The substance basis of Poria ameliorates hypothyroidism other than hyperthyroidism based on proteomics and metabolomics

Mechanism difference of ginseng medicines with different natures on hyperthyroidism

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Medicinal nature is a unique index in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to measure the efficacy of Chinese medicines. Hyperthyroidism, qi-Yin deficiency syndrome in TCM was regarded as the classic heat syndrome category in Chinese medicine. Moreover, it is extensively employed to evaluate the medicinal nature of herbs within the framework of the 'hot/cold' nature theory. Ginseng, red and black ginseng (GS, RG, and BG, respectively), and ginseng leaves (GL) are qi-tonifying herbs with different medicinal natures and were just right used to examine the underlying mechanisms between the nature of ginseng medicines and their tonifying effect.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To examine the different mechanisms between different natures of ginseng medicines and their qi-tonifying action by comparison of their effects on hyperthyroidism and elucidate the nature of BG.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The hyperthyroidism model was induced through the oral administration of Euthyrox. Steroids belonging to hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic pituitary gonadal (HPG) axes were determined with an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS) method. Furthermore, the biochemical indexes associated with energy metabolism, including the serum cyclic nucleotide system and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathways were examined. Additionally, the gut microbiota was subjected to 16 S rDNA sequencing, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

RESULTS

GS, RG, and BG could treat hyperthyroidism rats by regulating the hypothalamus pituitary thyroid (HPT) axis. The RG also had a strong regulatory effect on the HPA and HPG axis. The BG has a regulatory effect on the HPG axis. GL had a strong regulatory effect on HPA, HPG, and HPT axes. GS had the ability to regulate Firmicutes/Bacteroides of the intestinal flora, and GS, RG, and BG ameliorated the decrease of SCFAs induced by hyperthyroidism. According to PCA, BG is similar to GS, indicating a mild-warm nature.

CONCLUSION

The nature of BG was attributable to mild-warm and the GL with cold nature is best for the treatment of hyperthyroidism based on PCA analysis with all the bio-indices. In addition, the mechanism study indicated that the qi-tonifying effects of ginseng medicines are involved in HPT, HPA, and HPG axes to alleviate hyperthyroidism. In addition, the primary indexes reflected different natures of ginseng medicines are cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), AchE, and substance metabolism associated with Na+-K+-ATPase and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, which are potential biomarkers for evaluation on the natures of qi-tonifying medicines.

Integrate metabolomics strategy and target prediction to reveal the ameliorate effect of four typical 'cold' property herbs on hyperthyroidism rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The 'cold' property herbs are commonly applied in heat syndrome. Unfortunately, the underlying mechanisms of the 'cold' property herbs on heat syndrome has not been investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to probe the activities of the four typical 'cold' property herbs on hyperthyroidism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, the four typical 'heat' property herbs were set as contrasting experiment. Then. the physical sign, thyroid function and metabolism profile (multivariate statistical analysis) were assessing the difference between the four typical 'cod' property herbs and the four typical 'heat' property herbs. H&E staining were used to confirmed the influence of the typical 'cold' property herbs on hyperthyroidism. A metabolomics approach combine with network pharmacology were explored the effected mechanism of the typical 'cold' property herbs on hyperthyroidism. the gene expression of UCP-1 was detected by RT-PCR. The metabolites pathway and target-associated metabolites were verified Na⁺/K⁺-ATP enzyme and GSH, as well IL6, IL17, MAPK and PPAR-γ, which detected by commercial kits and Western blot.

RESULTS

It is proved that the four typical 'cold' property herbs effectively ameliorate the physical sign, thyroid function and metabolism profile in hyperthyroidism rats, but the four typical 'heat' property herbs showed no benefit. Moreover, the four typical 'cold' property herbs regulated energy metabolism, glutathione metabolism, taurine hypotaurine metabolism, thyroid hormone synthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism and linoleic acid metabolism and the inflammation mediated by inflammatory factor (IL6, IL17), Ca²⁺ and MAPK signaling pathway. And the levels of UCP-1, Na⁺/K⁺-ATP enzyme, GSH, and the targets protein of IL6, IL17, MAPK and PPAR-γ were ameliorated by the four typical 'cold' property herbs.

CONCLUSION

The four typical 'cold' property herbs could alleviate hyperthyroidism by ameliorate thyroid hormone synthesis, restraining inflammation and oxidative stress via regulating energy metabolism, glutathione metabolism, taurine hypotaurine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism and linoleic acid metabolism and Ca ²⁺/MAPK signaling pathway, which might be a useful strategy for treating hyperthyroidism.

Plasma Metabolomics Reveals Systemic Metabolic Alterations of Subclinical and Clinical Hypothyroidism

CONTEXT

Clinical hypothyroidism (CH) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) have been linked to various metabolic comorbidities but the underlying metabolic alterations remain unclear. Metabolomics may provide metabolic insights into the pathophysiology of hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE

We explored metabolic alterations in SCH and CH and identify potential metabolite biomarkers for the discrimination of SCH and CH from euthyroid individuals.

METHODS

Plasma samples from a cohort of 126 human subjects, including 45 patients with CH, 41 patients with SCH, and 40 euthyroid controls, were analyzed by high-resolution mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Data were processed by multivariate principal components analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. Correlation analysis was performed by a Multivariate Linear Regression analysis. Unbiased Variable selection in R algorithm and 3 machine learning models were utilized to develop prediction models based on potential metabolite biomarkers.

RESULTS

The plasma metabolomic patterns in SCH and CH groups were significantly different from those of control groups, while metabolite alterations between SCH and CH groups were dramatically similar. Pathway enrichment analysis found that SCH and CH had a significant impact on primary bile acid biosynthesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, lysine degradation, tryptophan metabolism, and purine metabolism. Significant associations for 65 metabolites were found with levels of thyrotropin, free thyroxine, thyroid peroxidase antibody, or thyroglobulin antibody. We successfully selected and validated 17 metabolic biomarkers to differentiate 3 groups.

CONCLUSION

SCH and CH have significantly altered metabolic patterns associated with hypothyroidism, and metabolomics coupled with machine learning algorithms can be used to develop diagnostic models based on selected metabolites.

Global analysis of qualitative and quantitative metabolism of Notoginsenoside R1 in rat liver-brain-gut axis based on LC-IT-TOF/MS combing mMDF strategy

BACKGROUND

The metabolism study of active components for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in target organs is conducive to clarify the authentic active ingredients. Notoginsenoside R1 (NG-R1), one of the bioactive components of Panax notoginsenoside (PNS), is commonly acknowledged as the characteristic marker of PNS. However, the metabolism of NG-R1 in target organs has not been clarified yet due to the lack of robust technique and approach.

PURPOSE

The present study aimed to develop a reliable and efficient strategy and technology for revealing the qualitative and quantitative metabolism of active components of TCMs in target organs, and to clarify the biotransformation of NG-R1 in liver-brain-intestinal axis.

METHODS

The metabolic transformation of NG-R1 in the brain gut axis was investigated in the in vitro incubation system of fresh rat brain, liver homogenate, and intestinal flora. To quickly lock the target metabolites, we set the mass defect filter (MDF) in different ranges to screen metabolites with different molecular weight (MW). This strategy was defined as multi-stage MDF (mMDF). In addition, we performed relative quantitative analysis on all metabolites according to the peak area acquired by LC-IT-TOF/MS to overcome the challenge that metabolites are difficult to be quantified due to the lack of standards.

RESULTS

When MDF was set at 0.50 to 0.65 to screen metabolites with MW of 900 to 1200 Da, 6 novel metabolites were quickly found, and then identified as glucuronic acid binding, oxidation, dehydrogenation, methylation and hydrogenation products according to their LC and MS characteristics. When setting MDF at 0.42 - 0.52, 6 metabolites with MW of 600 to 900 Da were effectively screened and identified as Rg1, NG-R2, Rh1, Rg1+CH₂+2H and Rg1+CH₂. To screen the metabolites with MW of 300 to 600 Da, MDF was set at 0.25 - 0.42, and 4 novel metabolites were screened rapidly. The results of quantitative metabolism suggested that intestinal flora was the main metabolic site of NG-R1 in rat, and more than 60% of NG-R1 was converted to Rg1 by deglycosylation in the intestinal flora.

CONCLUSION

The mMDF strategy can significantly improve the research efficiency of qualitative metabolism of saponins. Although NG-R1 could be transformed into a variety of metabolites in rat liver and brain homogenate, it still existed mainly in prototype form. In the rat flora, NG-R1 mainly existed in the form of deglycosylated metabolite Rg1.

A cerumenolomic approach to bovine trypanosomosis diagnosis

INTRODUCTION

Trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma vivax (T. vivax, subgenus Duttonella) is a burden disease in bovines that induces losses of billions of dollars in livestock activity worldwide. To control the disease, the first step is identifying the infected animals at early stages. However, convention tools for animal infection detection by T. vivax present some challenges, facilitating the spread of the pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVES

This work aims to develop a new procedure to identify infected bovines by T. vivax using cerumen (earwax) in a volatilomic approach, here named cerumenolomic, which is performed in an easy, quick, accurate, and non-invasive manner.

METHODS

Seventy-eight earwax samples from Brazilian Curraleiro Pé-Duro calves were collected in a longitudinal study protocol during health and inoculated stages. The samples were analyzed using Headspace/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry followed by multivariate analysis approaches.

RESULTS

The cerumen analyses lead to the identification of a broad spectrum of volatile organic metabolites (VOMs), of which 20 VOMs can discriminate between healthy and infected calves (AUC = 0.991, sensitivity = 0.967, specificity = 1.000). Furthermore, 13 VOMs can indicate a pattern of discrimination between the acute and chronic phases of the T. vivax infection in the animals (AUC = 0.989, sensitivity = 0.944, specificity = 1.000).

CONCLUSION

The cerumen volatile metabolites present alterations in their occurrence during the T.vivax infection, which may lead to identifying the infection in the first weeks of inoculation and discriminating between the acute and chronic phases of the illness. These results may be a breakthrough to avoid the T. vivax outbreak and provide a faster clinical approach to the animal.

Study on the Molecular Basis of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction Against Atopic Dermatitis Integrating Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Metabolomics Strategies

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic relapsing skin inflammation, which severely affect the quality of life of patients. Inhibiting itching and enhancing immunity to mitigate scratching are key elements in the fight against AD. Huanglian Jiedu decoction (HLJDD) has multiple pharmacological effects in the treatment of AD. However, the effective ingredients and underlying molecular mechanisms have not yet been fully explored. Thus, this study integrates chemistry, biochemistry, and metabolomics strategies to evaluate the active substance basis of HLJDD against AD. First, HLJDD was split to five fractions (CPF, 40AEF, 90AEF, PEF and WEF) and 72 chemical components were identified. NSD (Non-similarity degree) among the different fractions showed significant chemical differences (>81%). Interleukin IL-13, IL-17A, IL-3, IL-31, IL-33, IL4, IL-5, TSLP, IgE, and histamine in the serum, and IL-4Rα, JAK1, and HRH4 levels in skin, participating in inhibiting itching and regulating immunity signaling, were found to be restored to varying degrees in AD treating with HLJDD and its fractions, especially 40AEF and CPF. Untargeted metabolomics analysis demonstrated that forty metabolites were differential metabolites in plasma between the HLJDD-treated group and the AD group, involving in histidine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, pyrimidine metabolism, and so on. Further, targeted metabolomics analysis revealed that eleven differential metabolites, associating with physiological and biochemical indices, were significant improved in the HLJDD and its fractions groups. In conclusion, HLJDD exhibited anti-AD effects by inhibiting itching and enhancing immunity, which in turn regulating the levels of relative metabolites, and CPF and 40AEF were considered the most important components of HLJDD.