Sphingolipids and phospholipids in insulin resistance and related metabolic disorders

Association between the triglyceride-glucose index and contrast-induced nephropathy in chronic total occlusion patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

OBJECTIVE

The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is a biomarker of insulin resistance and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is an important complication that causes poor outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the TyG index and CIN and mortality in patients who underwent PCI due to chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO).

METHODS

Two hundred eighteen individuals from three separate medical centers who underwent procedural PCI between February 2010 and April 2012 and had a CTO lesion in at least one coronary artery were recruited. According to the TyG index, patients were divided into two groups. Patients with a TyG index ≥ 8.65 were included in Group 1, and patients with a TyG index < 8.65 were included in Group 2. Patients were followed up for 96 months. The main outcome was the development of CIN and mortality.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients (65.8 ± 10.94 vs. 61.68 ± 11.4, P = 0.009), diabetes mellitus (60 [44.8%] vs. 11 [13.1%], P < 0.001), and dyslipidemia rates (52 [38.8%] vs. 21 [25%], P = 0.036) were higher in group 1. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, it was seen that age (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01-1.08, P = 0.020), chronic kidney disease (OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.02-5.33, P = 0.044), peripheral artery disease (OR = 5.66, 95% CI = 1.24-25.91, p = 0.026), LVEF (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.92-0.99, P = 0.005), LDL cholesterol levels (OR = 1.00, 95%CI = 1.00-1.02, P = 0.024) and TyG index (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.21-3.89, P = 0.009) were independent predictors of the development of CIN.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates a correlation between the TyG index and the prevalence of CIN in patients with CTO undergoing PCI. Adding the TyG index to the routine clinical evaluation of patients with CTO undergoing PCI may help protect patients from the development of CIN.

Phenotypic upregulation of hexocylceramides and ether-linked phosphocholines as markers of human extreme longevity

Centenarians and their relatives possess a notable survival advantage, with higher longevity and reduced susceptibility to major age-related diseases. To date, characteristic omics profiles of centenarians have been described, demonstrating that these individuals with exceptional longevity regulate their metabolism to adapt and incorporate more resilient biomolecules into their cells. Among these adaptations, the lipidomic profile stands out. However, it has not yet been determined whether this lipidomic profile is specific to centenarians or is the consequence of extreme longevity genetics and is also present in centenarians' offspring. This distinction is crucial for defining potential therapeutic targets that could help delay the aging process and associated pathologies. We applied mass-spectrometry-based techniques to quantify 569 lipid species in plasma samples from 39 centenarians, 63 centenarians' offspring, and 69 noncentenarians' offspring without familial connections. Based on this profile, we calculated different indexes to characterize the functional and structural properties of plasma lipidome. Our findings demonstrate that extreme longevity genetics (centenarians and centenarians' offspring) determines a specific lipidomic signature characterized by (i) an enrichment of hexosylceramides, (ii) a decrease of specific species of ceramides and sulfatides, (iii) a global increase of ether-PC and ether-LPC, and (iv) changes in the fluidity and diversity of specific lipid classes. We point out the conversion of ceramides to hexosylceramides and the maintenance of the levels of the ether-linked PC as a phenotypic trait to guarantee extreme longevity. We propose that this molecular signature is the result of an intrinsic adaptive program that preserves protective mechanisms and cellular identity.

Dietary carbohydrate to lipid ratio affects growth, reproductive performance and health of female yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidragrus): A lipidomics analysis

This study aimed to examine the impact of dietary carbohydrate to lipid (CHO/L) ratio on the growth, reproductive, and offspring performance of broodstock yellow catfish, and to elucidate the metabolic differences between mothers and offspring using lipidomics. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets with varying CHO/L ratios (0.65, 1.44, 2.11, 3.13, and 5.36) were fed to five groups of female broodfish with three replicates per group and 35 female broodfish per replocate in a pond-cage culture system. After an eight-week feeding trial, the dietary CHO/L ratio had a significant impact on the growth and reproductive performance of female yellow catfish. The weight gain ratio (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) in the CHO/L0.65 and CHO/L2.11 groups were significantly higher than those in the CHO/L5.36 group (P < 0.05). The fertilization and hatching rates were the highest when the dietary CHO/L ratio was 0.65 and 2.11, respectively. When the dietary CHO/L ratio was 3.13 and 5.36, the plasma contents of testosterone (T) was significantly lower than those of other groups (P = 0.013), and the plasma vitellogenin (VTG) content was the lowest when the CHO/L ratio was 5.36. The plasma contents of estradiol (E2) significantly decreased with increasing dietary CHO/L ratio (P L = 0.012). Lipidomic analysis revealed that the ovary primarily consisted of five subclasses in terms of lipid composition, namely triglyceride, fatty acyl, sterol, glycerophospholipid, and sphingolipid; however, sphingolipids were not detected in the larvae. The relative expression levels of the ovarian lipid metabolism-related genes sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (srebp1), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (acc), delta (12)-oleate desaturase (fad2), and elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 5 (elvol5) significantly increased with increasing dietary CHO/L ratio (P < 0.05). The relative expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes srebp 1, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (pparα), carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 isoform (cpt), adipose triglyceride lipase (atgl), fad2, and elvol5 in offspring larvae were initially increased and then decreased with increasing dietary CHO/L ratios until reaching a maximum at a ratio of 2.11 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, based on the broken-line regression of the dietary CHO/L ratio and egg diameter, the optimal dietary CHO/L ratio was 1.91 for broodfish yellow catfish. A high CHO/L ratio diet results in increased lipogenesis and hepatic lipid accumulation in maternal organisms, leading to impaired reproductive performance and reduced offspring quality.

Different effects of low- and high-density lipoproteins in egg yolk on lipid metabolism of mouse: Role of phospholipids-to-cholesterol intake ratio

Recent evidence increasingly indicates that moderate egg consumption (up to one egg per day) poses no significant risk of cardiovascular diseases in healthy individuals, leading researchers to speculate whether other lipids in eggs affect lipid metabolism. In this research, C57BL/6J mice were given chow diets containing egg yolk low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), two natural components with different proportions of phospholipids and cholesterol, to explore the effects of the phospholipids-to-cholesterol intake ratio on lipid metabolism. Increases in liver weight and liver index were observed following LDL intake, while body weight and epididymal fat decreased after HDL intake in a dose-dependent manner. The food efficiency of chow diets decreased with increasing phospholipids content. Lipid biomarkers indicated that LDL intake significantly increased plasma LDL cholesterol and liver cholesterol levels. At equivalent cholesterol doses, the cholesterol-raising effects of HDL were weaker than those of LDL. Higher protein expression of cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily A member 1 in the HDL groups suggested increased bile acid excretion at higher phospholipids-to-cholesterol intake ratios. Fecal metabolite analysis revealed significant changes in lipid composition, primarily involving glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and sterol lipids, consistent with the lipid profiles of LDL and HDL. The upregulation of cholic acid and deoxycholic acid in feces further confirmed increased bile acid excretion. This study highlights the differences in lipid metabolism in mice under varying phospholipids-to-cholesterol intake ratios, which may be associated with changes in dietary energy supply and bile excretion following phospholipids involvement.

Endurance Exercise Training Alters Lipidomic Profiles of Plasma and Eight Tissues in Rats: a MoTrPAC study

Endurance exercise training (ExT) induces metabolic, structural, and functional adaptations via lipidomic modifications, yet the systematic elucidation of lipidome alterations in response to ExT remains incomplete. As a part of the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC), we leveraged non-targeted and targeted lipidomics for the systematic discovery of lipid alterations in the brown adipose tissue, heart, hippocampus, kidney, liver, lung, skeletal muscle gastrocnemius, subcutaneous white adipose tissue, and plasma in response to 1, 2, 4 or 8 weeks of ExT in 6-month-old male and female Fischer-344 rats. This study demonstrates that these tissues, each with distinct lipidomic features, underwent dynamic, sexually dimorphic lipid remodeling. Exercise trained animals showed reduced whole-body adiposity and improved cardiorespiratory fitness, along with enhanced utilization of lipid stores and dynamic triacylglycerol remodeling compared to sedentary controls in all tissues except hippocampus. They also showed modifications in phospholipids, lysophospholipids, oxylipins, and ceramides in several tissues. Coordinated changes across tissues reflect systemic tissue communication, with liver-plasma-heart connection potentially playing a key role in systemic lipid metabolism during ExT. These data will improve our understanding of lipid-associated biological processes underlying the health-promoting benefits of ExT.

Untargeted Lipidomic Profiling of Amniotic Fluid Reveals Dysregulated Lipid Metabolism in Healthy Normal-Weight Mothers with Fetal Macrosomia

BACKGROUND

Alterations in maternal lipid metabolism have been elucidated by several studies in relation to macrosomia. However, the lipidome of the intrauterine compartment associated with macrosomia, particularly in early pregnancy, remains largely unknown.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To compare the lipidomic profile of early 2nd trimester amniotic fluid (AF) of healthy mothers with normal body mass index who gave birth to large-for-gestational age (LGA) versus appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) infants; and (2) to examine if insulin and glucose concentrations in AF were associated with the AF lipidomic profile.

METHODS

In this nested case-control study, bio-banked AF samples were collected from pregnant women undergoing routine amniocentesis at 12-22 weeks of gestation. A subsample of 15 LGA infants (cases) were contrasted with 15 AGA infants (controls). An untargeted lipidomics analysis using liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was conducted. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses (principal component analysis and partial least-squares discriminant analysis) were used to extract differentially abundant (DA) features with high variable importance in projection (VIP) scores.

RESULTS

LGA AF was characterized by elevations of 30 phosphatidic acid species. Among other DA features, sphingomyelin (SM 14:0;O2/20:1) had the highest VIP score and was markedly elevated in LGA AF. Neither insulin nor glucose was associated with 2nd trimester AF lipidomic profiles in these healthy, normal-weight mothers.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide evidence of early dysregulated lipid metabolism in healthy, normal-weight mothers with LGA infants.

Lipids balance as a spectroscopy marker of diabetes. Analysis of FTIR spectra by 2D correlation and machine learning analyses

The number of people suffering from type 2 diabetes has rapidly increased. Taking into account, that elevated intracellular lipid concentrations, as well as their metabolism, are correlated with diminished insulin sensitivity, in this study we would like to show lipids spectroscopy markers of diabetes. For this purpose, serum collected from rats (animal model of diabetes) was analyzed using Fourier Transformed Infrared-Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy. Analyzed spectra showed that rats with diabetes presented higher concentration of phospholipids and cholesterol in comparison with non-diabetic rats. Moreover, the analysis of second (IInd) derivative spectra showed no structural changes in lipids. Machine learning methods showed higher accuracy for IInd derivative spectra (from 65 % to 89 %) than for absorbance FTIR spectra (53-65 %). Moreover, it was possible to identify significant wavelength intervals from IInd derivative spectra using random forest-based feature selection algorithm, which further increased the accuracy of the classification (up to 92 % for phospholipid region). Moreover decision tree based on the selected features showed, that peaks at 1016 cm-1 and 2936 cm-1 can be good candidates of lipids marker of diabetes.

Lipidomic perturbations of normal-weight adiposity phenotypes and their mediations on diet-adiposity associations

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Normal-weight obesity (NWO) and normal-weight central obesity (NWCO) have been linked to higher cardiometabolic risks, but their etiological bases and attributable dietary factors remain unclear. In this study we therefore aimed to identify lipidomic signatures and dietary factors related to NWO and NWCO and to explore the mediation associations of lipids in diet-adiposity associations.

METHODS

Using a high-coverage targeted lipidomic approach, we quantified 1245 serum lipids in participants with NWO (n = 150), NWCO (n = 150), or propensity-score-matched normal-weight controls (n = 150) based on the Regional Ethnic Cohort Study in Northwest China. Consumption frequency of 28 major food items was recorded using a food frequency questionnaire.

RESULTS

Profound lipidomic perturbations of NWCO relative to NWO were observed, and 249 (dominantly glycerolipids) as well as 48 (dominantly glycerophospholipids) lipids were exclusively associated with NWCO or NWO. Based on strong lipidomic signatures identified by a LASSO model, phospholipid biosynthesis was the top enriched pathway of NWCO, and sphingolipid metabolism was the top pathway of NWO. Remarkably, sphingolipids were positively associated with NWO and NWCO, but lyso-phosphatidylcholines were negatively associated with them. Rice, fruit juice, and carbonated drink intakes were positively associated with the risk of NWCO. Both global and individual lipidomic signatures, including SE(28:1_22:6) and HexCer(d18:1/20:1), mediated these diet-NWCO associations (mediation proportion: 15.92%-26.10%).

CONCLUSIONS

Differential lipidomic signatures were identified for overall and abdominal adiposity accumulation in normal-weight individuals, underlining their core mediation roles in dietary contributions to adiposity deposition.

Selective Enrichment via TiO2 Magnetic Nanoparticles Enables Deep Profiling of Circulating Neutral Glycosphingolipids

Circulating neutral glycosphingolipids (neutral GSLs (nGSLs)) are a unique subset of nGSLs that detach from organs or cell membranes and enter the bloodstream. Altered molecular distribution of circulating nGSL is increasingly associated with diseases. However, profiling of circulating nGSLs presents a lasting challenge due to their low abundances and structural complexity. Although TiO2 magnetic nanoparticles (TiO2 MNPs) were effective for the enrichment of nGSLs in brain tissue, the protocol showed limited selectivity for circulating nGSLs because their abundances were 100-times lower in human plasma than in brain tissue. In this work, we optimized the key parameters of selective enrichment by TiO2 MNPs and achieved 1:10,000 selectivity for nGSLs over interfering phospholipids, while maintaining ∼70% recovery for different subclasses of nGSLs. By integrating TiO2 MNP-based selective enrichment with reversed-phase liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and charge-tagging Paternò-Büchi derivatization, we achieved deep profiling of over 300 structures of nGSLs and sulfatides across 5 orders of magnitude in relative abundances, a significant leap regarding lipid coverage. We also depicted the structural atlas of nGSLs with defined headgroup, long-chain base, N-acyl chain, the location of desaturation, and 2-hydroxylation. Such information provides a valuable resource for lipidomic studies concerning the roles of circulating nGSLs in health and diseases.

Ten metabolites-based algorithm predicts the future development of type 2 diabetes in Chinese

INTRODUCTION

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a heterogeneous metabolic disease with large variations in the relative contributions of insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction across different glucose tolerance subgroups and ethnicities. A more precise yet feasible approach to categorize risk preceding T2D onset is urgently needed. This study aimed to identify potential metabolic biomarkers that could contribute to the development of T2D and investigate whether their impact on T2D is mediated through insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction.

METHODS

A non-targeted metabolomic analysis was performed in plasma samples of 196 incident T2D cases and 196 age- and sex-matched non-T2D controls recruited from a long-term prospective Chinese community-based cohort with a follow-up period of ∼ 16 years.

RESULTS

Metabolic profiles revealed profound perturbation of metabolomes before T2D onset. Overall metabolic shifts were strongly associated with insulin resistance rather than β-cell dysfunction. In addition, 188 out of the 578 annotated metabolites were associated with insulin resistance. Bi-directional mediation analysis revealed putative causal relationships among the metabolites, insulin resistance and T2D risk. We built a machine-learning based prediction model, integrating the conventional clinical risk factors (age, BMI, TyG index and 2hG) and 10 metabolites (acetyl-tryptophan, kynurenine, γ-glutamyl-phenylalanine, DG(18:2/22:6), DG(38:7), LPI(18:2), LPC(P-16:0), LPC(P-18:1), LPC(P-20:0) and LPE(P-20:0)) (AUROC = 0.894, 5.6% improvement comparing to the conventional clinical risk model), that successfully predicts the development of T2D.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support the notion that the metabolic changes resulting from insulin resistance, rather than β-cell dysfunction, are the primary drivers of T2D in Chinese adults. Metabolomes as a valuable phenotype hold potential clinical utility in the prediction of T2D.

Differential chromatin accessibility and Gene Expression Associated with Backfat Deposition in pigs

BACKGROUND

Backfat serves as a vital fat reservoir in pigs, and its excessive accumulation will adversely impact pig growth performance, farming efficiency, and pork quality. The aim of this research is to integrate assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying porcine backfat deposition.

RESULTS

ATAC-seq analysis identified 568 genes originating from 698 regions exhibiting differential accessibility, which were significantly enriched in pathways pertinent to adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. Besides, a total of 283 transcription factors (TFs) were identified by motif analysis. RNA-seq analysis revealed 978 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were enriched in pathways related to energy metabolism, cell cycle and signal transduction. The integration of ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data indicates that DEG expression levels are associated with chromatin accessibility. This comprehensive study highlights the involvement of critical pathways, including the Wnt signaling pathway, Jak-STAT signaling pathway, and fatty acid degradation, in the regulation of backfat deposition. Through rigorous analysis, we identified several candidate genes (LEP, CTBP2, EHHADH, OSMR, TCF7L2, BCL2, FGF1, UCP2, CCND1, TIMP1, and VDR) as potentially significant contributors to backfat deposition. Additionally, we constructed TF-TF and TF-target gene regulatory networks and identified a series of potential TFs related to backfat deposition (FOS, STAT3, SMAD3, and ESR1).

CONCLUSIONS

This study represents the first application of ATAC-seq and RNA-seq, affording a novel perspective into the mechanisms underlying backfat deposition and providing invaluable resources for the enhancement of pig breeding programs.

L-Theanine Ameliorates Obesity-Related Complications Induced by High-Fat Diet in Mice: Insights from Transcriptomics and Metabolomics

Obesity is a major public health concern globally. Plant-based ingredients have been proposed as alternative treatments for obesity. L-Theanine (THE), a unique nutraceutical component of tea, is known for its neuroprotective and cognitive benefits. However, there are few reports on THE's effects and mechanisms in improving obesity and its complications. In this study, the alleviating effects and potential mechanisms of THE on obesity-related complications (ORCs) induced by a high-fat diet(HFD) in mice were explored by performing biochemical, hepatic transcriptomics, and plasma metabolomics analyses. The results indicated THE (900 mg/kg of body weight) was effective in mitigating ORCs by decreasing body weight gain and fat deposition, improving glycolipid metabolism disorders, inflammation dysregulation, and alleviating fatty liver formation due to long-term HFD. The hepatic transcriptomics data suggested that THE intervention suppresses the lipid metabolism and inflammation pathways in HFD-fed mice, thereby inhibiting hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Moreover, plasma metabolomics analysis revealed that THE exhibited positive effects on the homeostasis of plasma metabolite balance, such as phosphatidylcholine (PC(14:0/18:1)), phosphatidylethanolamine (Lyso-PE(14:0)), phosphatidic acid (PA(16:0e/18:0)), stigmasterol, and deoxycholic acid glycine conjugate. These metabolites were strongly correlated with ORC-related indicators. Our results indicated that THE, as a functional food additive, possesses potential for ORC alleviation. However, the exact molecular mechanism of how THE alleviates ORCs needs to be investigated in the future.

Plasma Ceramides and Other Sphingolipids in Relation to Incident Prediabetes in a Longitudinal Biracial Cohort

CONTEXT

Sphingolipids are linked to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that plasma sphingolipid profiles predict incident prediabetes.

DESIGN

A case-control study nested in the Pathobiology of Prediabetes in a Biracial Cohort study, a 5-year follow-up study.

SETTING

Academic health center.

PARTICIPANTS

Normoglycemic adults enrolled in the Pathobiology of Prediabetes in a Biracial Cohort study. Assessments included oral glucose tolerance test, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion. Participants with incident prediabetes were matched in age, sex, and ethnicity with nonprogressors.

INTERVENTIONS

We assayed 58 sphingolipid species (ceramides, monohexosyl ceramides, sphingomyelins, and sphingosine) using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry in baseline plasma levels from participants and determined association with prediabetes risk.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The primary outcome was progression from normoglycemia to prediabetes, defined as impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants (N = 140; 50% Black, 50% female) was 48.1 ± 8.69 years, body mass index 30.1 ± 5.78 kg/m2, fasting plasma glucose 92.7 ± 5.84 mg/dL, and 2-hour plasma glucose 121 ± 23.3 mg/dL. Of the 58 sphingolipid species assayed, higher ratios of sphingomyelin C26:0/C26:1 (OR, 2.73 [95% CI, 1.172-4.408], P = .015) and ceramide C18:0/C18:1 (OR, 1.236 [95% CI, 1.042-1.466], P = .015) in baseline plasma specimens were significantly associated with progression to prediabetes during the 5-year follow-up period, after adjustments for age, race, sex, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour plasma glucose, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the saturated-to-monounsaturated ratios of long-chain ceramide C18:0/C18:1 and very-long-chain sphingomyelin C26:0/C26:1 are potential biomarkers of prediabetes risk among individuals with parental history of type 2 diabetes.

Endogenous small molecule effectors in GATA transcription factor mechanisms governing biological and pathological processes

Transcriptional mechanisms establish and maintain complex genetic and protein networks to control cell state transitions. The hematopoietic transcription factor GATA1 is a master regulator of erythropoiesis and megakaryopoiesis, and human GATA1 genetic variants cause anemia and megakaryoblastic leukemia. Multiomic analyses revealed that GATA1 controls expression of transporters and metabolic enzymes that dictate intracellular levels of endogenous small molecules, including heme, metal ions, and sphingolipids. Besides its canonical function as a hemoglobin component, heme facilitates or antagonizes GATA1 function to regulate erythropoiesis via mechanisms dependent or independent of the heme-binding transcription factor BTB domain and CNC homology 1 (BACH1). GATA1 regulates the expression of genes encoding heme biosynthetic enzymes and BACH1. GATA1 maintains homeostasis of bioactive ceramides during erythroid differentiation by regulating genes encoding sphingolipid metabolic enzymes. Disrupting ceramide homeostasis impairs critical cytokine signaling and is detrimental to erythroid cells. During erythroid maturation, GATA1 induces a zinc transporter switch that favors export versus import, thus dictating the intracellular zinc level, erythroblast survival, and differentiation. In aggregate, these studies support an emerging paradigm in which GATA factor-dependent transcriptional mechanisms control the intracellular levels of endogenous small molecules and small molecule-dependent feedback loops that serve as vital effectors of transcription factor activity, genome function, and cell state transitions.

Lipid profile alterations and biomarker identification in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients under glycemic control

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is well-known to trigger a disruption of lipid metabolism. This study aimed to compare lipid profile changes in T1DM patients after achieving glucose control and explore the underlying mechanisms. In addition, we seek to identify novel lipid biomarkers associated with T1DM under conditions of glycemic control.

METHODS

A total of 27 adults with T1DM (age: 34.3 ± 11.2 yrs) who had maintained glucose control for over a year, and 24 healthy controls (age: 35.1 + 5.56 yrs) were recruited. Clinical characteristics of all participants were analyzed and plasma samples were collected for untargeted lipidomic analysis using mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

We identified 594 lipid species from 13 major classes. Differential analysis of plasma lipid profiles revealed a general decline in lipid levels in T1DM patients with controlled glycemic levels, including a notable decrease in triglycerides (TAGs) and diglycerides (DAGs). Moreover, these T1DM patients exhibited lower levels of six phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and three phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs). Random forest analysis determined DAG(14:0/20:0) and PC(18:0/20:3) to be the most prominent plasma markers of T1DM under glycemic control (AUC = 0.966).

CONCLUSIONS

The levels of all metabolites from the 13 lipid classes were changed in T1DM patients under glycemic control, with TAGs, DAGs, PCs, PEs, and FFAs demonstrating the most significant decrease. This research identified DAG(14:0/20:0) and PC(18:0/20:3) as effective plasma biomarkers in T1DM patients with controled glycemic levels.

Persistent PTSD symptoms are associated with plasma metabolic alterations relevant to long-term health: A metabolome-wide investigation in women

Background

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by severe distress and associated with cardiometabolic diseases. Studies in military and clinical populations suggest dysregulated metabolomic processes may be a key mechanism. Prior work identified and validated a metabolite-based distress score (MDS) linked with depression and anxiety and subsequent cardiometabolic diseases. Here, we assessed whether PTSD shares metabolic alterations with depression and anxiety and also if additional metabolites are related to PTSD.

Methods

We leveraged plasma metabolomics data from three subsamples nested within the Nurses' Health Study II, including 2835 women with 2950 blood samples collected across three timepoints (1996-2014) and 339 known metabolites consistently assayed by mass spectrometrybased techniques. Trauma and PTSD exposures were assessed in 2008 and characterized as follows: lifetime trauma without PTSD, lifetime PTSD in remission, and persistent PTSD symptoms. Associations between the exposures and the MDS or individual metabolites were estimated within each subsample adjusting for potential confounders and combined in random-effects meta-analyses.

Results

Persistent PTSD symptoms were associated with higher levels of the previously developed MDS for depression and anxiety. Out of 339 metabolites, we identified nine metabolites (primarily elevated glycerophospholipids) associated with persistent symptoms (false discovery rate<0.05). No metabolite associations were found with the other PTSD-related exposures.

Conclusions

As the first large-scale, population-based metabolomics analysis of PTSD, our study highlighted shared and distinct metabolic differences linked to PTSD versus depression or anxiety. We identified novel metabolite markers associated with PTSD symptom persistence, suggesting further connections with metabolic dysregulation that may have downstream consequences for health.

Unveiling ceramide dynamics: Shedding light on healthy aging in growth hormone-releasing hormone knockout mice

Dysregulation of growth hormone (GH) signaling consistently leads to increased lifespan in laboratory rodents, yet the precise mechanisms driving this extension remain unclear. Understanding the molecular underpinnings of the beneficial effects associated with GH deficiency could unveil novel therapeutic targets for promoting healthy aging and longevity. In our pursuit of identifying metabolites implicated in aging, we conducted an unbiased lipidomic analysis of serum samples from growth hormone-releasing hormone knockout (GHRH-KO) female mice and their littermate controls. Employing a targeted lipidomic approach, we specifically investigated ceramide levels in GHRH-KO mice, a well-established model of enhanced longevity. While younger GHRH-KO mice did not exhibit notable differences in serum lipids, older counterparts demonstrated significant reductions in over one-third of the evaluated lipids. In employing the same analysis in liver tissue, GHRH-KO mice showed pronounced downregulation of numerous ceramides and hexosylceramides, which have been shown to elicit many of the tissue defects that accompany aging (e.g., insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and cell death). Additionally, gene expression analysis in the liver tissue of adult GHRH-KO mice identified substantial decreases in several ceramide synthesis genes, indicating that these alterations are, at least in part, attributed to GHRH-KO-induced transcriptional changes. These findings provide the first evidence of disrupted ceramide metabolism in a long-lived mammal. This study sheds light on the intricate connections between GH deficiency, ceramide levels, and the molecular mechanisms influencing lifespan extension.

The cellular and molecular targets of natural products against metabolic disorders: a translational approach to reach the bedside

Metabolic disorders, including obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome, are characterized by insulin resistance, abnormalities in circulating cholesterol and lipid profiles, and hypertension. The most common pathophysiologies of metabolic disorders are glucose/lipid metabolism dysregulation, insulin resistance, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress. Although several agents have been approved for the treatment of metabolic disorders, there is still a strong demand for more efficacious drugs with less side effects. Natural products have been critical sources of drug research and discovery for decades. However, the usefulness of bioactive natural products is often limited by incomplete understanding of their direct cellular targets. In this review, we highlight the current understanding of the established and emerging molecular mechanisms of metabolic disorders. We further summarize the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of natural products on metabolic disorders, with highlights on their direct cellular targets, which are mainly implicated in the regulation of glucose/lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, metabolic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Finally, this review also covers the clinical studies of natural products in metabolic disorders. These progresses are expected to facilitate the application of these natural products and their derivatives in the development of novel drugs against metabolic disorders.

Diabetes mellitus-Progress and opportunities in the evolving epidemic

Diabetes, a complex multisystem metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, leads to complications that reduce quality of life and increase mortality. Diabetes pathophysiology includes dysfunction of beta cells, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from immune-mediated beta cell destruction. The more prevalent type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by varying degrees of beta cell dysfunction in concert with insulin resistance. The strong association between obesity and T2D involves pathways regulated by the central nervous system governing food intake and energy expenditure, integrating inputs from peripheral organs and the environment. The risk of developing diabetes or its complications represents interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, including the availability of nutritious food and other social determinants of health. This perspective reviews recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology and treatment of diabetes and its complications, which could alter the course of this prevalent disorder.

Serum metabolism distribution in individuals exposed to dioxins: A case study of residents near the municipal solid waste incinerators in China

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and high toxicity. This study aimed to investigate changes in serum metabolites following exposure to PCDD/Fs and to reveal a novel pathogenesis of PCDD/Fs. Serum samples were collected from 75 residents living near a municipal solid waste incinerator in China to analyse the relationship between PCDD/Fs and serum metabolic components. The serum level in the low-exposure group [19.07 (13.44-23.89) pg-TEQ/L] was significantly lower than that in the high-exposure group [115.60 (52.28-592.65) pg-TEQ/L]. Non-targeted metabolomic studies based on liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry have been applied to the metabolomic analysis of serum. Thirty-seven metabolites with significant differences among the different groups were identified as biomarkers. Pathway analysis revealed that high dioxin exposure perturbed various biological processes, including glycerol phospholipid metabolism and the interconversion of pentose and glucuronate. The results of a population health survey showed that the serum dioxin concentration in patients with diabetes was significantly higher than that in the control population. These findings suggest that dioxin exposure is associated with several potential adverse health risks, including inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, through metabolic changes.

The paradox of fatty-acid β-oxidation in muscle insulin resistance: Metabolic control and muscle heterogeneity

The skeletal muscle is a metabolically heterogeneous tissue that plays a key role in maintaining whole-body glucose homeostasis. It is well known that muscle insulin resistance (IR) precedes the development of type 2 diabetes. There is a consensus that the accumulation of specific lipid species in the tissue can drive IR. However, the role of the mitochondrial fatty-acid β-oxidation in IR and, consequently, in the control of glucose uptake remains paradoxical: interventions that either inhibit or activate fatty-acid β-oxidation have been shown to prevent IR. We here discuss the current theories and evidence for the interplay between β-oxidation and glucose uptake in IR. To address the underlying intricacies, we (1) dive into the control of glucose uptake fluxes into muscle tissues using the framework of Metabolic Control Analysis, and (2) disentangle concepts of flux and catalytic capacities taking into account skeletal muscle heterogeneity. Finally, we speculate about hitherto unexplored mechanisms that could bring contrasting evidence together. Elucidating how β-oxidation is connected to muscle IR and the underlying role of muscle heterogeneity enhances disease understanding and paves the way for new treatments for type 2 diabetes.

Plasma Sphingomyelins and Carnitine Esters of Infants Consuming Whole Goat or Cow Milk-Based Infant Formulas or Human Milk

BACKGROUND

Infant formulas are typically manufactured using skimmed milk, whey proteins, and vegetable oils, which excludes milk fat globule membranes (MFGM). MFGM contains polar lipids, including sphingomyelin (SM).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was comparison of infant plasma SM and acylcarnitine species between infants who are breastfed or receiving infant formulas with different fat sources.

METHODS

In this explorative study, we focused on SM and acylcarnitine species concentrations measured in plasma samples from the TIGGA study (ACTRN12608000047392), where infants were randomly assigned to receive either a cow milk-based infant formula (CIF) with vegetable oils only or a goat milk-based infant formula (GIF) with a goat milk fat (including MFGM) and vegetable oil mixture to the age ≥4 mo. Breastfed infants were followed as a reference group. Using tandem mass spectrometry, SM species in the study formulas and SM and acylcarnitine species in plasma samples collected at the age of 4 mo were analyzed.

RESULTS

Total SM concentrations (∼42 μmol/L) and patterns of SM species were similar in both formulas. The total plasma SM concentrations were not different between the formula groups but were 15 % (CIF) and 21% (GIF) lower in the formula groups than in the breastfed group. Between the formula groups, differences in SM species were statistically significant but small. Total carnitine and major (acyl) carnitine species were not different between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The higher total SM concentration in breastfed than in formula-fed infants might be related to a higher SM content in human milk, differences in cholesterol metabolism, dietary fatty acid intake, or other factors not yet identified. SM and acylcarnitine species composition in plasma is not closely related to the formula fatty acid composition. This trial was registered at Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry as ACTRN12608000047392.

Circulating perturbation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is associated to cardiac remodeling and NLRP3 inflammasome in cardiovascular patients with insulin resistance risk

Lipidome perturbation occurring during meta-inflammation is associated to left ventricle (LV) remodeling though the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key regulator of chronic inflammation in obesity-related disorders. Little is known about phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) as DAMP-induced NLRP3 inflammasome. Our study is aimed to evaluate if a systemic reduction of PC/PE molar ratio can affect NLRP3 plasma levels in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients with insulin resistance (IR) risk. Forty patients from IRCCS Policlinico San Donato were enrolled, and their blood samples were drawn before heart surgery. LV geometry measurements were evaluated by echocardiography and clinical data associated to IR risk were collected. PC and PE were quantified by ESI-MS/MS. Circulating NLRP3 was quantified by an ELISA assay. Our results have shown that CVD patients with IR risk presented systemic lipid impairment of PC and PE species and their ratio in plasma was inversely associated to NLRP3 levels. Interestingly, CVD patients with IR risk presented LV changes directly associated to increased levels of NLRP3 and a decrease in PC/PE ratio in plasma, highlighting the systemic effect of meta-inflammation in cardiac response. In summary, PC and PE can be considered bioactive mediators associated to both the NLRP3 and LV changes in CVD patients with IR risk.

Mitochondrial ALDH2 improves ß-cell survival and function against doxorubicin-induced apoptosis by targeting CK2 signaling

AIMS

The aim of this study was to better understand how the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin contributes to the development of β-cell dysfunction and to explore its relationship with mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In order to investigate this hypothesis, doxorubicin was administered to INS-1 cells, a rat insulinoma cell line, either with or without several target protein activators and inhibitors. ALDH2 activity was detected with a commercial kit and protein levels were determined with western blot. Mitochondrial ROS, membrane potential, and lipid ROS were determined by commercial fluorescent probes. The cell viability was measured by CCK-assay.

RESULTS

Exposure of INS-1 cells to doxorubicin decreased active insulin signaling resulting in elevated ALDH2 degradation, compared with control cells by the induction of acid sphingomyelinase mediated ceramide induction. Further, ceramide induction potentiated doxorubicin induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Treatment with the ALDH2 agonist, ALDA1, blocked doxorubicin-induced acid sphingomyelinase activation which significantly blocked ceramide induction and mitochondrial dysfunction mediated cell death. Treatment with the ALDH2 agonist, ALDA1, stimulated casein kinase-2 (CK2) mediated insulin signaling activation. CK2 silencing neutralized the function of ALDH2 in the doxorubicin treated INS-1 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Mitochondrial ALDH2 activation could inhibit the progression of doxorubicin induced pancreatic β-cell dysfunction by inhibiting the acid sphingomyelinase induction of ceramide, by regulating the activation of CK2 signaling. Our research lays the foundation of ALDH2 activation as a therapeutic target for the precise treatment of chemotherapy drug induced β-cell dysfunction.

Identification of urine biomarkers predictive of prolonged QTc interval in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients treated with bedaquiline

The most frequent adverse event associated with bedaquiline (BDQ) is the QTc interval prolongation; however, there was no biomarkers that could be used to predict the occurrence of QTc prolongation in BDQ-treated patients. In this study, we employed the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-MS/MS (UHPLC-MS/MS) to generate metabolic profiling for the discovery of potential predictive urine biomarkers of QTc prolongation in these patients. Untargeted metabolomic technique was used to concentrate the differential metabolic pathway, and targeted metabolomic technique was subsequently performed to identify predictive biomarkers for QTc prolongation. A total of 45 rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) patients were enrolled in our study, including 15 RR/MDR-TB patients with QTc interval prolongation (QIP) and 30 RR/MDR-TB patients with QTc interval un-prolongations (QIU). Untargeted technique revealed that the lipid metabolism was the most differential metabolic pathway between two groups. Further targeted technique identified four differential metabolites, including betaine, LPE (18:2), LPE (20:3), and LPE (20:4). The combined analysis of metabolisms revealed that the combined use of LPE (20:3) and LPE (20:4) had the best performance for predicting the occurrence of QTc prolongation in TB patients, yielding a sensitivity of 87.4% and a specificity of 78.5%. In addition, with the progression of BDQ treatment, the LPEs exhibited persistent difference in the BDQ-treated TB patients experiencing QTc interval prolongation. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that the combined use of LPE (20:3) and LPE (20:4) yields promising performance for predicting the occurrence of QTc interval prolongation in BDQ-treated patients.

Extrusion and chlorogenic acid treatment increase the ordered structure and resistant starch levels in rice starch with amelioration of gut lipid metabolism in obese rats

Dietary interventions are receiving increasing attention for maintaining host health and diminishing disease risk. This study endeavored to elucidate the intervention effect of chlorogenic acid coupled with extruded rice starch (CGA-ES) in mitigating lipid metabolism disorders induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in rats. First, a significant increase in resistant starch (RS) and a decrease in the predicted glycemic index (pGI) were observed in CGA-ES owing to the formation of an ordered structure (Dm, single helix, and V-type crystalline structure) and partly released CGA. Compared to a physical mixture of starch and chlorogenic acid (CGA + S), CGA-ES showed a more potent effect in alleviating lipid metabolism disorders, manifesting as reduced levels of blood glucose, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP), as well as body weight. It is correlated with an improvement in the gut microecology, featuring bacteria known for cholesterol reduction and butyrate production (Butyricicoccus, Bifidobacterium, Fusicatenibacter, Turicibacter, and Enterorhabdus), along with bile acid, butyrate and PG (PG (17:0/16:0) and PG (18:1/16:0)). The RS fraction of CGA-ES was found to be the main contributor. These findings would provide evidence for future studies to regulate lipid metabolism disorders, and even obesity using CGA-ES.

A Plasma Metabolite Score Related to Psychological Distress and Diabetes Risk: A Nested Case-control Study in US Women

CONTEXT

Psychological distress has been linked to diabetes risk. Few population-based, epidemiologic studies have investigated the potential molecular mechanisms (eg, metabolic dysregulation) underlying this association.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between a metabolomic signature for psychological distress and diabetes risk.

METHODS

We conducted a nested case-control study of plasma metabolomics and diabetes risk in the Nurses' Health Study, including 728 women (mean age: 55.2 years) with incident diabetes and 728 matched controls. Blood samples were collected between 1989 and 1990 and incident diabetes was diagnosed between 1992 and 2008. Based on our prior work, we calculated a weighted plasma metabolite-based distress score (MDS) comprised of 19 metabolites. We used conditional logistic regression accounting for matching factors and other diabetes risk factors to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for diabetes risk according to MDS.

RESULTS

After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, family history of diabetes, and health behaviors, the OR (95% CI) for diabetes risk across quintiles of the MDS was 1.00 (reference) for Q1, 1.16 (0.77, 1.73) for Q2, 1.30 (0.88, 1.91) for Q3, 1.99 (1.36, 2.92) for Q4, and 2.47 (1.66, 3.67) for Q5. Each SD increase in MDS was associated with 36% higher diabetes risk (95% CI: 1.21, 1.54; P-trend <.0001). This association was moderately attenuated after additional adjustment for body mass index (comparable OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.35; P-trend = .02). The MDS explained 17.6% of the association between self-reported psychological distress (defined as presence of depression or anxiety symptoms) and diabetes risk (P = .04).

CONCLUSION

MDS was significantly associated with diabetes risk in women. These results suggest that differences in multiple lipid and amino acid metabolites may underlie the observed association between psychological distress and diabetes risk.

Lipidomic studies revealing serological markers associated with the occurrence of retinopathy in type 2 diabetes

PURPOSE

The duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and blood glucose levels have a significant impact on the development of T2DM complications. However, currently known risk factors are not good predictors of the onset or progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the differences in the serum lipid composition in patients with T2DM, without and with DR, and search for potential serological indicators associated with the development of DR.

METHODS

A total of 622 patients with T2DM hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an JiaoTong University were selected as the discovery set. One-to-one case-control matching was performed according to the traditional risk factors for DR (i.e., age, duration of diabetes, HbA1c level, and hypertension). All cases with comorbid chronic kidney disease were excluded to eliminate confounding factors. A total of 42 pairs were successfully matched. T2DM patients with DR (DR group) were the case group, and T2DM patients without DR (NDR group) served as control subjects. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for untargeted lipidomics analysis on serum, and a partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model was established to screen differential lipid molecules based on variable importance in the projection (VIP) > 1. An additional 531 T2DM patients were selected as the validation set. Next, 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed for the traditional risk factors for DR, and a combined 95 pairings in the NDR and DR groups were successfully matched. The screened differential lipid molecules were validated by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) quantification based on mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

The discovery set showed no differences in traditional risk factors associated with the development of DR (i.e., age, disease duration, HbA1c, blood pressure, and glomerular filtration rate). In the DR group compared with the NDR group, the levels of three ceramides (Cer) and seven sphingomyelins (SM) were significantly lower, and one phosphatidylcholine (PC), two lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC), and two SMs were significantly higher. Furthermore, evaluation of these 15 differential lipid molecules in the validation sample set showed that three Cer and SM(d18:1/24:1) molecules were substantially lower in the DR group. After excluding other confounding factors (e.g., sex, BMI, lipid-lowering drug therapy, and lipid levels), multifactorial logistic regression analysis revealed that a lower abundance of two ceramides, i.e., Cer(d18:0/22:0) and Cer(d18:0/24:0), was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of DR in T2DM patients.

CONCLUSION

Disturbances in lipid metabolism are closely associated with the occurrence of DR in patients with T2DM, especially in ceramides. Our study revealed for the first time that Cer(d18:0/22:0) and Cer(d18:0/24:0) might be potential serological markers for the diagnosis of DR occurrence in T2DM patients, providing new ideas for the early diagnosis of DR.

Targeted metabolomics-based understanding of the sleep disturbances in drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbances are a common occurrence in patients with schizophrenia, yet the underlying pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Here, we performed a targeted metabolomics-based approach to explore the potential biological mechanisms contributing to sleep disturbances in schizophrenia.

METHODS

Plasma samples from 59 drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia and 36 healthy controls were subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) targeted metabolomics analysis, allowing for the quantification and profiling of 271 metabolites. Sleep quality and clinical symptoms were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), respectively. Partial correlation analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model were used to identify metabolites specifically associated with sleep disturbances in drug-naïve schizophrenia.

RESULTS

16 characteristic metabolites were observed significantly associated with sleep disturbances in drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, the glycerophospholipid metabolism (Impact: 0.138, p<0.001), the butanoate metabolism (Impact: 0.032, p=0.008), and the sphingolipid metabolism (Impact: 0.270, p=0.104) were identified as metabolic pathways associated with sleep disturbances in drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identified 16 characteristic metabolites (mainly lipids) and 3 metabolic pathways related to sleep disturbances in drug-naïve schizophrenia. The detection of these distinct metabolites provide valuable insights into the underlying biological mechanisms associated with sleep disturbances in schizophrenia.

The Association between the Plasma Phospholipid Profile and Insulin Resistance: A Population-Based Cross-Section Study from the China Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance

The dysfunction of phospholipid metabolism enzymes and the change in membrane phospholipid composition are associated with insulin resistance, indicating that phospholipids play an important role in the regulation of insulin sensitivity. The reflection of phospholipid changes in blood might provide clues for both mechanism understanding and intervention. Using a targeted phospholipidomic approach, 199 phospholipid molecular species were identified and quantified in the plasma of 1053 middle-aged participants from a national investigation. The associations of the phospholipid matrix, clusters, and molecular species with insulin resistance were investigated. A significant association was confirmed between the phospholipid matrix and the homeostatic-model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) by a distance-based linear model. Furthermore, three clustered phospholipid modules and 32 phospholipid molecular species were associated with HOMA-IR with the strict control of demographic and lifestyle parameters, family history of diabetes, BMI, WC, and blood lipid parameters. The overall decline in lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), the decrease in saturated lysophosphatidylethanolamines (LPEs), the decrease in polyunsaturated/plasmenyl phosphatidylcholines (PCs), and the increase in polyunsaturated phatidylethanolamines (PEs) were the prominent characters of plasma phospholipid perturbation associated with insulin resistance. This suggested that PC- and PE-related metabolic pathways were widely involved in the process of insulin resistance, especially the disorder of LPC acylation to diacyl-PC.

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 can cause pancreatic impairment

Evidence suggests associations between COVID-19 patients or vaccines and glycometabolic dysfunction and an even higher risk of the occurrence of diabetes. Herein, we retrospectively analyzed pancreatic lesions in autopsy tissues from 67 SARS-CoV-2 infected non-human primates (NHPs) models and 121 vaccinated and infected NHPs from 2020 to 2023 and COVID-19 patients. Multi-label immunofluorescence revealed direct infection of both exocrine and endocrine pancreatic cells by the virus in NHPs and humans. Minor and limited phenotypic and histopathological changes were observed in adult models. Systemic proteomics and metabolomics results indicated metabolic disorders, mainly enriched in insulin resistance pathways, in infected adult NHPs, along with elevated fasting C-peptide and C-peptide/glucose ratio levels. Furthermore, in elder COVID-19 NHPs, SARS-CoV-2 infection causes loss of beta (β) cells and lower expressed-insulin in situ characterized by islet amyloidosis and necrosis, activation of α-SMA and aggravated fibrosis consisting of lower collagen in serum, an increase of pancreatic inflammation and stress markers, ICAM-1 and G3BP1, along with more severe glycometabolic dysfunction. In contrast, vaccination maintained glucose homeostasis by activating insulin receptor α and insulin receptor β. Overall, the cumulative risk of diabetes post-COVID-19 is closely tied to age, suggesting more attention should be paid to blood sugar management in elderly COVID-19 patients.

Microbial and metabolic profiles unveil mutualistic microbe-microbe interaction in obesity-related colorectal cancer

Obesity is a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC), and the involvement of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of obesity and CRC is widely recognized. However, the landscape of fecal microbiome and metabolome distinguishing patients with obesity-related CRC from obesity remains unknown. Here, we utilize metagenomic sequencing and metabolomics from 522 patients with CRC and healthy controls to identify the characteristics of obese CRC. Our integrated analysis reveals that obesity-related CRC is characterized by elevated Peptostreptococcus stomatis, dysregulated fatty acids and phospholipids, and altered Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways involving glycerophospholipid metabolism and lipopolysaccharide synthesis. Correlation analysis unveils microbial interactions in obesity, where the probiotic Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and the tumor-promoting species P. stomatis may engage in cross-feeding, thereby promoting tumorigenesis. In vitro experiments affirm enhanced growth under cross-feeding conditions. The mutualistic microbe-microbe interaction may contribute to the association between obesity and elevated CRC risk. Additionally, diagnostic models incorporating BMI-specific microbial biomarkers display promise for precise CRC screening.

Plasma metabolites of a healthy lifestyle in relation to mortality and longevity: Four prospective US cohort studies

BACKGROUND

A healthy lifestyle is associated with a lower premature mortality risk and with longer life expectancy. However, the metabolic pathways of a healthy lifestyle and how they relate to mortality and longevity are unclear. We aimed to identify and replicate a healthy lifestyle metabolomic signature and examine how it is related to total and cause-specific mortality risk and longevity.

METHODS

In four large cohorts with 13,056 individuals and 28-year follow-up, we assessed five healthy lifestyle factors, used liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to profile plasma metabolites, and ascertained deaths with death certificates. The unique healthy lifestyle metabolomic signature was identified using an elastic regression. Multivariable Cox regressions were used to assess associations of the signature with mortality and longevity.

FINDINGS

The identified healthy lifestyle metabolomic signature was reflective of lipid metabolism pathways. Shorter and more saturated triacylglycerol and diacylglycerol metabolite sets were inversely associated with the healthy lifestyle score, whereas cholesteryl ester and phosphatidylcholine plasmalogen sets were positively associated. Participants with a higher healthy lifestyle metabolomic signature had a 17% lower risk of all-cause mortality, 19% for cardiovascular disease mortality, and 17% for cancer mortality and were 25% more likely to reach longevity. The healthy lifestyle metabolomic signature explained 38% of the association between the self-reported healthy lifestyle score and total mortality risk and 49% of the association with longevity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identifies a metabolomic signature that measures adherence to a healthy lifestyle and shows prediction of total and cause-specific mortality and longevity.

FUNDING

This work was funded by the NIH, CIHR, AHA, Novo Nordisk Foundation, and SciLifeLab.

Comparative analysis of diisononyl phthalate and di(isononyl)cyclohexane-1,2 dicarboxylate plasticizers in regulation of lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 cells

Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and di(isononyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) are plasticizers introduced to replace previously used phthalate plasticizers in polymeric products. Exposure to DINP and DINCH has been shown to impact lipid metabolism. However, there are limited studies that address the mechanisms of toxicity of these two plasticizers. Here, a comparative toxicity analysis has been performed to evaluate the impacts of DINP and DINCH on 3T3-L1 cells. The preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells were exposed to 1, 10, and 100 μM of DINP or DINCH for 10 days and assessed for lipid accumulation, gene expression, and protein analysis. Lipid staining showed that higher concentrations of DINP and DINCH can induce adipogenesis. The gene expression analysis demonstrated that both DINP and DINCH could alter the expression of lipid-related genes involved in adipogenesis. DINP and DINCH upregulated Pparγ, Pparα, C/EBPα Fabp4, and Fabp5, while both compounds significantly downregulated Fasn and Gata2. Protein analysis showed that both DINP and DINCH repressed the expression of FASN. Additionally, we analyzed an independent transcriptome dataset encompassing temporal data on lipid differentiation within 3T3-L1 cells. Subsequently, we derived a gene set that accurately portrays significant pathways involved in lipid differentiation, which we subsequently subjected to experimental validation through quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, we extended our analysis to encompass a thorough assessment of the expression profiles of this identical gene set across 40 discrete transcriptome datasets that have linked to diverse pathological conditions to foreseen any potential association with DINP and DINCH exposure. Comparative analysis indicated that DINP could be more effective in regulating lipid metabolism.

Using metabolomics and proteomics to identify the potential urine biomarkers for prediction and diagnosis of gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common metabolic complications during pregnancy, threatening both maternal and fetal health. Prediction and diagnosis of GDM is not unified. Finding effective biomarkers for GDM is particularly important for achieving early prediction, accurate diagnosis and timely intervention. Urine, due to its accessibility in large quantities, noninvasive collection and easy preparation, has become a good sample for biomarker identification. In recent years, a number of studies using metabolomics and proteomics approaches have identified differential expressed urine metabolites and proteins in GDM patients. In this review, we summarized these potential urine biomarkers for GDM prediction and diagnosis and elucidated their role in development of GDM.

Multiomics Analyses With Stool-Type Stratification in Patient Cohorts and Blautia Identification as a Potential Bacterial Modulator in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Heterogeneity in host and gut microbiota hampers microbial precision intervention of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Here, we investigated novel features for patient stratification and bacterial modulators for intervention, using cross-sectional patient cohorts and animal experiments. We collected stool, blood, and urine samples from 103 patients with recent-onset T2DM and 25 healthy control subjects (HCs), performed gut microbial composition and metabolite profiling, and combined it with host transcriptome, metabolome, cytokine, and clinical data. Stool type (dry or loose stool), a feature of the stool microenvironment recently explored in microbiome studies, was used for stratification of patients with T2DM as it explained most of the variation in the multiomics data set among all clinical parameters in our covariate analysis. T2DM with dry stool (DM-DS) and loose stool (DM-LS) were clearly differentiated from HC and each other by LightGBM models, optimal among multiple machine learning models. Compared with DM-DS, DM-LS exhibited discordant gut microbial taxonomic and functional profiles, severe host metabolic disorder, and excessive insulin secretion. Further cross-measurement association analysis linked the differential microbial profiles, in particular Blautia abundances, to T2DM phenotypes in our stratified multiomics data set. Notably, oral supplementation of Blautia to T2DM mice induced inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation, weight gain, and blood glucose elevation with simultaneous modulation of gut bacterial composition, revealing the therapeutic potential of Blautia. Our study highlights the clinical implications of stool microenvironment stratification and Blautia supplementation in T2DM, offering promising prospects for microbial precision treatment of metabolic diseases.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Plasma Sphingolipid Profile of Healthy Black and White Adults Differs Based on Their Parental History of Type 2 Diabetes

CONTEXT

Ceramides and sphingolipids have been linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D). The Ceramides and Sphingolipids as Predictors of Incident Dysglycemia (CASPID) study is designed to determine the association of plasma sphingolipids with the pathophysiology of human T2D.

OBJECTIVE

A comparison of plasma sphingolipids profiles in Black and White adults with (FH+) and without (FH-) family history of T2D.

DESIGN

We recruited 100 Black and White FH- (54 Black, 46 White) and 140 FH+ (75 Black, 65 White) adults. Fasting plasma levels of 58 sphingolipid species, including 18 each from 3 major classes (ceramides, monohexosylceramides, and sphingomyelins, all with 18:1 sphingoid base) and 4 long-chain sphingoid base-containing species, were measured by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Sphingomyelin was the most abundant sphingolipid in plasma (89% in FH-), and was significantly elevated in FH+ subjects (93%). Ceramides and monohexosylceramides comprised 5% and 6% of total sphingolipids in the plasma of FH- subjects, and were reduced significantly in FH+ subjects (3% and 4%, respectively). In FH+ subjects, most ceramide and monohexosylceramide species were decreased but sphingomyelin species were increased. The level of C18:1 species of all 3 classes was elevated in FH+ subjects.

CONCLUSION

Elevated levels of sphingomyelin, the major sphingolipids of plasma, and oleic acid-containing sphingolipids in healthy FH+ subjects compared with healthy FH- subjects may reflect heritable elements linking sphingolipids and the development of T2D.

Combined untargeted and targeted lipidomics approaches reveal potential biomarkers in type 2 diabetes mellitus cynomolgus monkeys

BACKGROUND

The significantly increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) over the last few decades triggers the demands of T2DM animal models to explore the pathogenesis, prevention, and therapy of the disease. The altered lipid metabolism may play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of T2DM. However, the characterization of molecular lipid species in fasting serum related to T2DM cynomolgus monkeys is still underrecognized.

METHODS

Untargeted and targeted LC-mass spectrometry (MS)/MS-based lipidomics approaches were applied to characterize and compare the fasting serum lipidomic profiles of T2DM cynomolgus monkeys and the healthy controls.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis revealed that 196 and 64 lipid molecules differentially expressed in serum samples using untargeted and targeted lipidomics as the comparison between the disease group and healthy group, respectively. Furthermore, the comparative analysis of differential serum lipid metabolites obtained by untargeted and targeted lipidomics approaches, four common serum lipid species (phosphatidylcholine [18:0_22:4], lysophosphatidylcholine [14:0], phosphatidylethanolamine [PE] [16:1_18:2], and PE [18:0_22:4]) were identified as potential biomarkers and all of which were found to be downregulated. By analyzing the metabolic pathway, glycerophospholipid metabolism was associated with the pathogenesis of T2DM cynomolgus monkeys.

CONCLUSION

The study found that four downregulated serum lipid species could serve as novel potential biomarkers of T2DM cynomolgus monkeys. Glycerophospholipid metabolism was filtered out as the potential therapeutic target pathway of T2DM progression. Our results showed that the identified biomarkers may offer a novel tool for tracking disease progression and response to therapeutic interventions.

Mitochondrial-derived peptides: Antidiabetic functions and evolutionary perspectives

Mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) are a novel class of bioactive microproteins encoded by short open-reading frames (sORF) in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Currently, three types of MDPs have been identified: Humanin (HN), MOTS-c (Mitochondrial ORF within Twelve S rRNA type-c), and SHLP1-6 (small Humanin-like peptide, 1 to 6). The 12 S ribosomal RNA (MT-RNR1) gene harbors the sequence for MOTS-c, whereas HN and SHLP1-6 are encoded by the 16 S ribosomal RNA (MT-RNR2) gene. Special genetic codes are used in mtDNA as compared to nuclear DNA: (i) ATA and ATT are used as start codons in addition to the standard start codon ATG; (ii) AGA and AGG are used as stop codons instead of coding for arginine; (iii) the standard stop codon UGA is used to code for tryptophan. While HN, SHLP6, and MOTS-c are encoded by the H (heavy owing to high guanine + thymine base composition)-strand of the mtDNA, SHLP1-5 are encoded by the L (light owing to less guanine + thymine base composition)-strand. MDPs attenuate disease pathology including Type 1 diabetes (T1D), Type 2 diabetes (T2D), gestational diabetes, Alzheimer's disease (AD), cardiovascular diseases, prostate cancer, and macular degeneration. The current review will focus on the MDP regulation of T2D, T1D, and gestational diabetes along with an emphasis on the evolutionary pressures for conservation of the amino acid sequences of MDPs.

Desipramine ameliorates fine particulate matter-induced hepatic insulin resistance by modulating the ceramide metabolism in mice

Recent research has highlighted a correlation between exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and the development of systemic insulin resistance (IR) along with an elevated risk of diabetes. Ceramide has emerged as one of the pathogenic mechanisms contributing to IR. The inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) activity by desipramine (DES) has been shown to effectively reduce ceramide levels. In the present study, 24 female C57BL/6 N mice were randomized into one of the four groups: the filtered air exposure (FA) group, the concentrated PM2.5 exposure (PM) group, the concentrated PM2.5 treated with low-dose DES (DL) group, and the concentrated PM2.5 treated with high-dose DES (DH) group. The PM, DL and DH groups were exposed to PM2.5 for an 8-week period within a whole-body exposure system. The study encompassed extensive examinations of glucose homeostasis, liver lipid profile, ceramide pathway, and insulin signaling pathway. Our results demonstrated that PM2.5 exposure caused impaired glucose tolerance, elevated ceramide levels, increased phosphorylation PP2A, reduced Akt phosphorylation, and hindered GLUT2 expression. Remarkably, DES administration mitigated PM2.5-induced IR by effectively lowering ceramide levels. In conclusion, the reduction of ceramide levels by DES may be a promising therapeutic strategy for coping PM2.5-induced IR.

Sub-chronic exposure to hexaconazole affects the lipid metabolism of rats through mTOR-PPAR-γ/SREBP1 signaling pathway mediated by oxidative stress

Hexaconazole (Hex) is a widely used and high frequency detected triazole fungicide in agricultural products and environment which may pose potential toxicity to the nontargeted organisms. Hex had been reported to affect lipid homeostasis while the mechanism was undefined. This study aims to explore the characteristic lipidomic profiles and clarify the underlying signaling pathways of Hex-induced lipid metabolism disorder in rat liver. The results showed that sub-chronic exposure to environmental related concentrations of Hex caused histopathological changes, oxidative stress, fat accumulation, lipid biochemical parameter increase in rats. Moreover, the untargeted lipidomic analysis showed that the levels of TAG, PC, and PE and the pathway of glycerophospholipid metabolism were heavily altered by Hex. We further analyzed the lipid metabolism related genes and proteins which revealed that Hex exposure increased amount of lipogenesis by activating oxidative stress-mediated mTOR-PPAR-γ/SREBP1 signaling pathways. The imbalance of lipid homeostasis induced by Hex exposure might further lead to obesity, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and hyperlipidemia. Our results provided systematic and comprehensive evidence for the mechanism of Hex-induced lipid metabolism disorder at environmental concentrations and supplied a certain basis for its health risks assessment.

Metabolomics to Understand Alterations Induced by Physical Activity during Pregnancy

Physical activity (PA) and exercise have been associated with a reduced risk of cancer, obesity, and diabetes. In the context of pregnancy, maintaining an active lifestyle has been shown to decrease gestational weight gain (GWG) and lower the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), hypertension, and macrosomia in offspring. The main pathways activated by PA include BCAAs, lipids, and bile acid metabolism, thereby improving insulin resistance in pregnant individuals. Despite these known benefits, the underlying metabolites and biological mechanisms affected by PA remain poorly understood, highlighting the need for further investigation. Metabolomics, a comprehensive study of metabolite classes, offers valuable insights into the widespread metabolic changes induced by PA. This narrative review focuses on PA metabolomics research using different analytical platforms to analyze pregnant individuals. Existing studies support the hypothesis that exercise behaviour can influence the metabolism of different populations, including pregnant individuals and their offspring. While PA has shown considerable promise in maintaining metabolic health in non-pregnant populations, our comprehension of metabolic changes in the context of a healthy pregnancy remains limited. As a result, further investigation is necessary to clarify the metabolic impact of PA within this unique group, often excluded from physiological research.

Next Generation, Modifiable Cardiometabolic Biomarkers: Mitochondrial Adaptation and Metabolic Resilience: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Cardiometabolic risk is increasing in prevalence across the life span with disproportionate ramifications for youth at socioeconomic disadvantage. Established risk factors and associated disease progression are harder to reverse as they become entrenched over time; if current trends are unchecked, the consequences for individual and societal wellness will become untenable. Interrelated root causes of ectopic adiposity and insulin resistance are understood but identified late in the trajectory of systemic metabolic dysregulation when traditional cardiometabolic risk factors cross current diagnostic thresholds of disease. Thus, children at cardiometabolic risk are often exposed to suboptimal metabolism over years before they present with clinical symptoms, at which point life-long reliance on pharmacotherapy may only mitigate but not reverse the risk. Leading-edge indicators are needed to detect the earliest departure from healthy metabolism, so that targeted, primordial, and primary prevention of cardiometabolic risk is possible. Better understanding of biomarkers that reflect the earliest transitions to dysmetabolism, beginning in utero, ideally biomarkers that are also mechanistic/causal and modifiable, is critically needed. This scientific statement explores emerging biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk across rapidly evolving and interrelated "omic" fields of research (the epigenome, microbiome, metabolome, lipidome, and inflammasome). Connections in each domain to mitochondrial function are identified that may mediate the favorable responses of each of the omic biomarkers featured to a heart-healthy lifestyle, notably to nutritional interventions. Fuller implementation of evidence-based nutrition must address environmental and socioeconomic disparities that can either facilitate or impede response to therapy.

A transcriptional network governing ceramide homeostasis establishes a cytokine-dependent developmental process

Transcriptional mechanisms controlling developmental processes establish and maintain proteomic networks, which can govern the levels of intracellular small molecules. Although dynamic changes in bioactive small molecules can link transcription factor and genome activity with cell state transitions, many mechanistic questions are unresolved. Using quantitative lipidomics and multiomics, we discover that the hematopoietic transcription factor GATA1 establishes ceramide homeostasis during erythroid differentiation by regulating genes encoding sphingolipid metabolic enzymes. Inhibiting a GATA1-induced sphingolipid biosynthetic enzyme, delta(4)-desaturase, or disrupting ceramide homeostasis with cell-permeable dihydroceramide or ceramide is detrimental to erythroid, but not myeloid, progenitor activity. Coupled with genetic editing-based rewiring of the regulatory circuitry, we demonstrate that ceramide homeostasis commissions vital stem cell factor and erythropoietin signaling by opposing an inhibitory protein phosphatase 2A-dependent, dual-component mechanism. Integrating bioactive lipids as essential components of GATA factor mechanisms to control cell state transitions has implications for diverse cell and tissue types.

The relationships between the plasma metabolome and orthostatic blood pressure responses

Whereas autonomic dysfunction and the metabolic syndrome are clinically associated, the relationships with the plasma metabolome is unknown. We explored the association between orthostatic blood pressure responses and 818 plasma metabolites in middle-aged subjects from the general population. We included 3803 out of 6251 subjects (mean age, 57 years; 52% women) from the Malmö sub-cohort of The Swedish CardioPulmonary bioImage Study with information on smoking habits, diabetes, antihypertensive drug treatment, anthropometrics, hemodynamic measurements and 818 plasma metabolites (mass-spectrometry). The associations between each metabolite and orthostatic systolic blood pressure responses were determined using multivariable linear regression analysis and p values were corrected using the Bonferroni method. Six amino acids, five vitamins, co-factors and carbohydrates, nine lipids and two xenobiotics were associated with orthostatic blood pressure after adjusting for age, gender and systolic blood pressure. After additional adjustments for BMI, diabetes, smoking and antihypertensive treatment, the association remained significant for six lipids, four amino acids and one xenobiotic. Twenty-two out of 818 plasma metabolites were associated with orthostatic blood pressure responses. Eleven metabolites, including lipids in the dihydrosphingomyelin and sphingosine pathways, were independently associated with orthostatic systolic blood pressure responses after additional adjustment for markers of cardio-metabolic disease.

Alzheimer's Disease in Diabetic Patients: A Lipidomic Prospect

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been two of the most common chronic diseases affecting people worldwide. Type 2 DM (T2DM) is a metabolic disease depicted by insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and chronic hyperglycemia while AD is a neurodegenerative disease marked by Amyloid β (Aβ) accumulation, neurofibrillary tangles aggregation, and tau phosphorylation. Various clinical, epidemiological, and lipidomics studies have linked those diseases claiming shared pathological pathways raising the assumption that diabetic patients are at an increased risk of developing AD later in their lives. Insulin resistance is the tipping point beyond where advanced glycation end (AGE) products and free radicals are produced leading to oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. Additionally, different types of lipids are playing a crucial role in the development and the relationship between those diseases. Lipidomics, an analysis of lipid structure, formation, and interactions, evidently exhibits these lipid changes and their direct and indirect effect on Aβ synthesis, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. In this review, we have discussed the pathophysiology of T2DM and AD, the interconnecting pathological pathways they share, and the lipidomics where different lipids such as cholesterol, phospholipids, sphingolipids, and sulfolipids contribute to the underlying features of both diseases. Understanding their role can be beneficial for diagnostic purposes or introducing new drugs to counter AD.

Like father, like daughter:Paternal cadmium exposure causes hepatic glucose metabolic disorder and phospholipids accumulation in adult female offspring

Cadmium (Cd), is a well-known reproductive toxicant. The impacts of paternal Cd exposure on offspring glucose and lipid metabolism remain unclear, despite the abundance of adverse reports following early exposure from the mother. Here, we assessed paternally acquired metabolic derailment using a mouse model. LC-MS/MS, transcriptomics and molecular experimental techniques were subsequently applied in this study to explore the potential mechanism. We found that paternal Cd exposure caused glucose intolerance, lower insulin sensitivity and abnormal hepatic glycogen storage in adult female offspring, but not in males. LC-MS/MS data showed that hepatic phospholipids accumulation was also only observed in adult female offspring after paternal Cd exposure. Gene expression data showed that the level of insulin signaling and lipid transport-related genes was decreased in Cd-treated adult female offspring livers. Meanwhile, AHR, a transcription factor that combines with phospholipids to promote insulin resistance, was increased in Cd-treated adult female offspring livers. In addition, the escalation of the afore-mentioned lipid metabolites in the liver occurred as early as fetal stages in the female pups following paternal Cd exposure, suggesting the potential for these lipid species to be selected as early markers of disease for metabolic derailment later in life. Altogether, paternal Cd exposure causes offspring glucose metabolism disorder and phospholipids accumulation in a sex-dependent manner. This study provides a theoretical framework for future understanding of paternal-originated metabolic diseases.

Lipidomic Alterations in the Cerebral Cortex and White Matter in Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease

Non-targeted LC-MS/MS-based lipidomic analysis was conducted in post-mortem human grey matter frontal cortex area 8 (GM) and white matter of the frontal lobe centrum semi-ovale (WM) to identify lipidome fingerprints in middle-aged individuals with no neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques, and cases at progressive stages of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD). Complementary data were obtained using RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that WM presents an adaptive lipid phenotype resistant to lipid peroxidation, characterized by a lower fatty acid unsaturation, peroxidizability index, and higher ether lipid content than the GM. Changes in the lipidomic profile are more marked in the WM than in GM in AD with disease progression. Four functional categories are associated with the different lipid classes affected in sAD: membrane structural composition, bioenergetics, antioxidant protection, and bioactive lipids, with deleterious consequences affecting both neurons and glial cells favoring disease progression.

Transcription factor EB: A potential integrated network regulator in metabolic-associated cardiac injury

With the worldwide pandemic of metabolic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cardiometabolic disease (CMD) has become a significant cause of death in humans. However, the pathophysiology of metabolic-associated cardiac injury is complex and not completely clear, and it is important to explore new strategies and targets for the treatment of CMD. A series of pathophysiological disturbances caused by metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance (IR), hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), autophagy dysfunction, calcium homeostasis imbalance, and endothelial dysfunction, may be related to the incidence and development of CMD. Transcription Factor EB (TFEB), as a transcription factor, has been extensively studied for its role in regulating lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy. Recently, the regulatory role of TFEB in other biological processes, including the regulation of glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, etc. has been gradually revealed. In this review, we will focus on the relationship between TFEB and IR, lipid metabolism, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, ERS, calcium homeostasis, autophagy, and mitochondrial quality control (MQC) and the potential regulatory mechanisms among them, to provide a comprehensive summary for TFEB as a potential new therapeutic target for CMD.

Intergenerational association of gut microbiota and metabolism with perinatal folate metabolism and neural tube defects

Disorders of folic acid metabolism during pregnancy lead to fetal neural tube defects (NTDs). However, the mechanisms still require further investigation. Here, we aim to analyze the brain metabolic profiles of 30 NTDs and 30 healthy fetuses. Our results indicated that low-folate diet during early life played a causal role in cerebral metabolism, especially in lipometabolic disturbance, highlighting the importance of folate in modulating brain development and metabolism. Next, we established a mouse model of NTDs. Interestingly, the differential metabolites are mainly involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids both in human and mice fetal brain. Since intestinal microbes could critically regulate neurofunction via the intestinal-brain axis, we further found the abundances of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the gut of pregnant mice were correlated with the abundances of lipid metabolism related metabolites in the fetal brain. This finding probably reflects the intergenerational microbial-metabolism biomarkers of NTDs.