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Sun Y, Hao Y, Zhang Q, Liu X, Wang L, Li J, Li M, Li D. Coping with extremes: Alternations in diet, gut microbiota, and hepatic metabolic functions in a highland passerine. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167079. [PMID: 37714349 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
In wild animals, diet and gut microbiota interactions are critical moderators of metabolic functions and are highly contingent on habitat conditions. Challenged by the extreme conditions of high-altitude environments, the strategies implemented by highland animals to adjust their diet and gut microbial composition and modulate their metabolic substrates remain largely unexplored. By employing a typical human commensal species, the Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus, ETS), as a model species, we studied the differences in diet, digestive tract morphology and enzyme activity, gut microbiota, and metabolic energy profiling between highland (the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, QTP; 3230 m) and lowland (Shijiazhuang, Hebei; 80 m) populations. Our results showed that highland ETSs had enlarged digestive organs and longer small intestinal villi, while no differences in key digestive enzyme activities were observed between the two populations. The 18S rRNA sequencing results revealed that the dietary composition of highland ETSs were more animal-based and less plant-based than those of the lowland ones. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing results suggested that the intestinal microbial communities were structurally segregated between populations. PICRUSt metagenome predictions further indicated that the expression patterns of microbial genes involved in material and energy metabolism, immune system and infection, and xenobiotic biodegradation were strikingly different between the two populations. Analysis of liver metabolomics revealed significant metabolic differences between highland and lowland ETSs in terms of substrate utilization, as well as distinct sex-specific alterations in glycerophospholipids. Furthermore, the interplay between diet, liver metabolism, and gut microbiota suggests a dietary shift resulting in corresponding changes in gut microbiota and metabolic functions. Our findings indicate that highland ETSs have evolved to optimize digestion and absorption, rely on more protein-rich foods, and possess gut microbiota tailored to their dietary composition, likely adaptive physiological and ecological strategies adopted to cope with extreme highland environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfeng Sun
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China; Ocean College, Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao 066003, China; Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Yaotong Hao
- Ocean College, Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao 066003, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Limin Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Juyong Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Mo Li
- College of Life Sciences, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou 061001, China.
| | - Dongming Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China; Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China.
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Heritability of Urinary Amines, Organic Acids, and Steroid Hormones in Children. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12060474. [PMID: 35736407 PMCID: PMC9228478 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12060474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Variation in metabolite levels reflects individual differences in genetic and environmental factors. Here, we investigated the role of these factors in urinary metabolomics data in children. We examined the effects of sex and age on 86 metabolites, as measured on three metabolomics platforms that target amines, organic acids, and steroid hormones. Next, we estimated their heritability in a twin cohort of 1300 twins (age range: 5.7–12.9 years). We observed associations between age and 50 metabolites and between sex and 21 metabolites. The monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) correlations for the urinary metabolites indicated a role for non-additive genetic factors for 50 amines, 13 organic acids, and 6 steroids. The average broad-sense heritability for these amines, organic acids, and steroids was 0.49 (range: 0.25–0.64), 0.50 (range: 0.33–0.62), and 0.64 (range: 0.43–0.81), respectively. For 6 amines, 7 organic acids, and 4 steroids the twin correlations indicated a role for shared environmental factors and the average narrow-sense heritability was 0.50 (range: 0.37–0.68), 0.50 (range; 0.23–0.61), and 0.47 (range: 0.32–0.70) for these amines, organic acids, and steroids. We conclude that urinary metabolites in children have substantial heritability, with similar estimates for amines and organic acids, and higher estimates for steroid hormones.
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Gkouskou KK, Grammatikopoulou MG, Lazou E, Sanoudou D, Goulis DG, Eliopoulos AG. Genetically-Guided Medical Nutrition Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Pre-diabetes: A Series of n-of-1 Superiority Trials. Front Nutr 2022; 9:772243. [PMID: 35265654 PMCID: PMC8899711 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.772243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a heterogeneous metabolic disorder of multifactorial etiology that includes genetic and dietary influences. By addressing the latter, medical nutrition therapy (MNT) contributes to the management of T2DM or pre-diabetes toward achieving glycaemic control and improved insulin sensitivity. However, the clinical outcomes of MNT vary and may further benefit from personalized nutritional plans that take into consideration genetic variations associated with individual responses to macronutrients. The aim of the present series of n-of-1 trials was to assess the effects of genetically-guided vs. conventional MNT on patients with pre-diabetes or T2DM. A quasi-experimental, cross-over design was adopted in three Caucasian adult men with either diagnosis. Complete diet, bioclinical and anthropometric assessment was performed and a conventional MNT, based on the clinical practice guidelines was applied for 8 weeks. After a week of “wash-out,” a precision MNT was prescribed for an additional 8-week period, based on the genetic characteristics of each patient. Outcomes of interest included changes in body weight (BW), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and blood pressure (BP). Collectively, the trials indicated improvements in BW, FPG, BP, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) following the genetically-guided precision MNT intervention. Moreover, both patients with pre-diabetes experienced remission of the condition. We conclude that improved BW loss and glycemic control can be achieved in patients with pre-diabetes/T2DM, by coupling MNT to their genetic makeup, guiding optimal diet, macronutrient composition, exercise and oral nutrient supplementation in a personalized manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalliopi K Gkouskou
- Department of Biology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Embiodiagnostics Biology Research Company, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Maria G Grammatikopoulou
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evgenia Lazou
- Department of Biology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Despina Sanoudou
- Clinical Genomics and Pharmacogenomics Unit, Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios G Goulis
- Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Aristides G Eliopoulos
- Department of Biology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Bermingham KM, Brennan L, Segurado R, Barron RE, Gibney ER, Ryan MF, Gibney MJ, O'Sullivan AM. Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Variation in the Stable Urinary NMR Metabolome over Time: A Classic Twin Study. J Proteome Res 2021; 20:3992-4000. [PMID: 34304563 PMCID: PMC8397426 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
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Genes, sex, age,
diet, lifestyle, gut microbiome, and multiple
other factors affect human metabolomic profiles. Understanding metabolomic
variation is critical in human nutrition research as metabolites that
are sensitive to change versus those that are more stable might be
more informative for a particular study design. This study aims to
identify stable metabolomic regions and determine the genetic and
environmental contributions to stability. Using a classic twin design, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) urinary metabolomic profiles
were measured in 128 twins at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months. Multivariate
mixed models identified stable urinary metabolites with intraclass
correlation coefficients ≥0.51. Longitudinal twin modeling
measured the contribution of genetic and environmental influences
to variation in the stable urinary NMR metabolome, comprising stable
metabolites. The conservation of an individual’s stable urinary
NMR metabolome over time was assessed by calculating conservation
indices. In this study, 20% of the urinary NMR metabolome is stable
over 2 months (intraclass correlation (ICC) 0.51–0.65). Common
genetic and shared environmental factors contributed to variance in
the stable urinary NMR metabolome over time. Using the stable metabolome,
91% of individuals had good metabolomic conservation indices ≥0.70.
To conclude, this research identifies 20% of the urinary NMR metabolome
as stable, improves our knowledge of the sources of metabolomic variation
over time, and demonstrates the conservation of an individual’s
urinary NMR metabolome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Bermingham
- UCD Institute of Food and health, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Lorraine Brennan
- UCD Institute of Food and health, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Ricardo Segurado
- School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Rebecca E Barron
- UCD Institute of Food and health, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Eileen R Gibney
- UCD Institute of Food and health, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Miriam F Ryan
- UCD Institute of Food and health, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Michael J Gibney
- UCD Institute of Food and health, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Aifric M O'Sullivan
- UCD Institute of Food and health, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland
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