therapeutics, and conclude by taking valuable insights into the prospects and opportunities of inulin.

The mechanism of gut-lung axis in pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a terminal change of a lung disease that is marked by damage to alveolar epithelial cells, abnormal proliferative transformation of fibroblasts, excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM), and concomitant inflammatory damage. Its characteristics include short median survival, high mortality rate, and limited treatment effectiveness. More in-depth studies on the mechanisms of PF are needed to provide better treatment options. The idea of the gut-lung axis has emerged as a result of comprehensive investigations into the microbiome, metabolome, and immune system. This theory is based on the material basis of microorganisms and their metabolites, while the gut-lung circulatory system and the shared mucosal immune system act as the connectors that facilitate the interplay between the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. The emergence of a new view of the gut-lung axis is complementary and cross-cutting to the study of the mechanisms involved in PF and provides new ideas for its treatment. This article reviews the mechanisms involved in PF, the gut-lung axis theory, and the correlation between the two. Exploring the gut-lung axis mechanism and treatments related to PF from the perspectives of microorganisms, microbial metabolites, and the immune system. The study of the gut-lung axis and PF is still in its early stages. This review systematically summarizes the mechanisms of PF related to the gut-lung axis, providing ideas for subsequent research and treatment of related mechanisms.

Donepezil-Loaded Nanocarriers for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: Superior Efficacy of Extracellular Vesicles Over Polymeric Nanoparticles

Introduction

Drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is challenging and therefore severely restricts neurodegenerative diseases therapy such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Donepezil (DNZ) is an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor largely prescribed to AD patients, but its use is limited due to peripheral adverse events. Nanodelivery strategies with the polymer Poly (lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-based nanoparticles (NPs-PLA-PEG) and the extracellular vesicles (EVs) were developed with the aim to improve the ability of DNZ to cross the BBB, its brain targeting and efficacy.

Methods

EVs were isolated from human plasma and PLA-PEG NPs were synthesized by nanoprecipitation. The toxicity, brain targeting capacity and cholinergic activities of the formulations were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo.

Results

EVs and NPs-PLA-PEG were designed to be similar in size and charge, efficiently encapsulated DNZ and allowed sustained drug release. In vitro study showed that both formulations EVs-DNZ and NPs-PLA-PEG-DNZ were highly internalized by the endothelial cells bEnd.3. These cells cultured on the Transwell® model were used to analyze the transcytosis of both formulations after validation of the presence of tight junctions, the transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) values and the permeability of the Dextran-FITC. In vivo study showed that both formulations were not toxic to zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio). However, hyperactivity was evidenced in the NPs-PLA-PEG-DNZ and free DNZ groups but not the EVs-DNZ formulations. Biodistribution analysis in zebrafish larvae showed that EVs were present in the brain parenchyma, while NPs-PLA-PEG remained mainly in the bloodstream.

Conclusion

The EVs-DNZ formulation was more efficient to inhibit the AChE enzyme activity in the zebrafish larvae head. Thus, the bioinspired delivery system (EVs) is a promising alternative strategy for brain-targeted delivery by substantially improving the activity of DNZ for the treatment of AD.

Self-Report Amphiphilic Polymer-Based Drug Delivery System with ROS-Triggered Drug Release for Osteoarthritis Therapy

The development of drug delivery systems with real-time cargo release monitoring capabilities is imperative for optimizing nanomedicine performance. Herein, we report an innovative self-reporting drug delivery platform based on a ROS-responsive random copolymer (P1) capable of visualizing cargo release kinetics via the activation of an integrated fluorophore. P1 was synthesized by copolymerization of pinacol boronate, PEG, and naphthalimide monomers to impart ROS-sensitivity, hydrophilicity, and fluorescence signaling, respectively. Detailed characterization verified that P1 self-assembles into 11 nm micelles with 10 μg mL-1 CMC and can encapsulate hydrophobic curcumin with 79% efficiency. Fluorescence assays demonstrated H2O2-triggered disassembly and curcumin release with concurrent polymer fluorescence turn-on. Both in vitro and in vivo studies validated the real-time visualization of drug release and ROS scavenging, as well as the therapeutic effect on osteoarthritis (OA). Overall, this nanotheranostic polymeric micelle system enables quantitative monitoring of drug release kinetics for enhanced treatment optimization across oxidative stress-related diseases.

The role of intestinal flora on tumor immunotherapy: recent progress and treatment implications

Immunotherapy, specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors, has emerged as a promising approach for treating malignant tumors. The gut, housing approximately 70 % of the body's immune cells, is abundantly populated with gut bacteria that actively interact with the host's immune system. Different bacterial species within the intestinal flora are in a delicate equilibrium and mutually regulate each other. However, when this balance is disrupted, pathogenic microorganisms can dominate, adversely affecting the host's metabolism and immunity, ultimately promoting the development of disease. Emerging researches highlight the potential of interventions such as fecal microflora transplantation (FMT) to improve antitumor immune response and reduce the toxicity of immunotherapy. These remarkable findings suggest the major role of intestinal flora in the development of cancer immunotherapy and led us to the hypothesis that intestinal flora transplantation may be a new breakthrough in modifying immunotherapy side effects.

Engineering Strategies to Modulate the Gut Microbiome and Immune System

The gut microbiota, predominantly residing in the colon, is a complex ecosystem with a pivotal role in the host immune system. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been associated with various diseases, and there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutics that target the microbiome and restore immune functions. This Brief Review discusses emerging therapeutic strategies that focus on oral delivery systems for modulating the gut microbiome. These strategies include genetic engineering of probiotics, probiotic-biomaterial hybrids, dietary fibers, and oral delivery systems for microbial metabolites, antimicrobial peptides, RNA, and antibiotics. Engineered oral formulations have demonstrated promising outcomes in reshaping the gut microbiome and influencing immune responses in preclinical studies. By leveraging these approaches, the interplay between the gut microbiota and the immune system can be harnessed for the development of novel therapeutics against cancer, autoimmune disorders, and allergies.

Sex-dependent effects of rice cadmium exposure on body weight, gut microflora, and kidney metabolomics based on a mouse model

Consumption of cadmium (Cd) contaminated rice is the main dietary source of Cd exposure and toxicity. To protect humans from Cd toxicity, it is pivotal to fully understand the sex-dependent toxicity of subchronic rice-Cd exposure. However, the sex-dependent effects of subchronic rice-Cd exposure on body weight gain, gut microflora, and kidney metabolomics are still unclear. In this study, a Cd-free and a Cd-contaminated rice (0.005 and 0.74 mg Cd kg-1) were fed to both female and male mice for one month, with changes in body weight gain, Cd accumulation in tissue, bone mineral concentration, expression of intestinal channels involving in Cd and calcium (Ca) absorption, gut microbiota, and kidney metabolites assessed for both genders. Results showed that female mice had normal body weight gain after rice-Cd exposure, while body weight of male mice was decreased from 19.8 to 17.5 g over the one-month consumption of the Cd-contaminated rice (0.74 mg kg-1), suggesting specific toxicity on growth of male mice. Rice-Cd exposure had limited effects on gut microbiota for both genders. However, higher Cd accumulation in liver and femur was observed in male mice than in females, which may be due to higher intestinal expression of Ca channels involving in intestinal Cd absorption in male mice with rice-Cd exposure. Greater risk of osteoporosis was also observed in male mice. In addition, kidney metabolomic profiling showed special disruption of adrenocortical hormone homeostasis for male mice with rice-Cd exposure. Particularly, expression of cortisol in kidneys of male mice was elevated 37.1-fold with rice-Cd exposure, likely resulting in Cushing's syndrome and contributing to growth retardation. This study advances our understanding of the sex-dependent toxicity of rice-Cd exposure, and highlights the priority of protecting males from the adrenocortical hormone disrupting effects of rice-Cd exposure.

The health benefits of dietary short-chain fatty acids in metabolic diseases

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are a subset of fatty acids that play crucial roles in maintaining normal physiology and developing metabolic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease. Even though dairy products and vegetable oils are the direct dietary sources of SCFAs, their quantities are highly restricted. SCFAs are produced indirectly through microbial fermentation of fibers. The biological roles of SCFAs in human health and metabolic diseases are mainly due to their receptors, GPR41 and GPR43, FFAR2 and FFAR3. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that SCFAs modulate DNMTs and HDAC activities, inhibit NF-κB-STAT signaling, and regulate G(i/o)βγ-PLC-PKC-PTEN signaling and PPARγ-UCP2-AMPK autophagic signaling, thus mitigating metabolic diseases. Recent studies have uncovered that SCFAs play crucial roles in epigenetic modifications of DNAs, RNAs, and post-translational modifications of proteins, which are critical regulators of metabolic health and diseases. At the same time, dietary recommendations for the purpose of SCFAs have been proposed. The objective of the review is to summarize the most recent research on the role of dietary SCFAs in metabolic diseases, especially the signal transduction of SCFAs in metabolic diseases and their functional efficacy in different backgrounds and models of metabolic diseases, at the same time, to provide dietary and nutritional recommendations for using SCFAs as food ingredients to prevent metabolic diseases.

Efficacy of an inulin-based treatment on intestinal colonization by multidrug-resistant E. coli: insight into the mechanism of action

Inulin, an increasingly studied dietary fiber, alters intestinal microbiota. The aim of this study was to assess whether inulin decreases intestinal colonization by multidrug resistant E. coli and to investigate its potential mechanisms of action. Mice with amoxicillin-induced intestinal dysbiosis mice were inoculated with extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing E. coli (ESBL-E. coli). The combination of inulin and pantoprazole (IP) significantly reduced ESBL-E. coli fecal titers, whereas pantoprazole alone did not and inulin had a delayed and limited effect. Fecal microbiome was assessed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and qPCR. The efficacy of IP was predicted by increased abundance of 74 taxa, including two species of Adlercreutzia. Preventive treatments with A. caecimuris or A. muris also reduced ESBL-E. coli fecal titers. Fecal microbiota of mice effectively treated by IP was enriched in genes involved in inulin catabolism, production of propionate and expression of beta-lactamases. They also had increased beta-lactamase activity and decreased amoxicillin concentration. These results suggest that IP act through production of propionate and degradation of amoxicillin by the microbiota. The combination of pantoprazole and inulin is a potential treatment of intestinal colonization by multidrug-resistant E. coli. The ability of prebiotics to promote propionate and/or beta-lactamase producing bacteria may be used as a screening tool to identify potential treatments of intestinal colonization by multidrug resistant Enterobacterales.

Chitosan oligosaccharides inhibit the fibrillation of insulin and disassemble its preformed fibrils

In the current study, we first established that chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) have significant anti-fibrillogenic and fibril-destabilising effects on bovine insulin in vitro that proportionally expand with concentration growth. The obtained data were supported by the Thioflavin T (ThT) assay, circular dichroism (CD), attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Interestingly, coincubation of insulin with COS in the ratio of 1 to 10 over 48 h at 37 °C leads to full prevention of insulin aggregation, and in the case of preformed fibrils, results in their destabilisation and disaggregation. Moreover, both a cationic polymer of allylamine (PAH) and a sulphated oligosaccharide (CROS) prepared from carrageenan had no inhibitory effect on insulin amyloid formation. Thus, we proposed that COS modulates insulin amyloid formation due to the presence of linear sugar units, the degree of polymerization, and the free amino group providing a positive charge. These findings highlight the potential implications of COS as a promising substance for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and localised insulin-derived amyloidosis and, moreover, provide a new insight into the mechanism of the anti-diabetic and antitoxic properties of chitosan and chitosan-based agents.

Tumor-on-a-chip models combined with mini-tissues or organoids for engineering tumor tissues

The integration of tumor-on-a-chip technology with mini-tissues or organoids has emerged as a powerful approach in cancer research and drug development. This review provides an extensive examination of the diverse biofabrication methods employed to create mini-tissues, including 3D bioprinting, spheroids, microfluidic systems, and self-assembly techniques using cell-laden hydrogels. Furthermore, it explores various approaches for fabricating organ-on-a-chip platforms. This paper highlights the synergistic potential of combining these technologies to create tumor-on-a-chip models that mimic the complex tumor microenvironment and offer unique insights into cancer biology and therapeutic responses.

Food allergen sensitization on a chip: the gut-immune-skin axis

The global population is growing, rapidly increasing the demand for sustainable, novel, and safe food proteins with minimal risks of food allergy. In vitro testing of allergy-sensitizing capacity is predominantly based on 2D assays. However, these lack the 3D environment and crosstalk between the gut, skin, and immune cells essential for allergy prediction. Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technologies are promising to study type 2 immune activation required for sensitization, initiated in the small intestine or skin, in interlinked systems. Increasing the mechanistic understanding and, moreover, finding new strategies to study interorgan communication is of importance to recapitulate food allergen sensitization in vitro. Here, we outline recently developed OoC platforms and discuss the features needed for reliable prediction of sensitizing allergenicity of proteins.

Lactulose vs Polyethylene Glycol for Bowel Preparation: A Single-Center, Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study Based on BMI

INTRODUCTION

Colonoscopy is currently considered as one of the principal techniques to diagnose the colorectal diseases. Admittedly, qualified bowel preparation before colonoscopy is a premise for high-quality examination. Lower quality bowel preparation might seriously impede visualization of the intestinal mucosa, resulting in missed and misdiagnosed intestinal lesions. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the appropriate oral laxative based on the guarantee of safety and efficacy.

METHODS

This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted to compare lactulose oral solution and polyethylene glycol (PEG) electrolyte powder for bowel preparation using the following indicators: Boston Bowel Preparation Scale, Bowel Bubble Score, detection rate of adenoma and lesion, patients' satisfaction, and adverse effects. Our study investigated the suitability of 2 bowel preparation reagents for patients with different body mass indices mainly based on body mass index (BMI).

RESULTS

In the lactulose group, there was a significant improvement in the quality of bowel preparation compared with those in the PEG group ( P < 0.05), especially in people with normal BMI and higher BMI. Compared with the PEG group, individuals in the lactulose group had a significantly higher adenoma detection rate (50% vs 33.5%, P < 0.05) and taste scores (8.82 vs 6.69, P < 0.05), as well as significantly fewer adverse reactions (6.5% vs 32.5%, P < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

Lactulose oral solution is superior to PEG in bowel preparation quality and taste, especially in normal BMI and higher BMI groups. It can be used clinically as a potential and promising bowel preparation agent in the future. Clinical Trial registration number: ChiCTR2100054318.

Akkermansia muciniphila and Alcohol-Related Liver Diseases. A Systematic Review

SCOPE

Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) are Gram negative commensal bacteria, degrading mucin in the intestinal mucosa, modulating intestinal permeability and inflammation in the digestive tract, liver, and blood. Some components can promote the relative abundance of A. muciniphila in the gut microbiota, but lower levels of A. muciniphila are more commonly found in people with obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndromes, or inflammatory digestive diseases. Over-intake of ethanol can also induce a decrease of A. muciniphila, associated with dysregulation of microbial metabolite production, impaired intestinal permeability, induction of chronic inflammation, and production of cytokines.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using a PRISMA search strategy, a review is performed on the bacteriological characteristics of A. muciniphila, the factors capable of modulating its relative abundance in the digestive tract and its probiotic use in alcohol-related liver diseases (alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic transplantation, partial hepatectomy).

CONCLUSION

Several studies have shown that supplementation with A. muciniphila can improve ethanol-related hepatic pathologies, and highlight the interest in using this bacterial species as a probiotic.

The role of intestinal microecology in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer: A review

Intestinal microecology is a dominant and complex microecological system in human body. Generally, intestinal microecosystem consists of normal symbiotic flora and its living environment (including intestinal epithelial tissue and intestinal mucosal immune system). Commensal flora is the core component of microecology. Both structures of intestinal mucosa and functions of immune system are essential to maintain homeostasis of intestinal microecosystem. Under normal conditions, intestinal microorganisms and intestinal mucosa coordinate with each other to promote host immunity. When certain factors in the intestine are altered, such as disruption of the intestinal barrier causing dysbiosis of the intestinal flora, the immune system of the host intestinal mucosa makes a series of responses, which leads to the development of intestinal inflammation and promotes colorectal cancer. In this review, to further understand the relationship between intestinal microecology and intestinal diseases, we systematically elaborate the composition of the intestinal mucosal immune system, analyze the relationship between intestinal flora and mucosal immune system, and the role of intestinal flora on intestinal inflammatory diseases and colorectal cancer.

Response differences of gut microbiota in oligofructose and inulin are determined by the initial gut Bacteroides/Bifidobacterium ratios

Prebiotics are known to modulate the gut microbiota, but there is host variability, mainly due to differences in carbohydrate-utilisation by gut microbiota. Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides are powerful carbohydrate-utilising bacteria, and the ratio of both is closely related to the utilisation of prebiotics. However, the differential impact of prebiotics on the composition and function of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in participants with different Bacteroides/Bifidobacterium (Ba/Bi) ratios have not been studied. Here, we conducted a 4-week randomised double-blind, parallel four-arm trial using two prebiotics (oligofructose and inulin) in two populations with high Ba/Bi (H) and low Ba/Bi (L). The response to prebiotics in both populations was influenced by the baseline microbiota background specificity. Notably, at an overall level, FOS was slightly better than inulin in modulating the gut microbiota. Difference in gut microbiota regulation by FOS across microbiota contexts were significant between the two groups. Butyric acid-producing bacteria were significantly more abundant in H and further elevated butyric acid and related metabolite levels, with H more likely to benefit from the FOS intervention. The two groups showed only metabolic differences in their response to inulin, with L showing a significant increase in propionic acid and being enriched in glycolysis functions, whereas H was enriched in amino acids and aminoglycolysis functions. Overall, these results provide a basis for selecting appropriate prebiotics for participants with different gut backgrounds.

Pharmacomicrobiomics of cell-cycle specific anti-cancer drugs - is it a new perspective for personalized treatment of cancer patients?

Intestinal bacteria are equipped with an enzyme apparatus that is involved in the active biotransformation of xenobiotics, including drugs. Pharmacomicrobiomics, a new area of pharmacology, analyses interactions between bacteria and xenobiotics. However, there is another side to the coin. Pharmacotherapeutic agents can significantly modify the microbiota, which consequently affects their efficacy. In this review, we comprehensively gathered scientific evidence on the interplay between anticancer therapies and gut microbes. We also underlined how such interactions might impact the host response to a given therapy. We discuss the possibility of modulating the gut microbiota to increase the effectiveness/decrease the incidence of adverse events during tumor therapy. The anticipation of the future brings new evidence that gut microbiota is a target of interest to increase the efficacy of therapy.

The potential mechanism of the progression from latent to active tuberculosis based on the intestinal microbiota alterations

INTRODUCTION

Tuberculosis (TB) poses a serious challenge to global health systems. The altered intestinal microbiota is associated with the pathogenesis of TB, but the exact links remain unclear.

METHODS

16 S rDNA sequencing was performed to comprehensively detect the changes in the intestinal microbiota of feces from active TB (ATB), latent TB infection (LTBI) and healthy controls (HC).

RESULTS

The rarefaction curves demonstrated the sequencing results' validity. The alpha diversity was lowest in ATB, while highest in HC. Boxplot of beta diversity showed significant differences in every two groups. LDA Effect Size (LEfSe) Analysis revealed differences in probiotic bacteria like Romboutsia, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in LTBI, and pro-inflammatory bacteria like R. gnavus, Streptococcus and Erysipelatoclostridium in ATB, corresponding to the cluster analysis. PICRUST2 analysis revealed the pentose phosphate pathway was active in ATB and LTBI (more active in ATB). The differences between the groups are statistically significant at the P<0.05 level.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicated that from LTBI to ATB, some intestinal microbiota inhibit the synthesis of interferon (INF)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17, promoting the survival and spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb). In addition, the metabolites secreted by intestinal microbiota and dysbiosis in intestine also have an effect on the development of LTBI to ATB.