Assessment of follicular fluid metabolomics of polycystic ovary syndrome in kidney yang deficiency syndrome

Effect of Bushen Huoxue recipe on serum metabolomics in polycystic ovary syndrome rats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of Bushen Huoxue Recipe (BSHXR) on serum metabolomics in polycystic ovary syndrome rat (PCOSR).

METHODS

In our study, twenty-four 6-week-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) female rats were randomly divided into three groups: treatment group, model group and blank group. The blank group and other groups were gavaged in different ways each morning, and the rats were treated with normal saline or BSHXR containing liquid each afternoon. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was employed to study serum metabolites in the treatment group after the study as well as in the model and blank groups.

RESULTS

There was a tendency to normalize the histomorphology of ovarian pathology and the abnormal sex hormone level of PCOSR was significantly improved after BSHXR treatment. The level of serum metabolites was greatly changed in PCOSR treated with the BSHXR. We identified 32 metabolic targets of BSHXR in PCOSR using LC-MS, and further revealed BSHXR targeted five major metabolic pathway: retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism. Conclusion: Our study found that BSHXR plays a role in the treatment of PCOS by regulating key metabolic pathways in the PCOSR.

The role of acupuncture in women with advanced reproductive age undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: A randomized controlled trial and follicular fluid metabolomics study

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of acupuncture on the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in elderly infertile patients with kidney qi deficiency, and to explore its possible mechanism from the perspective of pseudo-targeted metabolomics of follicular fluid.

METHODS

Sixty cases of elderly women undergoing IVF were sampled and randomly divided into 2 equal groups: the treatment and the elderly control (HA) group. In the treatment group, routine ovulation induction combined with acupuncture treatment was used. Routine ovulation induction combined with sham acupuncture was used in the HA group. Reproductive outcomes of the 2 groups were compared. The follicular fluid of patients obtained on the day of oocyte retrieval was analyzed by the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis system.

RESULTS

Compared with the HA group, the score of kidney qi deficiency syndrome in the treatment group was significantly decreased, and the 2 PN fertilization rate, high-quality embryo rate and cumulative pregnancy rate were significantly increased (P < .05). Through the identification of target metabolites, 3 metabolic pathways were found to be closely related to the developmental potential of oocytes, namely: Retinol metabolism pathway; Glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism pathway; Glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway.

CONCLUSION

From our findings, acupuncture can improve the quality of oocytes thus bettering the outcome of IVF-assisted pregnancy in elderly patients with kidney qi deficiency.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR1800018329.

Volatilomics as an Emerging Strategy to Determine Potential Biomarkers of Female Infertility: A Pilot Study

Due to its high prevalence, infertility has become a prominent public health issue, posing a significant challenge to modern reproductive medicine. Some clinical conditions that lead to female infertility include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and premature ovarian failure (POF). Follicular fluid (FF) is the biological matrix that has the most contact with the oocyte and can, therefore, be used as a predictor of its quality. Volatilomics has emerged as a non-invasive, straightforward, affordable, and simple method for characterizing various diseases and determining the effectiveness of their current therapies. In order to find potential biomarkers of infertility, this study set out to determine the volatomic pattern of the follicular fluid from patients with PCOS, endometriosis, and POF. The chromatographic data integration was performed through solid-phase microextraction (SPME), followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The findings pointed to specific metabolite patterns as potential biomarkers for the studied diseases. These open the door for further research into the relevant metabolomic pathways to enhance infertility knowledge and diagnostic tools. An extended investigation may, however, produce a new mechanistic understanding of the pathophysiology of the diseases.

Characterization of altered microRNAs related to different phenotypes of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in serum, follicular fluid, and cumulus cells

OBJECTIVE

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic syndrome in which steroidogenesis, folliculogenesis, and cellular adhesion play crucial roles in its prognosis. These pathways are controlled and regulated by some small non-coding RNAs called microRNAs (miRs). Several miRs have differential expression in PCOS compared to healthy women, and their dysregulation suggests important roles of miRs in PCOS pathophysiology. However, the role of miRs is still unclear, especially in various phenotypes of PCOS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic potential of miR-212-3p, miR-490-5p, miR-647, and miR-4643 in different subtypes of PCOS. Accordingly, nineteen PCOS patients with different subtypes based on Rotterdam criteria (A: 8, B: not detected in this study, C: 5, and D: 6 patients) and six control age and BMI matched women under ICSI treatment were selected. The relative expression of miRs was then measured in blood serum before hormonal treatment (S1) and before ovum pickup (S2), follicular fluid (FF), and cumulus cells (CC) in all subjects. Also, the expression of miRs predicted target genes (AMH, AR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, CYP19A1, GDF9, and HSD17B12) were done in the CC of understudy groups.

RESULTS

In general, the results indicated that PCOS significantly increased the expression of miR-212-3p, miR-490-5p, and miR-4643 in FF and CCs compared to control. Although these miRs tend to increase in serum 1 of the PCOS patients, the differences were insignificant. However, there was a significant reduction in the expression of miR-647 in FF and CCs between PCOS vs. control. In addition, the miRs had significantly different expressions in various phenotypes of PCOS. For example, high levels of miR-647 in S2 and low levels of miR-490 in FF and miR-212 in CC can differentiate phenotype A from the other. Also, upregulation of miR-212 in FF and miR-4643 in S1 and low levels of this miR in FF can specifically differentiate subtype A from D. On the other hand, high levels of miR-4643 in FF and miR-490 in CC and lower titter of miR-647 can distinguish subtype C from the other. On the other hand, high levels of AMH, AR, CYP11, CYP17, and HSD17 in the hyperandrogenic PCOS and upregulation of CYP19A1 in the hypoandrogenic group can validate the role of selected miRs in the prognosis of PCOS.

CONCLUSION

Characterization of altered microRNAs in serum, FF, and CCs and their targets in CC showed that the miRs might play critical roles in steroidogenesis and folliculogenesis. These miRs may be used for molecular classification of PCOS subtypes and as biomarkers for PCOS diagnosis.

Correlation between Pre-Ovulatory Follicle Diameter and Follicular Fluid Metabolome Profiles in Lactating Beef Cows

Induced ovulation of small pre-ovulatory follicles reduced pregnancy rates, embryo survival, day seven embryo quality, and successful embryo cleavage in beef cows undergoing fixed-time artificial insemination. RNA-sequencing of oocytes and associated cumulus cells collected from pre-ovulatory follicles 23 h after gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administration to induce the pre-ovulatory gonadotropin surge suggested reduced capacity for glucose metabolism in cumulus cells of follicles ≤11.7 mm. We hypothesized that the follicular fluid metabolome influences metabolic capacity of the cumulus-oocyte complex and contributes to reduced embryo cleavage and quality grade observed following induced ovulation of small follicles. Therefore, we performed a study to determine the correlation between pre-ovulatory follicle diameter and follicular fluid metabolome profiles in lactating beef cows (Angus, n = 130). We synchronized the development of a pre-ovulatory follicle and collected the follicular contents approximately 20 h after GnRH administration. We then performed ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) metabolomic studies on 43 follicular fluid samples and identified 38 metabolites within pre-ovulatory follicles of increasing size. We detected 18 metabolites with a significant, positive correlation to follicle diameter. Individual and pathway enrichment analysis of significantly correlated metabolites suggest that altered glucose and amino acid metabolism likely contribute to reduced developmental competence of oocytes when small pre-ovulatory follicles undergo induced ovulation.

Components and Pharmacodynamical Mechanism of Yinfupian Based on Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Analyses

Objective: According to the treatment records of Yang deficiency syndrome (YDS) with characteristic decoction pieces of lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii—Yinfupian (YF) in traditional Chinese medicine prepare school, known as “Jianchangbang”. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the composition and therapeutic mechanism of the unprocessed lateral root of Aconitum carmichaelii (ULRA) and its processed product (YF).

Methods: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis method were used to determine and screen the main components of ULRA and YF. Changes in the histological structure and morphology of gonads in rats were observed using hematoxylin-eosin. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the contents of serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate in YDS rats treated with ULRA and YF. Tandem mass tag proteomics analysis was used to identify the differentially expressed proteins in YDS rats treated with ULRA and YF.

Results: Both ULRA and YF exerted certain therapeutic effects on rats with YDS. They improved the gonadal morphology and increased the contents of serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate. After processing of ULRA into YF, the content of C19-diester-diterpenoid alkaloids decreased (converted into C19-monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids and C19-alkylol amine-diterpenoid alkaloids), whereas that of C20-diterpene alkaloids increased. Proteomics analysis showed that cytochrome P450 and aldehyde oxidase 3 (AOX3) were downregulated, whereas cathepsin G (CTSG) was upregulated in rats with YDS. Treatment with ULRA mainly downregulated the expression of α-actinin, fast skeletal troponin, creatine kinase, and myosin. Treatment with YF mainly upregulated the expression of mitochondrial ribosomal protein and mitochondrial inner membrane protein.

Conclusion: ULRA and YF exerted good therapeutic effects on YDS; the main difference in components between these preparations was in C19-diterpenoid alkaloids. ULRA mainly acts on the muscle contraction-related proteins and is closely related to inflammation and myocardial injury. YF mainly acts on the mitochondrial proteins and is closely related to adenosine triphosphate energy metabolism.

Serum metabolic profiling of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

OBJECTIVE

The clinical symptoms of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) can be effectively improved by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment, based on the usage of specific therapies for different TCM syndromes. However, in the stage of diagnosis, the standard criteria for the classification of TCM syndrome were still deficient. Through serum metabolic profiling, this study aimed to explore potential biomarkers in IBS-D patients with different TCM syndromes, which can assist in diagnosis of the disease.

METHODS

Serum samples were collected from healthy controls (30 cases), IBS-D patients with Liver-Stagnation and Spleen-Deficiency syndrome (LSSD, 30 cases), Yang Deficiency of Spleen and Kidney syndrome (YDSK, 11 cases) and Damp Abundance due to Spleen-Deficiency syndrome (DASD, 22 cases). Serum metabolic profiling was conducted by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The potential biomarkers were screened by orthogonal partial least square-discriminate analysis, while metabolic pathways undergoing alterations were identified by pathway enrichment analysis in MetaboAnalyst 4.0.

RESULTS

Overall, 34 potential biomarkers were identified in LSSD group, 36 in YDSK group and 31 in DASD group. And the 13 metabolites shared by three groups were determined as the potential biomarkers of IBS-D. Glycerophospholipid metabolism was disturbed significantly in IBS-D patients, which may play a role in IBS-D through inflammation. What's more, three TCM syndromes have the specific potential biomarkers in glycerophospholipid metabolism.

CONCLUSION

The serum metabolomics revealed that different TCM syndrome types in IBS-D may have different metabolic patterns during disease progression and glycerophospholipid metabolism was one of the pathways, whose metabolism was disturbed differently among three TCM syndromes in IBS-D. Therefore, the specific potential biomarkers in glycerophospholipid metabolism of three TCM syndromes in IBS-D can serve as the objective indicators, which can facilitate the TCM-syndrome objective classification of IBS-D.

Metabolomic alternations of follicular fluid of obese women undergoing in-vitro fertilization treatment

Obesity exerts negative effects on the metabolic homeostasis of cells in various tissues, but how it influences ovum metabolism is not fully understood. Previous studies demonstrate that oocyte genes that regulate oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, and inflammation are highly expressed in obese women. However, the metabolic effects of these genetic variations are not clear. To address this gap, we conducted an exploratory evaluation of follicular fluid (FF) metabolites in underweight, normal-weight, overweight, and obese women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. The FF samples from the underweight (Group A, n = 40), normal-weight (Group B, n = 40), overweight (Group C, n = 40), and obese women (Group D, n = 40) were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. A novel, high-coverage, semi-targeted metabolomics method (SWATH to MRM) and a targeted metabolomics method were employed to identify and verify the differential metabolites between the four groups. Sixteen differentially expressed FF metabolites were identified. Increase of BMI was associated with upregulation of 5 metabolites, ganoderiol H, LPI (18:3), sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphate, austalide L and 2 - {[hydroxyl (3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenylmethylidene] amino} acetic acid, and downregulation of 5 metabolites, 1-phenyl-1,3-elcosanedione, retinol acetate, p-Cresol sulfate, setariol and arachidonyl carnitine. These metabolites were enriched in different metabolic pathways of retinol metabolism and fatty acid metabolism. These obesity-related differential metabolites provide a pathogenesis mechanism that explains the decline of oocyte development during obesity. These results suggest that obesity affects follicular environment prior to pregnancy, a time-window that may be important for lifestyle interventions to decrease obesity levels.