Chronic lead exposure induces fatty liver disease associated with the variations of gut microbiota

Exploring the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate on tadpole health: A comprehensive analysis of intestinal microbiota and hepatic transcriptome

Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), a chlorinated organophosphate ester, is commonly found in aquatic environments. Due to its various toxic effects, it may pose a risk to the health of aquatic organisms. However, the potential impacts of TCEP exposure on the intestinal microbiota and hepatic function in amphibians have not been reported. This study investigated the impact of long-term exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of TCEP (0, 3, and 90 μg/L) on the intestinal microbiota and hepatic transcriptome of Polypedates megacephalus tadpoles. The results showed that the body size of the tadpoles decreased significantly with an increase in TCEP concentration. Additionally, TCEP exposure affected the diversity and composition of the intestinal microbiota in tadpoles, leading to significant changes in the relative abundance of certain bacterial groups (the genera Aeromonas decreased and Citrobacter increased) and potentially promoting a more even distribution of microbial species, as indicated by a significant increase in the Simpson index. Moreover, the impact of TCEP on hepatic gene expression profiles in tadpoles was significant, with the majority of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (709 out of 906 total DEGs in 3 μg/L of TCEP versus control, and 344 out of 387 DEGs in 90 μg/L of TCEP versus control) being significantly down-regulated, which were primarily related to immune response and immune system process. Notably, exposure to TCEP significantly reduced the relative abundance of the genera Aeromonas and Cetobacterium in the tadpole intestine. This reduction was positively correlated with the down-regulated expression of immune-related genes in the liver of corresponding tadpoles. In summary, these findings provide empirical evidence of the potential health risks to tadpoles exposed to TCEP at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Sex- and age-specific associations of serum essential elements with diabetes among the Chinese adults: a community-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Although several studies have found the relationship between essential elements and diabetes, the studies about the association of essential elements with diabetes diagnosed according to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in a sex- and age-specific manner were limited. To investigate the linear and nonlinear relationship of five essential elements including iron (Fe), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) with diabetes, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), and HbA1c and to evaluate the sex- and age-specific heterogeneities in these relationships.

METHODS

A total of 8392 community-dwelling adults were recruited to complete a questionnaire and undergo checkups of anthropometric parameters and serum levels of five metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mg, and Ca). The multivariable logistic and linear regression, the restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, and subgroup analysis were applied to find the associations between the essential elements and the prevalence of diabetes as well as FPG, PPG, and HbA1c.

RESULTS

In the multivariable logistic regression and multivariable linear regression, serum Cu was positively associated with FPG, PPG, and HbA1c while serum Mg was significantly inversely correlated with FPG, PPG, HbA1c, and diabetes (all P < 0.001). In the RCS analysis, the non-linear relationship of Cu and diabetes (P < 0.001) was found. In the subgroup analysis, stronger positive associations of Cu with diabetes (P for interaction = 0.027) and PPG (P for interaction = 0.002) were found in younger women.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings may lead to more appropriate approaches to essential elements supplementation in people with diabetes of different ages and sexes. However, more prospective cohort and experimental studies are needed to probe the possible mechanism of sex- and age-specific associations between serum essential elements and diabetes.

The association between endocrine disrupting chemicals and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Epidemiological studies have reported that exposure of the population to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is associated with NAFLD. However, EDCs are of different types, and there are inconsistencies in the relevant evidence and descriptions, which have not been systematically summarized so far. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between population exposure to EDCs and NAFLD. Three databases, including PubMed, Web of science, and Embase were searched, and 27 articles were included in this study. Methodological quality, heterogeneity, and publication bias of the included studies were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale, I2 statistics, Begg's test, and Egger's test. The estimated effect sizes of the included studies were pooled and evaluated using the random-effects model (I2 > 50 %) and the fixed-effects model ( I2 < 50 %). The pooled-estimate effect sizes showed that population exposure to Phthalates (PAEs) (OR = 1.18, 95 % CI:1.03-1.34), cadmium (Cd) (OR = 1.37, 95 % CI:1.09-1.72), and bisphenol A (OR = 1.43, 95 % CI:1.24-1.65) were positively correlated with the risk of NAFLD. Exposure to mercury (OR =1.46, 95 % CI:1.17-1.84) and Cd increased the risk of "elevated alanine aminotransferase". On the contrary, no significant association was identified between perfluoroalkyl substances (OR =0.99, 95 % CI:0.93-1.06) and NAFLD. However, female exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (OR =1.82, 95 % CI:1.01-3.26) led to a higher risk of NAFLD than male exposure. In conclusion, this study revealed that EDCs were risk factors for NAFLD. Nonetheless, the sensitivity analysis results of some of the meta-analyses were not stable and demonstrated high heterogeneity. The evidence for these associations is limited, and more large-scale population-based studies are required to confirm these findings.

An insight on the plausible biological and non-biological detoxification of heavy metals in tannery waste: A comprehensive review

A key challenge for the tannery industries is the volume of tannery waste water (TWW) generated during the processing of leather, releasing various forms of toxic heavy metals resulting in uncontrolled discharge of tannery waste (TW) into the environment leading to pollution. The pollutants in TW includes heavy metals such as chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) etc, when discharged above the permissible limit causes ill effects on humans. Therefore, several researchers have reported the application of biological and non-biological methods for the removal of pollutants in TW. This review provides insights on the global scenario of tannery industries and the harmful effects of heavy metal generated by tannery industry on micro and macroorganisms of the various ecological niches. It also provides information on the process, advantages and disadvantages of non-biological methods such as electrochemical oxidation, advanced oxidation processes, photon assisted catalytic remediation, adsorption and membrane technology. The various biological methods emphasised includes strategies such as constructed wetland, vermitechnology, phytoremediation, bioaugmentation, quorum sensing and biofilm in the remediation of heavy metals from tannery wastewater (TWW) with special emphasize on chromium.

Investigating the Interplay of Toxic Metals and Essential Elements in Liver Disease

Liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are a growing global health issue. Environmental exposure to toxic metals can harm the liver, increasing the risk of NAFLD. Essential elements are vital for liver health, but imbalances or deficiencies can contribute to the development of NAFLD. Therefore, understanding the interplay between toxic metals and essential elements in liver disease is important. This study aims to assess the individual and combined effects of toxic metals (lead(Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg)), and essential elements (manganese and selenium) on the risk of liver disease. Methods: We assessed the individual and combined effects of Pb, Cd, Hg, manganese (Mn), and selenium (Se) on liver disease risk using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2017 and 2018. We performed descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis and then utilized Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) techniques such as univariate, bivariate, and overall effect analysis. BKMR enabled the assessment of non-linear exposure-response functions and interactions between metals and essential elements. Posterior Inclusion Probabilities (PIPs) were calculated to determine the importance of each metal and essential element in contributing to liver disease. Regarding our study results, the regression analysis of liver injury biomarkers ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, total bilirubin, and the FLI-an indicator of NAFLD-with toxic metals and essential elements, adjusting for covariates such as age, sex, BMI, alcohol consumption, ethnicity, income, and smoking status, demonstrated the differential effects of these contaminants on the markers of interest. Our BKMR analysis provided further insights. For instance, the PIP results underscored Pb's consistent importance in contributing to liver disease (PIP = 1.000), followed by Hg (PIP = 0.9512), Cd (PIP = 0.5796), Se (PIP = 0.5572), and Mn (PIP = 0.4248). Our univariate analysis showed a positive trend with Pb, while other exposures were relatively flat. Our analysis of the single-variable effects of toxic metals and essential elements on NAFLD also revealed that Pb significantly affected the risk of NAFLD. Our bivariate analysis found a positive (toxic) trend when Pb was combined with other metals and essential elements. For the overall exposure effect of exposure to all the contaminants together, the estimated risk of NAFLD showed a steady increase from the 60th to the 75th percentile. In conclusion, our study indicates that Pb exposure, when combined with other toxic metals and essential elements, plays a significant role in bringing about adverse liver disease outcomes.

Bile acid metabolism is altered in learning and memory impairment induced by chronic lead exposure

Lead is a neurotoxic contaminant that exists widely in the environment. Although lead neurotoxicity has been found to be tightly linked to gut microbiota disturbance, the effect of host metabolic disorders caused by gut microbiota disturbance on lead neurotoxicity has not been investigated. In this work, the results of new object recognition tests and Morris water maze tests showed that chronic low-dose lead exposure caused learning and memory dysfunction in mice. The results of 16 S rRNA sequencing of cecal contents and fecal microbiota transplantation showed that the neurotoxicity of lead could be transmitted through gut microbiota. The results of untargeted metabolomics and bile acid targeted metabolism analysis showed that the serum bile acid metabolism profile of lead-exposed mice was significantly changed. In addition, supplementation with TUDCA or INT-777 significantly alleviated chronic lead exposure-induced learning and memory impairment, primarily through inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the hippocampus to relieve neuroinflammation. In conclusion, our findings suggested that dysregulation of host bile acid metabolism may be one of the mechanisms of lead-induced neurotoxicity, and supplementation of specific bile acids may be a possible therapeutic strategy for lead-induced neurotoxicity.

Protective effects of Abrus cantoniensis Hance against liver injury through modulation of intestinal microbiota and liver metabolites

Abrus cantoniensis Hance (ACH) is an ancient Chinese medicine herb known for its therapeutic effects. This study investigated the potential protective effect of ACH against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage in mice. Fifty (n= 50) ICR mice were grouped into five groups. CCl4 was intraperitoneally injected into different mice groups: AM (CCl4 induced), AD (ACH-treated with 25 mg/kg), AZ (ACH-treated with 50 mg/kg), and AG (ACH-treated with100mg/kg) after every three days for a total of 31 days. The control group was denoted as AC. Additionally, groups AD, AZ, and AG received daily doses of ACH via gavage throughout the study period. According to our findings, ACH administration prominently mitigated liver pathological lesions and the increased liver index induced by CCl4 in mice (p < 0.05). Treatment with ACH resulted in a dose-dependent recovery of GSH-px, SOD, and CAT activities (p < 0.001). Moreover, the levels of TNF-α, MDA, and ALT showed significanlty decreasing trends with various doses of ACH (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 16 S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that ACH increased the abundance of beneficial genera of Comoclathris, Aureobasidium, and Kazachstania while decreased the presence of pathogenic genera such as Sporobolomyces and Filobasidium. Additionally, ACH treatment ameliorated the changes in liver metabolism due to CCl4 and enhanced the beneficial liver metabolites. In conclusion, ACH shows potential in protecting the liver against oxidative stress and inflammation caused by CCl4 exposure, possibly through its effects on gut microbiota and liver metabolism. Therefore, the use of ACH may offer an effective approach for alleviating CCl4-induced liver injury.

In silico prediction aided preparation of antioxidant soybean peptides by enzymatic hydrolysis for ameliorating lead exposure-induced toxicity

Food derived bioactive peptides are prominent dietary supplements to protect against oxidative stress induced by lead (Pb) exposure. This study aimed to develop a new strategy for rapid preparation of highly active antioxidant soybean polypeptides (ASPs) against Pb toxicity. In silico enzymatic hydrolysis simulation and antioxidant activity prediction showed that pepsin, chymotrypsin and bromelain can produce peptides with the highest activity. The preparation process was then optimized, and the obtained ASP showed good antioxidant and metal-chelating activities in vitro. An in vivo study showed that ASP exerted prominent protective effects against Pb-induced cognitive impairment and tissue damage in mice by reducing Pb deposition and enhancing the antioxidant capacity in tissues and was superior to Vc, DMSA or their combination in some aspects. ASP composition analysis demonstrated that its prominent antioxidant activity might be attributed to the high proportion of amino acid residues E, L, P and V in the peptide sequence and L, V and A at the C- and N-termini. In conclusion, in silico prediction could facilitate the preparation of ASP. And the ASP prepared with the new strategy exerted prominent protective effects against Pb toxicity.

Lead exposure exacerbates liver injury in high-fat diet-fed mice by disrupting the gut microbiota and related metabolites

Lead (Pb) is a widespread toxic endocrine disruptor that could cause liver damage and gut microbiota dysbiosis. However, the causal relationship and underlying mechanisms between the gut microbiota and Pb-induced liver injury are unclear. In this study, we investigated the metabolic toxicity caused by Pb exposure in normal chow (Chow) and high-fat diet (HFD) mice and confirmed the causal relationship by fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) and antibiotic cocktail experiments. The results showed that Pb exposure exacerbated HFD-induced hepatic lipid deposition, fibrosis, and inflammation, but it had no significant effect on Chow mice. Pb increased serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels and induced intestinal inflammation and barrier damage by activating TLR4/NFκB/MLCK in HFD mice. Furthermore, Pb exposure disrupted the gut microbiota, reduced short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations and the colonic SCFA receptors, G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 41/43/109A, in HFD mice. Additionally, Pb significantly inhibited the hepatic GPR109A-mediated adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, resulting in hepatic lipid accumulation. FMT from Pb-exposed HFD mice exacerbated liver damage, disturbed lipid metabolic pathways, impaired intestinal barriers, and altered the gut microbiota and metabolites in recipient mice. However, mice exposed to HFD + Pb and HFD mice had similar levels of these biomarkers in microbiota depleted by antibiotics. In conclusion, our study provides new insights into gut microbiota dysbiosis as a potential novel mechanism for human health related to liver function impairment caused by Pb exposure.

Investigating the impact of elevated urinary trace elements on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using vibration-controlled transient elastography

Introduction

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global public health concern. However, limited data are available on urinary trace elements and NAFLD caused by various exposure factors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the presence of 16 trace elements in urine and NAFLD using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods

By utilizing the NHANES data from 2017 to 2018, 1613 participants who fulfilled the research criteria were identified from the initial pool of 2979 participants with available urine trace element detection data. Among them, 706 individuals had been diagnosed with NAFLD based on a coefficient of attenuation parameter (CAP) value of at least 274 db/m, determined using vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE); whereas the remaining 907 participants were classified as non-NAFLD. The data obtained were used to construct univariate and multivariate logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline models (RCS) analyses.

Results

The presence of arsenic, iodine, barium, cesium, molybdenum, lead, tin, and tungsten in the urine of individuals with NAFLD showed a positive correlation with the likelihood of developing NAFLD. The risk of NAFLD had a non-linear dose-dependent relationship with urinary iodine, molybdenum, barium, and cesium. NAFLD was also associated with elevated levels of barium and cesium in urine, which were identified as significant risk factors.

Conclusion

These findings suggest a positive association between exposure to trace elements in the urine and the risk of NAFLD. Specifically, urinary barium and cesium appeared to have the greatest impact on the risk of NAFLD. These results provide novel insights into the diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD.

Prevalence and risk factors of MAFLD and its metabolic comorbidities in community-based adults in China: A cross-sectional study

AIMS

There is a growing interest in the co-management of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and its metabolic comorbidities. However, there is insufficient epidemiological data regarding MAFLD and its metabolic comorbidities in China. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of MAFLD and its metabolic comorbidities.

METHODS

9171 participants were recruited in this cross-sectional study, utilizing a multistage, stratified sampling method. All participants underwent a comprehensive assessment. The diagnosis of MAFLD was based on vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE). The prevalence of MAFLD and its metabolic comorbidities was calculated. Binary and ordinary logistic regressions were conducted.

RESULTS

The overall weighted prevalence of MAFLD was 21.18%. Of the 2081 adults with MAFLD, 1866 (89.67%) had more than one metabolic comorbidity, and only 215 (10.33%) did not have comorbidity. Among the population with MAFLD, the prevalence of dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperuricemia, and diabetes was 67.47%, 43.73%, 39.10%, and 33.88%, respectively. Advanced age, male gender, overweight/obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and elevated HOMA-IR levels were positively correlated with the number of MAFLD-related metabolic comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of individuals diagnosed with MAFLD presented with metabolic comorbidities. Therefore, engaging in the co-management of MAFLD and its metabolic comorbidities is imperative.

Could the gut microbiota be capable of making individuals more or less susceptible to environmental toxicants?

Environmental toxicants are chemical substances capable to impair environmental quality and exert adverse effects on humans and other animals. The main routes of exposure to these pollutants are through the respiratory tract, skin, and oral ingestion. When ingested orally, they will encounter trillions of microorganisms that live in a community - the gut microbiota (GM). While pollutants can disrupt the GM balance, GM plays an essential role in the metabolism and bioavailability of these chemical compounds. Under physiological conditions, strategies used by the GM for metabolism and/or excretion of xenobiotics include reductive and hydrolytic transformations, lyase and functional group transfer reactions, and enzyme-mediated functional transformations. Simultaneously, the host performs metabolic processes based mainly on conjugation, oxidation, and hydrolysis reactions. Thus, due to the broad variety of bacterial enzymes present in GM, the repertoire of microbial transformations of chemicals is considered a key component of the machinery involved in the metabolism of pollutants in humans and other mammals. Among pollutants, metals deserve special attention once contamination by metals is a worldwide problem, and their adverse effects can be observed even at very low concentrations due to their toxic properties. In this review, bidirectional interaction between lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury and the host organism and its GM will be discussed given the most recent literature, presenting an analysis of the ability of GM to alter the host organism's susceptibility to the toxic effects of heavy metals, as well as evaluating the extent to which interventions targeting the microbiota could be potential initiatives to mitigate the adverse effects resulting from poisoning by heavy metals. This study is the first to highlight the overlap between some of the bacteria found to be altered by metal exposure and the bacteria that also aid the host organism in the metabolism of these metals. This could be a key factor to determine the beneficial species able to minimize the toxicity of metals in future therapeutic approaches.

Effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CCFM8661 on serum metabolites and gut microbiota in a lead-exposed population

In this study, we investigated the impact of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) CCFM8661 on the gut microbiota, and the serum and fecal metabolomes in lead (Pb)-exposed individuals. The volunteers recruited for this study were divided into two treatment groups, (i) the placebo (control) and (ii) the L. plantarum CCFM8661 treatment groups. The analysis revealed that probiotic intervention reversed some of the changes in Pb exposure-induced intestinal bacterial abundance, including the abundance of Parabacteroides, Bacteroides, Clostridiaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae. An analysis of the fecal metabolome identified 26 differential metabolites involved in purine metabolism, unsaturated fatty acid metabolism, and other pathways. Serum metabolite analysis showed that L. plantarum CCFM8661 treatment altered the serum metabolite levels of various metabolic pathways, such as the glycerophospholipid, amino acid, and glutathione metabolism pathways. These results suggest that L. plantarum CCFM8661 may have beneficial effects on Pb-exposed populations by modulating the gut microbiota, host serum metabolism, and the metabolism of the gut microbiota.

Identification of potential food sources affecting blood lead levels and their health hazards (CVD, respiratory diseases, cancer)

Environmental lead exposure is a well-known and significant public health concern. In areas with low lead exposure, comprehensive and detailed research and validation are needed to eliminate the adverse effects of environmental lead exposure. This study aims to understand the possible food pathways of environmental lead exposure by exploring the contribution of food to blood lead and the mediating effect of blood lead in the occurrence of diseases. Similarly, as lead is a heavy metal pollutant with good research foundation, fine analysis of lead in this period can also be a reference for other unknown pollutants. In this cross-sectional study of 1162 peoples, the data are taken from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NANHES) 2015-2016, we grouped the population according to the median blood lead level (0.038 μmol/L) to screen the variables adjusted by the model. we grouped foods by code and used a generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) to study their relationship with blood lead levels, a correlation has been found between egg mixtures (p = 0.007) and legumes (p = 0.041) consumption and blood lead levels. We analyzed how metabolic status, exercise, and macronutrient intake modulate the impact of certain foods on blood lead levels to infer its possible process. To verify whether adverse effects are caused by lead, we explored the mediating effect of blood lead on the relationship between food intake and disease [cardiovascular diseases (CVD), respiratory diseases, cancer], however, no statistically significant mediating effect was found. Overall, environmental lead exposure through food still affects blood lead levels, but it has not led to adverse outcomes in blood, respiratory system, or cancers Under conditions where lead exposure levels were equivalent to those in the study (blood lead levels， mean = 0.052 μmol/L, standard deviation = 0.048 μmol/L, median = 0.038 μmol/L, min = 0.002 μmol/L, max = 0.904 μmol/L, skewness = 6.543, kurtosis = 89.391).

Associations of Serum Iron Status with MAFLD and Liver Fibrosis in the USA: a Nationwide Cross-Section Study

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a new terminology characterized by liver steatosis. Iron status is related to many metabolic diseases. However, the researches on the associations of serum iron status with MAFLD are limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations of serum iron status biomarkers with MAFLD and liver fibrosis. A total of 5892 adults were enrolled in the current cross-sectional study using the 2017-March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Liver steatosis and liver fibrosis were defined by the median values of controlled attenuation parameter ≥ 274 dB/m and liver stiffness measurement ≥ 8 kPa, respectively. The multivariable logistic/linear regression and restricted cubic spline analysis were conducted. After adjusting for potential confounders, higher ferritin levels were associated with higher odds of MAFLD (OR 4.655; 95% CI 2.301, 9.418) and liver fibrosis (OR 7.013; 95% CI 3.910, 12.577). Lower iron levels were associated with a higher prevalence of MAFLD (OR 0.622; 95% CI 0.458, 0.844) and liver fibrosis (OR 0.722; 95% CI 0.536, 0.974). Lower transferrin saturation (TSAT) was associated with a higher prevalence of MAFLD (OR 0.981; 95% CI 0.970, 0.991) and liver fibrosis (OR 0.988; 95% CI 0.979, 0.998). Higher ferritin levels, lower iron levels, and TSAT were associated with a higher prevalence of MAFLD and liver fibrosis. This study extended the knowledge of modifying iron status to prevent MAFLD and liver fibrosis. More prospective and mechanism studies were warranted to confirm the conclusions.

Sex-Specific Associations of Five Serum Essential Metal Elements with Thyroid Nodules in Euthyroid Adults: a Cross‑sectional Study

The association between the serum essential metal elements (magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, and calcium) and thyroid nodules is still inconsistent. The current study aims to investigate the relationship of metal elements with thyroid nodules and their malignant tendency. A total of 6480 Chinese euthyroid adults were included in our study. We collect basic information through questionnaires and medical checkups. We diagnose thyroid nodules by ultrasound and detect serum trace metal concentrations by using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Binary and multinomial logistic regressions were used to investigate the associations. As a result, we found that serum copper concentrations were positively associated with thyroid nodules in the second, third, and fourth quartiles, compared to the first quartile (P = 0.024, P = 0.016, P = 0.032) in women and P for trend is 0.038. There is a significant sex-specific association between copper concentrations and thyroid nodules (P for interaction = 0.009). The results of the multinomial logistic regression analyses indicate high serum calcium and magnesium concentrations emerged as consistent risk factors for thyroid nodules in both genders, whereas low zinc was a sex-specific factor. We also observed significant sex interactions in the relationships of magnesium (P for interaction = 0.043) with thyroid nodules with malignant tendency among participants with thyroid nodules. In conclusion, our study suggests that gender is an important factor when studying the association between serum metals and thyroid nodules. The imbalance of selected metal elements (calcium, copper, zinc, and magnesium) may relate to thyroid nodules and their malignant tendency, and future prospective studies are needed to further confirm the associations.

Dissecting the role of cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

The objective of the present study was to review the existing epidemiological and laboratory findings supporting the role of toxic metal exposure in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The existing epidemiological studies demonstrate that cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) exposure was associated both with an increased risk of NAFLD and altered biochemical markers of liver injury. Laboratory studies demonstrated that metal exposure induces hepatic lipid accumulation resulting from activation of lipogenesis and inhibition of fatty acid β-oxidation due to up-regulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and down-regulation of PPARα. Other metabolic pathways involved in this effect may include activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and inhibition of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. The mechanisms of hepatocyte damage during development of metal-induced hepatic steatosis were shown to involve oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and dysregulation of autophagy. Induction of inflammatory response contributing to progression of NAFLD to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) upon toxic metal exposure was shown to be mediated by up-regulation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and activation of NRLP3 inflammasome. Moreover, epigenetic effects of the metals, as well as their effect on gut microbiota and gut wall integrity were also shown to mediate their role in NAFLD development. Despite being demonstrated for Cd, Pb, and As, the contribution of these mechanisms into Hg-induced NAFLD is yet to be estimated. Therefore, further studies are required to clarify the intimate mechanisms underlying the relationship between heavy metal and metalloid exposure and NAFLD/NASH to reveal the potential targets for treatment and prevention of metal-induced NAFLD.

Association Between Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Heavy Metal Exposure: a Systematic Review

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a debilitating disease with adverse effects including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Heavy metals can cause severe dysfunction in different body organs including the liver. This review offers the study regarding the positive or negative association between heavy metals exposure and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The method used in this study is a systematic review based on searching in the PubMed, Scopus, and Science direct databases with the keywords of fatty liver, non-alcohol fatty liver, heavy metal, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, thallium, lead, iron, zinc, and nickel. There were 2200 articles searched in databases, and after assessment, 28 articles were selected. Positive association is established between arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead, mercury, and fatty liver disease. A negative relationship is found between zinc, copper, and progressive fatty liver disease. Furthermore, laboratory methods for NAFLD diagnosis were examined according to the obtained manuscripts. Among the different diagnostic methods, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a sensitive method.

The effect of Abrus cantoniensis Hance on liver damage in mice

The liver is a well-known organ contributing to digestion, hemostasis and detoxification, while liver injury is a world-widely distributed health problem with limited treatment choices. We detected the protective effect of Abrus cantoniensis Hance (ACH) on Carbon tetrachloride-induced (CCl4) liver injury in mice. Fifty ICR (Institute of Cancer Research) animals were grouped into five groups of control (a), CCl4 (d), ACH (25 mg/kg) treated group (c), ACH (50 mg/kg) treated group (b), and ACH (100 mg/kg) treated group (e). Mice in groups d, c, b, and e were given CCl4 every four days, and treated animals received daily ACH supplementation. The results showed that the daily body weights in CCl4-induced animals were slightly lower; however, the weight of ACH-treated mice increased, particularly in the higher dose group. Treatment with CCl4 led to increased liver weight and liver indices in mice, whereas supplementation with ACH reduced both liver weights and liver indices in animals. Histo-pathological analysis indicated that CCl4 led to inflammatory cell infiltration and hepatocellular degeneration, with collagenous fibers proliferation in ICR animals. In contrast, supplementation with ACH prominently decreased inflammatory cells and degeneration of hepatocytes and inhibited collagen fiber hyperplasia. Furthermore, the levels or concentrations of AST (p < 0.0001), ALT (p < 0.0001), MDA (p < 0.0001), IL-1β (p < 0.01), TNF-α (p < 0.01) and IL-6 (p < 0.01) were significantly higher in CCl4 induced ICR animals in group d. However, mice treated with ACH showed lower levels or concentrations of those indices in dose dependent manner. The levels of GSH-px (p < 0.0001), CAT (p < 0.0001) and SOD (p < 0.0001) were significantly reduced in CCl4 group; however, all these three enzymes exhibited significant (p < 0.05) increase in animals supplemented with ACH in dose dependent manner. The microbiome sequencing generated 1,168,327 filtered reads in the mice samples. A notable difference was observed in the composition of 6 phyla and 37 genera among the five ICR animal groups. Supplementation with ACH increased the abundance of beneficial genera of Coprococcus, Blautia and Clostridium, while concurrently decreased the presence of pathogenic genera of Mycoplasma and Helicobacter. In conclusion, we revealed that Abrus cantoniensis Hance has the potential to relieve liver damage induced by CCl4, through the reduction of inflammation, enhancement of antioxidant capacity, and regulation of intestinal microbiota.

Elucidating disease-associated mechanisms triggered by pollutants via the epigenetic landscape using large-scale ChIP-Seq data

BACKGROUND

Despite well-documented effects on human health, the action modes of environmental pollutants are incompletely understood. Although transcriptome-based approaches are widely used to predict associations between chemicals and disorders, the molecular cues regulating pollutant-derived gene expression changes remain unclear. Therefore, we developed a data-mining approach, termed "DAR-ChIPEA," to identify transcription factors (TFs) playing pivotal roles in the action modes of pollutants.

METHODS

Large-scale public ChIP-Seq data (human, n = 15,155; mouse, n = 13,156) were used to predict TFs that are enriched in the pollutant-induced differentially accessible genomic regions (DARs) obtained from epigenome analyses (ATAC-Seq). The resultant pollutant-TF matrices were then cross-referenced to a repository of TF-disorder associations to account for pollutant modes of action. We subsequently evaluated the performance of the proposed method using a chemical perturbation data set to compare the outputs of the DAR-ChIPEA and our previously developed differentially expressed gene (DEG)-ChIPEA methods using pollutant-induced DEGs as input. We then adopted the proposed method to predict disease-associated mechanisms triggered by pollutants.

RESULTS

The proposed approach outperformed other methods using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve score. The mean score of the proposed DAR-ChIPEA was significantly higher than that of our previously described DEG-ChIPEA (0.7287 vs. 0.7060; Q = 5.278 × 10-42; two-tailed Wilcoxon rank-sum test). The proposed approach further predicted TF-driven modes of action upon pollutant exposure, indicating that (1) TFs regulating Th1/2 cell homeostasis are integral in the pathophysiology of tributyltin-induced allergic disorders; (2) fine particulates (PM2.5) inhibit the binding of C/EBPs, Rela, and Spi1 to the genome, thereby perturbing normal blood cell differentiation and leading to immune dysfunction; and (3) lead induces fatty liver by disrupting the normal regulation of lipid metabolism by altering hepatic circadian rhythms.

CONCLUSIONS

Highlighting genome-wide chromatin change upon pollutant exposure to elucidate the epigenetic landscape of pollutant responses outperformed our previously described method that focuses on gene-adjacent domains only. Our approach has the potential to reveal pivotal TFs that mediate deleterious effects of pollutants, thereby facilitating the development of strategies to mitigate damage from environmental pollution.

Associations between blood essential metal mixture and serum uric acid: a cross-sectional study

Introduction

Although several studies have explored the associations between single essential metals and serum uric acid (SUA), the study about the essential metal mixture and the interactions of metals for hyperuricemia remains unclear.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study to explore the association of the SUA levels with the blood essential metal mixture, including magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) in Chinese community-dwelling adults (n=1039). The multivariable linear regression, the weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were conducted to estimate the associations of blood essential metals with SUA levels and the BKMR model was also conducted to estimate the interactions of the essential metals on SUA.

Results

In the multivariable linear regression, the association of blood Mg, Mn, and Cu with SUA was statistically significant, both in considering multiple metals and a single metal. In WQS regression [β=13.59 (95%CI: 5.57, 21.60)] and BKMR models, a positive association was found between the mixture of essential metals in blood and SUA. Specifically, blood Mg and Cu showed a positive association with SUA, while blood Mn showed a negative association. Additionally, no interactions between individual metals on SUA were observed.

Discussion

In conclusion, further attention should be paid to the relationship between the mixture of essential metals in blood and SUA. However, more studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Central Sensitivity to Free Triiodothyronine With MAFLD and Its Progression to Liver Fibrosis in Euthyroid Adults

CONTEXT

Impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormones has been demonstrated to be positively associated with the prevalence of metabolic disorders. However, the relationship between sensitivity to thyroid hormones and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and liver fibrosis remained unclear.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the associations of thyroid hormone sensitivity indices with MAFLD and its progression to liver fibrosis in Chinese euthyroid adults.

METHODS

This community-based study included 7906 euthyroid adults. We calculated the thyroid sensitivity indices, including free triiodothyronine to free thyroxine (FT3/FT4) ratio, Thyroid Feedback Quantile-based Index by FT4 (TFQIFT4), and Thyroid Feedback Quantile-based Index by FT3 (TFQIFT3), indicating peripheral and central thyroid hormone sensitivity respectively. Liver steatosis and fibrosis were diagnosed by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE). Multivariable logistic/linear regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

Compared with participants in the first quartile (Q1), the prevalence of MAFLD was increased by 62% in the fourth quartile (Q4) of FT3/FT4 ratio (OR 1.62; 95% CI [1.38, 1.91]) and by 40% in Q4 of TFQIFT3 (OR 1.40; 95% CI [1.18, 1.65]) (both P < .05). No associations between TFQIFT4 and the prevalence of MAFLD were found. In addition, compared with participants in Q1, the prevalence of liver fibrosis was increased by 45% in Q4 of TFQIFT3 (OR 1.45; 95% CI [1.03, 2.06]) (P < .05) in participants with MAFLD.

CONCLUSION

Impaired central sensitivity to FT3 was associated with MAFLD and its progression to liver fibrosis. More prospective and mechanism studies are warranted to confirm these conclusions.

Sex, Nutrition, and NAFLD: Relevance of Environmental Pollution

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease and represents an increasing public health issue given the limited treatment options and its association with several other metabolic and inflammatory disorders. The epidemic, still growing prevalence of NAFLD worldwide cannot be merely explained by changes in diet and lifestyle that occurred in the last few decades, nor from their association with genetic and epigenetic risk factors. It is conceivable that environmental pollutants, which act as endocrine and metabolic disruptors, may contribute to the spreading of this pathology due to their ability to enter the food chain and be ingested through contaminated food and water. Given the strict interplay between nutrients and the regulation of hepatic metabolism and reproductive functions in females, pollutant-induced metabolic dysfunctions may be of particular relevance for the female liver, dampening sex differences in NAFLD prevalence. Dietary intake of environmental pollutants can be particularly detrimental during gestation, when endocrine-disrupting chemicals may interfere with the programming of liver metabolism, accounting for the developmental origin of NAFLD in offspring. This review summarizes cause-effect evidence between environmental pollutants and increased incidence of NAFLD and emphasizes the need for further studies in this field.

Blood Lead Level Is Associated with Visceral Adipose Dysfunction in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

We aimed to explore whether an elevated blood lead level (BLL) is associated with visceral adipose dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Four thousand one hundred and fourteen diabetic participants were enrolled from seven communities in Shanghai in 2018 in the cross-sectional METAL study. BLL was measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP)were calculated by simple anthropometric and biochemical parameters. We found that medians (IQR) of BLL were 26.0 μg/L (18.0-37.0) for men and 25.0 μg/L (18.0-35.0) for women, respectively. In men, each doubling of BLL was associated with a 2.0% higher VAI (95% CI, 0.6 to 3.5%) and 1.8% higher LAP (95% CI, 0.2 to 3.3%) after full adjustment. Using the lowest BLL quartile as the referent group, significant positive trends were observed for BLL with VAI and LAP. In women, each doubling of BLL was associated with a 1.9% higher LAP (95% CI, 0.6 to 3.1%). Additionally, there was a marginally significant positive association between BLL and VAI, either using log2-transformed concentrations as continuous variables or categorized in quartiles. In conclusion, lead exposure is associated with visceral adipose dysfunction in patients with T2DM. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Salt-contaminated water exposure induces gut microbial dysbiosis in chickens

Microbes play a crucial role in maintaining health by aiding in digestion, regulating the immune system, producing essential vitamins, and preventing the colonization of harmful bacteria. The stability of the microbiota is, therefore, necessary for overall well-being. However, several environmental factors can negatively affect the microbiota, including exposure to industrial waste, i.e., chemicals, heavy metals, and other pollutants. Over the past few decades, industries have grown significantly, but the wastewater from those industries has seriously harmed the environment and the health of living beings both locally and globally. The current study investigated the effects of salt-contaminated water exposure on gut microbiota in chickens. According to our findings, amplicon sequencing showed 453 OTUs across control and salt-contaminated water exposure groups. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteriota were the most dominant phyla in the chickens regardless of treatment. However, exposure to salt-contaminated water resulted in a remarkable decline in gut microbial diversity. While, the beta diversity revealed substantial differences in major gut microbiota components. Moroever, microbial taxonomic investigation indicated that the proportions of one bacterial phylum and nineteen bacterial genera significantly decreased. Also, the levels of one bacterial phylum and thirty three bacterial genera markedly increased under salt-contaminated water exposure, which indicates a disruption in gut microbial homeostasis. Hence the current study provides a basis to explore the effects of salt-contaminated water exposure on the health of vertebrate species.

Associations of metal profiles in blood with thyroiditis: a cross-sectional study

Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is increasingly common, and serological markers include thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb). To determine if selected metals influence thyroiditis antibody positivity, this cross-sectional study investigated associations between metals and thyroiditis antibody status. Healthy individuals (n = 1104) completed a questionnaire and underwent checkups of anthropometric parameters, thyroid function status, and levels of seven metals in blood (magnesium, iron, calcium, copper, zinc, manganese, and lead). Associated profiles of glyco- and lipid metabolism were also established. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression analysis were applied to adjudge associations between metals and TPOAb and TgAb status. It was found that, after adjusting for likely cofounding factors, participants with antibody positivity had significantly lower serum concentrations of magnesium and iron. When serum magnesium levels were analyzed in quartiles, the odds ratios of quartile 4 were 0.329-fold (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.167-0647) and 0.259-fold (95% CI 0.177-0.574) that of quartile 1 regarding TPOAb and TgAb positivity (P = 0.004, 0.003). After adjustment, the RCS analysis detected nonlinear associations between iron and TPOAb and TgAb positivity (P < 0.01, both). In stratified analyses, these associations regarding magnesium and iron remained for women of reproductive age, but not for postmenopausal women and men. We conclude that lower serum levels of magnesium and iron are associated with incremental positivity of thyroiditis antibodies and may be among the most important metals contributing to AIT in women of reproductive age.

Recent advances in the application of ionomics in metabolic diseases

Trace elements and minerals play a significant role in human health and diseases. In recent years, ionomics has been rapidly and widely applied to explore the distribution, regulation, and crosstalk of different elements in various physiological and pathological processes. On the basis of multi-elemental analytical techniques and bioinformatics methods, it is possible to elucidate the relationship between the metabolism and homeostasis of diverse elements and common diseases. The current review aims to provide an overview of recent advances in the application of ionomics in metabolic disease research. We mainly focuses on the studies about ionomic or multi-elemental profiling of different biological samples for several major types of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, which reveal distinct and dynamic patterns of ion contents and their potential benefits in the detection and prognosis of these illnesses. Accumulation of copper, selenium, and environmental toxic metals as well as deficiency of zinc and magnesium appear to be the most significant risk factors for the majority of metabolic diseases, suggesting that imbalance of these elements may be involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Moreover, each type of metabolic diseases has shown a relatively unique distribution of ions in biofluids and hair/nails from patients, which might serve as potential indicators for the respective disease. Overall, ionomics not only improves our understanding of the association between elemental dyshomeostasis and the development of metabolic disease but also assists in the identification of new potential diagnostic and prognostic markers in translational medicine.

Associations of metal mixtures with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: NHANES 2003-2018

Objective

The hepatotoxicity of exposure to a single heavy metal has been examined in previous studies. However, there is limited evidence on the association between heavy metals mixture and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This study aims to investigate the associations of 13 urinary metals, individually and jointly, with NAFLD, MAFLD, and MAFLD components.

Methods

This study included 5,548 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2018. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the associations between individual metal exposures and MAFLD, NAFLD, and MAFLD components. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and Quantile-based g-computation (QGC) were used to investigate the association of metal mixture exposure with these outcomes.

Results

In single metal analysis, increased levels of arsenic [OR 1.09 (95%CI 1.03-1.16)], dimethylarsinic acid [1.17 (95%CI 1.07-1.27)], barium [1.22 (95%CI 1.14-1.30)], cobalt [1.22 (95%CI 1.11-1.34)], cesium [1.35 (95%CI 1.18-1.54)], molybdenum [1.45 (95%CI 1.30-1.62)], antimony [1.18 (95%CI 1.08-1.29)], thallium [1.49 (95%CI 1.33-1.67)], and tungsten [1.23 (95%CI 1.15-1.32)] were significantly associated with MAFLD risk after adjusting for potential covariates. The results for NAFLD were similar to those for MAFLD, except for arsenic, which was insignificantly associated with NAFLD. In mixture analysis, the overall metal mixture was positively associated with MAFLD, NAFLD, and MAFLD components, including obesity/overweight, diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction. In both BKMR and QGC models, thallium, molybdenum, tungsten, and barium mainly contributed to the positive association with MAFLD.

Conclusion

Our study indicated that exposure to heavy metals, individually or cumulatively, was positively associated with NAFLD, MAFLD, and MAFLD components, including obesity/overweight, diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction. Additional research is needed to validate these findings in longitudinal settings.

Single and combined associations of blood lead and essential metals with serum lipid profiles in community-dwelling adults

Background

Although several studies have examined the relationships between lead (Pb) exposure and serum lipid profiles, the associations of the metal mixture, including lead (Pb) and essential metals with lipid profiles, remain unclear.

Objective

To investigate the associations of the metal mixture including Pb and essential metals [magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and calcium (Ca)] with serum lipid profiles [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)], as well as the potential interactions among the metals.

Methods

Nine hundred and ninety-eight Chinese community-dwelling adults completed a questionnaire and underwent checkups of anthropometric parameters, serum lipid profile levels (TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C), and blood metal concentrations (Pb, Mg, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Ca). The multivariable linear regression, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were applied to evaluate the single and combined associations of blood Pb and essential metals with serum lipid profiles.

Results

In the multivariable linear regression model, the blood Pb was positively associated with TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C (p < 0.05, all), and the blood Mg were positively associated with serum TC, LDL-C, and Ln TG (p < 0.05, all). In the WQS regression and BKMR models, the metal mixture of blood Pb and the essential metals was positively associated with all of the serum lipid profiles. In addition, an inverse U-shaped association of Pb with Ln TG and the positive interactive effect between blood Pb and Mg levels on TC and LDL-C were found.

Conclusion

The levels of blood Pb, together with the essential metals, especially Mg levels, are suggested to be considered when assessing dyslipidemia risk. However, more evidence is still needed to validate the conclusions.

Sex-specific associations of the urinary fourteen-metal mixture with NAFLD and liver fibrosis among US adults: A nationally representative study

Although previous studies have examined the hepatotoxicity of single metal exposure, the associations between metal mixture and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or fibrosis remain unclear. This study investigated the associations of urinary metal mixture with the risks of NAFLD and liver fibrosis in US adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017.01 to 2020.03. Vibration-controlled transient elastography was used to detect the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM), which are indicators of NAFLD and liver fibrosis respectively. Three novel mixture modeling approaches including the Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and quantile g-computation (qgcomp) were used to estimate the associations of the urinary fourteen-metal mixture with Ln CAP and Ln LSM. There were 2283 adults aged over 18 years (1209 women and 1074 men) were included. Among women, urinary metal mixture was positively associated with Ln CAP in the BKMR and qgcomp models (both P < 0.05). However, no significantly associations of urinary metal mixture with Ln CAP were observed among men in all models (all P > 0.05). The metal mixture was not associated with Ln LSM in the three models regardless of genders (all P > 0.05). In conclusion, we observed sex-specific associations between urinary metal mixture and the prevalence of NAFLD in US adults. These findings emphasize the role of environmental heavy metal exposure in the development of NAFLD, and confirm the need for more prospective cohort studies on sex-specific manner.

Silica nanoparticles aggravated the metabolic associated fatty liver disease through disturbed amino acid and lipid metabolisms-mediated oxidative stress

The metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a public health challenge, leading to a global increase in chronic liver disease. The respiratory exposure of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) has revealed to induce hepatotoxicity. However, its role in the pathogenesis and progression of MAFLD was severely under-studied. In this context, the hepatic impacts of SiNPs were investigated in vivo and in vitro through using ApoE^-/- mice and free fatty acid (FFA)-treated L02 hepatocytes. Histopathological examinations and biochemical analysis showed SiNPs exposure via intratracheal instillation aggravated hepatic steatosis, lipid vacuolation, inflammatory infiltration and even collagen deposition in ApoE^-/- mice, companied with increased hepatic ALT, AST and LDH levels. The enhanced fatty acid synthesis and inhibited fatty acid β-oxidation and lipid efflux may account for the increased hepatic TC/TG by SiNPs. Consistently, SiNPs induced lipid deposition and elevated TC in FFA-treated L02 cells. Further, the activation of hepatic oxidative stress was detected in vivo and in vitro, as evidenced by ROS accumulation, elevated MDA, declined GSH/GSSG and down-regulated Nrf2 signaling. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was also triggered in response to SiNPs-induced lipid accumulation, as reflecting by the remarkable ER expansion and increased BIP expression. More importantly, an UPLC-MS-based metabolomics analysis revealed that SiNPs disturbed the hepatic metabolic profile in ApoE^-/- mice, prominently on amino acids and lipid metabolisms. In particular, the identified differential metabolites were strongly correlated to the activation of oxidative stress and ensuing hepatic TC/TG accumulation and liver injuries, contributing to the progression of liver diseases. Taken together, our study showed SiNPs promoted hepatic steatosis and liver damage, resulting in the aggravation of MAFLD progression. More importantly, the disturbed amino acids and lipid metabolisms-mediated oxidative stress was a key contributor to this phenomenon from a metabolic perspective.

Associations of phthalates with NAFLD and liver fibrosis: A nationally representative cross-sectional study from NHANES 2017 to 2018

OBJECTIVE

Although phthalates are common environmental pollutants, few studies have focused on the relationship of phthalates exposure with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or liver fibrosis, and especially, the alternative phthalates have been questioned in recent years about whether they are better choices. Thus, this study aimed to explore the associations of exposure to major phthalates or alternative phthalates with NAFLD and liver fibrosis.

METHODS

Data of 1450 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018 were collected. The urinary metabolite concentrations of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) were detected. Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and median liver stiffness measurement (LSM) were acquired for quantitative diagnosis of NAFLD and liver fibrosis by vibration-controlled transient elastography. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and linear regression analysis were performed to examine the associations between phthalates and NAFLD and liver fibrosis.

RESULTS

After adjustment of the potential factors, the prevalence of NAFLD was significantly elevated among those in the fourth quartile of mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (OR, 95%CI = 2.719, 1.296, 5.700, P = 0.016), mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (OR, 95%CI = 2.073, 1.111, 3.867, P = 0.037). No significant association was found between the alternative phthalates and NAFLD. The similar result was gained by linear regression analysis that MECPP was still significantly associated with Ln CAP (Q4 vs. Q1: β, 95%CI = 0.067, 0.017, 0.118, P = 0.027). After adjustment for the same covariates, no significant association between phthalates and liver fibrosis was found in logistics regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

All in all, higher prevalence of NAFLD is correlated with DEHP but not DINP or DIDP in American adults. There is no significant relationship between phthalates and liver fibrosis defined as LSM ≥ 8 Kpa. Nevertheless, further research is needed to provide evidence of causality.

Association of blood manganese, selenium with steatosis, fibrosis in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2017-18

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Chronic liver disease is a growing health burden worldwide. Chronic metal exposures may be associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to evaluate the association of blood cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and selenium (Se) with two hallmark features of NAFLD: liver steatosis and fibrosis in the general U.S.

METHODS

We analyzed transient liver elastography data from participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-18, using ordinal logistic regression analyses to evaluate the cross-sectional association between blood metal concentrations and clinical stages of steatosis and fibrosis. We applied survey weights, strata, and primary sampling units and analyses were conducted using the R survey package.

RESULTS

4,154 participants were included. Median (IQR) for blood Mn and blood Se were 9.28 (7.48-11.39) and 191.08 (176.55-207.16) μg/L, respectively. Per interquartile range increase of natural log transformed blood Mn, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) was 1.59 (1.13-2.23) for a higher grade of steatosis and 1.16 (0.67-2.00) for liver fibrosis. The corresponding OR for steatosis was 2.00 (1.24-3.24) and 2.14 (1.04-4.42) in Black and Mexican American participants, respectively. The corresponding OR for liver fibrosis was 2.96 (1.42-6.17) for females. Per interquartile range increase of natural log transformed blood Se, the adjusted OR was 2.25 (1.30-3.89) for steatosis but 0.31 (0.13-0.72) for liver fibrosis. The inverse association of blood Se with liver fibrosis was also observed in males and White participants. Blood Cd, Hg, and Pb were not associated with liver steatosis and fibrosis in fully-adjusted models overall.

CONCLUSIONS

In NHANES 2017-18, higher blood Mn was positively associated with liver steatosis, and higher Se was positively associated with liver steatosis but negatively associated with liver fibrosis. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine the association of Mn and Se with fibrosis progression.

Microbiome analysis reveals the effects of black soldier fly oil on gut microbiota in pigeon

The gut microbiota plays a vital roles in poultry physiology, immunity and metabolism. Black soldier fly oil is known to have a positive effect on the gut microbiota. However, the specific effect of black soldier fly oil on the composition and structure of the gut microbiota of the pigeon is unknown. In this experiment, 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing was performed to study the effect of different doses of black soldier fly oil on the changes of pigeon intestinal microbes. Results indicated that the different doses of black soldier fly oil had no effect on the gut microbial diversity of the pigeon. Although the dominant phyla (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria) and genus (uncultured_bacterium_f_Lachnospiraceae and Desulfovibrio) in control group and experimental group with different doses were the same, the abundances of some beneficial bacteria (Megasphaera, Intestinimonas, Prevotella_9, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-001, Faecalibacterium, Coprococcus_2, Parabacteroides, Megasphaera, Leuconostoc, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Lactococcus, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, and Coprococcus_2) increased significantly as the concentration of black soldier fly oil increased. Taken together, this study indicated that black soldier fly oil supplementation could improve gut microbial composition and structure by increasing the proportions of beneficial bacteria. Notably, this is the first report on the effects of black soldier fly oil on the gut microbiota of pigeon, which contribute to understanding the positive effects of black soldier fly oil from the gut microbial perspective.

Comparative Analysis of Gut Microbiota Between Healthy and Diarrheic Horses

Increasing evidence reveals the importance of gut microbiota in animals for regulating intestinal homeostasis, metabolism, and host health. The gut microbial community has been reported to be closely related to many diseases, but information regarding diarrheic influence on gut microbiota in horses remains scarce. This study investigated and compared gut microbial changes in horses during diarrhea. The results showed that the alpha diversity of gut microbiota in diarrheic horses decreased observably, accompanied by obvious shifts in taxonomic compositions. The dominant bacterial phyla (Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes, and Kiritimatiellaeota) and genera (uncultured_bacterium_f_Lachnospiraceae, uncultured_bacterium_f_p-251-o5, Lachnospiraceae_AC2044_group, and Treponema_2) in the healthy and diarrheic horses were same regardless of health status but different in abundances. Compared with the healthy horses, the relative abundances of Planctomycetes, Tenericutes, Firmicutes, Patescibacteria, and Proteobacteria in the diarrheic horses were observably decreased, whereas Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Fibrobacteres were dramatically increased. Moreover, diarrhea also resulted in a significant reduction in the proportions of 31 genera and a significant increase in the proportions of 14 genera. Taken together, this study demonstrated that the gut bacterial diversity and abundance of horses changed significantly during diarrhea. Additionally, these findings also demonstrated that the dysbiosis of gut microbiota may be an important driving factor of diarrhea in horses.

The Association of Thyroid Nodules With Blood Trace Elements Identified in a Cross-Section Study

Background

The association between occurrence of thyroid nodules (TNs) and trace elements detectable in blood are still inconclusive. The present study sought to determine the relationship between selected trace elements and TNs in the iodine-adequate area of Guangdong, China.

Methods

A total of 1,048 participants from four communities were enrolled. A number of medical checkups were conducted to collect relevant data on anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, glucose blood levels and lipid profiles, as well as data on thyroid function, presence of thyroid autoantibodies, and trace elements. Presence of TN was diagnosed by ultrasonography.

Results

Of the 1048 participants (49.5 ± 14.4 years old), 543 participants (51.8%) had TNs. Serum copper, magnesium and zinc levels are associated with the presence of TNs among healthy subjects. Subjects with higher levels of zinc, magnesium and copper had 1.23-fold, 1.04-fold, and 1.007-fold increased risks of the prevalence of TNs (P = 0.013, 0.017, and < 0.001, resp). Compared with the first quartile of copper content in serum, participants in the fourth quartile had the highest prevalence of TNs with an odds ratio of 8.90 (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.41, 14.94) among all participants. Women in the third quartile of magnesium level had a 1.86-fold (95%CI 1.05, 3.31) risk of the prevalence of TNs. Subjects in the highest quartile of zinc level had a 1.82-fold (95%CI 1.06, 3.16) risk of the prevalence of TNs in females.

Conclusion

TNs were found highly prevalent in females in the investigated population from an iodine-adequate area of Guangdong, China. The imbalance of selected trace elements (copper, magnesium and zinc) in the body is related to the presence of TNs among healthy subjects. The observed correlation of copper on TNs warrants further studies.

Lead exposure as a causative factor for metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and a lead exposure related nomogram for MAFLD prevalence

The relationship between lead exposure and neurological disorders has been extensively studied, but the effects of lead exposure on hepatotoxicity are unknown. Metabolically related fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an update of previous non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It redefines the diagnostic conditions and emphasizes metabolic factors while considering non-alcoholic factors. Lead can affect the endocrine system and metabolism, so we believe that lead exposure may contribute to MAFLD. 41,723 individuals who had undergone blood lead testing from 2005 to 2018 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database were selected for this study. The characteristics of population lead exposure in the last decade or so, the effect of lead exposure on liver function and whether lead exposure can cause MAFLD were analyzed. Co-variates were adjusted according to age, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, visceral adiposity index (VAI), poverty indices (PIR), diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The results showed that blood lead concentrations stabilized at a low level after a decreasing trend from year to year. The differences in blood lead concentrations were associated with differences in age, sex, race, education level, and PIR. Lead exposure was an independent risk factor for MAFLD, and lead and nine other factors were used as independent risk factors for MAFLD, so a nomogram was established to predict the prevalence probability of MAFLD.