Insights into Q-markers and molecular mechanism of Sanguisorba saponins in treating ulcerative colitis based on lipid metabolism regulation

Exploring Pyroptosis-related Signature Genes and Potential Drugs in Ulcerative Colitis by Transcriptome Data and Animal Experimental Validation

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic, relapsing inflammatory disorder of the colonic mucosa. Pyroptosis contributes significantly to UC. However, the molecular mechanisms of UC remain unexplained. Herein, using transcriptome data and animal experimental validation, we sought to explore pyroptosis-related molecular mechanisms, signature genes, and potential drugs in UC. Gene profiles (GSE48959, GSE59071, GSE53306, and GSE94648) were selected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, which contained samples derived from patients with active and inactive UC, as well as health controls. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed on microarrays to unravel the association between UC and pyroptosis. Then, differential expressed genes (DEGs) and pyroptosis-related DEGs were obtained by differential expression analyses and the public database. Subsequently, pyroptosis-related DEGs and their association with the immune infiltration landscape were analyzed using the CIBERSORT method. Besides, potential signature genes were selected by machine learning (ML) algorithms, and then validated by testing datasets which included samples of colonic mucosal tissue and peripheral blood. More importantly, the potential drug was screened based on this. And these signature genes and the drug effect were finally observed in the animal experiment. GSEA and KEGG enrichment analyses on key module genes derived from WGCNA revealed a close association between UC and pyroptosis. Then, a total of 20 pyroptosis-related DEGs of UC and 27 pyroptosis-related DEGs of active UC were screened. Next, 6 candidate genes (ZBP1, AIM2, IL1β, CASP1, TLR4, CASP11) in UC and 2 candidate genes (TLR4, CASP11) in active UC were respectively identified using the binary logistic regression (BLR), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), random forest (RF) analysis and artificial neural network (ANN), and these genes also showed high diagnostic specificity for UC in testing sets. Specially, TLR4 was elevated in UC and further elevated in active UC. The results of the drug screen revealed that six compounds (quercetin, cyclosporine, resveratrol, cisplatin, paclitaxel, rosiglitazone) could target TLR4, among which the effect of quercetin on intestinal pathology, pyroptosis and the expression of TLR4 in UC and active UC was further determined by the murine model. These findings demonstrated that pyroptosis may promote UC, and especially contributes to the activation of UC. Pyroptosis-related DEGs offer new ideas for the diagnosis of UC. Besides, quercetin was verified as an effective treatment for pyroptosis and intestinal inflammation. This study might enhance our comprehension on the pathogenic mechanism and diagnosis of UC and offer a treatment option for UC.

Berberine regulates intestinal microbiome and metabolism homeostasis to treat ulcerative colitis

AIMS

This study aims to investigate the effects of berberine (BBR) on the intestinal microbiome (IM) and serum metabolome in ulcerative colitis (UC). Furthermore, the underlying molecular mechanisms of BBR in treating UC also will be explored systematically.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multi-omics approach that integrates the 16s rDNA, serum metabolome, transcriptomics and bioinformatics was profiled to investigate the potential effects of BBR on the IM, serum metabolites and metabolic pathways, and gene expression. In addition, BBR-induced fecal microbiota transplantation (BBR_FMT) was conducted in pseudo germ-free mice combined with the UC model to explore the effects of the IM on metabolic pathways and gene expression. The results of the transcriptomics and metabolic pathway-related genes were further examined by real-time PCR and western blot.

KEY FINDINGS

BBR ameliorated the community of IM and significantly promoted the abundance of f__Muribaculaceae, Bacteroides, Dubosiella, Allobaculum and Akkermansia. The metabolic profiles in UC mice were significantly modulated by BBR treatment. Furthermore, the inflammation-related metabolites and metabolic pathways in serum were negatively correlated with the abundance of Bacteroides and Akkermansia, which were induced by BBR treatment. BBR_FMT significantly inhibited the arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism pathway and its multiple markers with the mediation of the IM.

SIGNIFICANCE

BBR ameliorated serum metabolic homeostasis by regulating the IM. The inhibition of the AA metabolism pathway and its multiple markers was one of the mechanisms of BBR in the treatment of UC.