A Lipidomic Study: Nobiletin ameliorates hepatic steatosis through regulation of lipid alternation

Liver Lipidomics Analysis Revealed the Protective mechanism of Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan Formula in type 2 diabetes mellitus with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hepatic steatosis, a hallmark of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), represents a significant global health issue. Liver lipidomics has garnered increased focus recently, highlighting Traditional Chinese Medicine's (TCM) role in mitigating such conditions through lipid metabolism regulation. The Zuogui Jiangtang Qinggan Formula (ZGJTQGF), a longstanding TCM regimen for treating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) with NAFLD, lacks a definitive mechanism for its lipid metabolism regulatory effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This research aims to elucidate ZGJTQGF's mechanism on lipid metabolism in T2DM with NAFLD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study, utilized db/db mice to establish T2DM with NAFLD models. Evaluations included Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) and Oil Red O stainedstaining of liver tissues, alongside biochemical lipid parameter analysis. Liver lipidomics and Western blotting further substantiated the findings, systematically uncovering the mechanism of action mechanism.

RESULTS

ZGJTQGF notably reduced body weight, and Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), enhancing glucose tolerance in db/db mice. HE, and Oil Red O staining, complemented by biochemical and liver lipidomics analyses, confirmed ZGJTQGF's efficacy in ameliorating liver steatosis and lipid metabolism anomalies. Lipidomics identified 1571 significantly altered lipid species in the model group, primarily through the upregulation of triglycerides (TG) and diglycerides (DG), and the downregulation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Post-ZGJTQGF treatment, 496 lipid species were modulated, with increased PC and PE levels and decreased TG and DG, showcasing significant lipid metabolism improvement in T2DM with NAFLD. Moreover, ZGJTQGF's influence on lipid synthesis-related proteins was observed, underscoring its anti-steatotic impact through liver lipidomic alterations and offering novel insights into hepatic steatosis pathogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver lipidomics analysis combined with protein verification further demonstrated that ZGJTQGF could ameliorate the lipid disturbance of TG, DG, PC, PE in T2DM with NAFLD, as well as improve fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis and metabolism through De novo lipogenesis pathway.

Integration of network pharmacology, lipidomics, and transcriptomics analysis to reveal the mechanisms underlying the amelioration of AKT-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by total flavonoids in vine tea

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the main reason for chronic liver diseases and malignancies. Currently, there is a lack of approved drugs for the prevention or treatment of NAFLD. Vine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata) has been used as a traditional Chinese beverage for centuries. Vine tea carries out several biological activities including the regulation of plasma lipids and blood glucose, hepato-protective function, and anti-tumor activity and contains the highest content of flavonoids. However, the underlying mechanisms of total flavonoids from vine tea (TF) in the attenuation of NAFLD remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the interventions and mechanisms of TF in mice with NAFLD using an integrated analysis of network pharmacology, lipidomics, and transcriptomics. Staining and biochemical tests revealed a significant increase in AKT-overexpression-induced (abbreviated as AKT-induced) NAFLD in mice. Lipid accumulation in hepatic intracellular vacuoles was alleviated after TF treatment. In addition, TF reduced the hepatic and serum triglyceride levels in mice with AKT-induced NAFLD. Lipidomics results showed 32 differential lipids in the liver, mainly including triglycerides (TG), diglycerides (DG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 314 differentially expressed genes were commonly upregulated in the AKT group and downregulated in the TF group. The differential regulation of lipids by the genes Pparg, Scd1, Chpt1, Dgkz, and Pla2g12b was further revealed by network enrichment analysis and confirmed by RT-qPCR. Furthermore, we used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detect changes in the protein levels of the key proteins PPARγ and SCD1. In summary, TF can improve hepatic steatosis by targeting the PPAR signaling pathway, thereby reducing de novo fatty acid synthesis and modulating the glycerophospholipid metabolism.

Nobiletin from citrus peel: a promising therapeutic agent for liver disease-pharmacological characteristics, mechanisms, and potential applications

Nobiletin (NOB) is a flavonoid derived from citrus peel that has potential as an alternative treatment for liver disease. Liver disease is a primary health concern globally, and there is an urgent need for effective drugs. This review summarizes the pharmacological characteristics of NOB and current in vitro and in vivo studies investigating the preventive and therapeutic effects of NOB on liver diseases and its potential mechanisms. The findings suggest that NOB has promising therapeutic potential in liver diseases. It improves liver function, reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, remodels gut microflora, ameliorates hepatocellular necrosis, steatosis, and insulin resistance, and modulates biorhythms. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), nuclear transcription factor kappa (NF-κB), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α(PPAR-α), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), protein kinase B (AKT), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and transcription factor EB (TFEB) signaling pathways are important molecular targets for NOB to ameliorate liver diseases. In conclusion, NOB may be a promising drug candidate for treating liver disease and can accelerate its application from the laboratory to the clinic. However, more high-quality clinical trials are required to validate its efficacy and identify its molecular mechanisms and targets.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum FRT4 attenuates high-energy low-protein diet-induced fatty liver hemorrhage syndrome in laying hens through regulating gut-liver axis

BACKGROUND

Fatty liver hemorrhage syndrome (FLHS) becomes one of the most major factors resulting in the laying hen death for caged egg production. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Lp. plantarum) FRT4 on FLHS model in laying hen with a focus on liver lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota.

RESULTS

The FLHS model of laying hens was established by feeding a high-energy low-protein (HELP) diet, and the treatment groups were fed a HELP diet supplemented with differential proportions of Lp. plantarum FRT4. The results indicated that Lp. plantarum FRT4 increased laying rate, and reduced the liver lipid accumulation by regulating lipid metabolism (lipid synthesis and transport) and improving the gut microbiota composition. Moreover, Lp. plantarum FRT4 regulated the liver glycerophospholipid metabolism. Meanwhile, "gut-liver" axis analysis showed that there was a correlation between gut microbiota and lipid metabolites.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that Lp. plantarum FRT4 improved the laying performance and alleviated FLHS in HELP diet-induced laying hens through regulating "gut-liver" axis. Our findings reveal that glycerophospholipid metabolism could be the underlying mechanism for the anti-FLHS effect of Lp. plantarum FRT4 and for future use of Lp. plantarum FRT4 as an excellent additive for the prevention and mitigation of FLHS in laying hens.

Protective Effects of White Kidney Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) against Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis in Mice Are Linked to Modification of Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolites

Disturbances in the gut microbiota and its derived metabolites are closely related to the occurrence and development of hepatic steatosis. The white kidney bean (WKB), as an excellent source of protein, dietary fiber, and phytochemicals, has recently received widespread attention and might exhibit beneficial effects on a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis via targeting gut microbiota and its metabolites. The results indicated that HFD, when supplemented with WKB for 12 weeks, could potently reduce obesity symptoms, serum lipid profiles, and glucose, as well as improve the insulin resistance and liver function markers in mice, thereby alleviating hepatic steatosis. An integrated fecal microbiome and metabolomics analysis further demonstrated that WKB was able to normalize HFD-induced gut dysbiosis in mice, thereby mediating the alterations of a wide range of metabolites. Particularly, WKB remarkably increased the relative abundance of probiotics (Akkermansiaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, and norank_f_Muribaculaceae) and inhibited the growth of hazardous bacteria (Mucispirillum, Enterorhabdus, and Dubosiella) in diet-induced hepatic steatosis mice. Moreover, the significant differential metabolites altered by WKB were annotated in lipid metabolism, which could ameliorate hepatic steatosis via regulating glycerophospholipid metabolism. This study elucidated the role of WKB from the perspective of microbiome and metabolomics in preventing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which provides new insights for its application in functional foods.

Nobiletin with AIEE Characteristics for Targeting Mitochondria and Real-Time Dynamic Tracking in Zebrafish

Nobiletin is a natural product with multiple physiological activities and is the main ingredient of Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae. We successfully discovered that nobiletin exhibits aggregation induced emission enhancement (AIEE) properties and it has significant advantages such as a large Stokes shift, good stability and excellent biocompatibility. The increase in methoxy groups endows nobiletin a greater fat-solubility, bioavailability and transport rate than the corresponding unmethoxylated flavones. Ulteriorly, cells and zebrafish were used to explore the application of nobiletin in biological imaging. It emits fluorescence in cells and is specifically targeted at mitochondria. Moreover, it has a noteworthy affinity for the digestive system and liver of zebrafish. Due to the unique AIEE phenomenon and stable optical properties of nobiletin, it paves the way for discovering, modifying and synthesizing more molecules with AIEE characteristics. Furthermore, it has a great prospect with regard to imaging cells and cellular substructures, such as mitochondria, which play crucial roles in cell metabolism and death. Indeed, three-dimensional real-time imaging in zebrafish provides a dynamic and visual tool for studying the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs. In this article, more directions and inspiration can be presented for the exploration of non-invasive pharmacokinetic research and intuitive drug pathways or mechanisms.