Association between gut microbiota composition and glycoalbumin level during pregnancy in Japanese women: Pilot study from Chiba Study of Mother and Child Health

The Gut Microbiome and Female Health

The possession of two X chromosomes may come with the risk of various illnesses, females are more likely to be affected by osteoarthritis, heart disease, and anxiety. Given the reported correlations between gut microbiome dysbiosis and various illnesses, the female gut microbiome is worthy of exploration. Herein, we discuss the composition of the female gut microbiota and its dysbiosis in pathologies affecting the female population. Using PubMed, we performed a literature search, using key terms, namely: "gut microbiome", "estrogen", "menopause", "polycystic ovarian syndrome", "pregnancy", and "menstruation". In polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), the abundance of Bacteroides vulgatus, Firmicutes, Streptococcus, and the ratio of Escherichia/Shigella was found to be increased while that of Tenericutes ML615J-28, Tenericutes 124-7, Akkermansia, Ruminococcaceae, and Bacteroidetes S24-7 was reduced. In breast cancer, the abundance of Clostridiales was enhanced, while in cervical cancer, Prevotella, Porphyromonas, and Dialister were enhanced but Bacteroides, Alistipes, and members of Lachnospiracea, were decreased. In ovarian cancer, Prevotella abundance was increased. Interestingly, the administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Lactobacillus fermentum ameliorated PCOS symptoms while that of a mix of Bifidobacterium lactis W51, Bifidobacterium bifidum W23, Lactobacillus brevis W63, Bifidobacterium lactis W52, Lactobacillus salivarius W24, Lactobacillus acidophilus W37, Lactococcus lactis W19, Lactobacillus casei W56, and Lactococcus lactis W58 alleviated vascular malfunction and arterial stiffness in obese postmenopausal women, and finally, while further research is needed, Prevotella maybe protective against postmenopausal bone mass loss. As several studies report the therapeutic potential of probiotics and since the gut microbiota of certain female pathological states has been relatively characterized, we speculate that the administration of certain bacterial species as probiotics is warranted, as novel independent or adjunct therapies for various female pathologies.

Candidate Phyla Radiation, an Underappreciated Division of the Human Microbiome, and Its Impact on Health and Disease

Candidate phyla radiation (CPR) is an emerging division of the bacterial domain within the human microbiota. Still poorly known, these microorganisms were first described in the environment in 1981 as "ultramicrobacteria" with a cell volume under 0.1 μm³ and were first associated with the human oral microbiota in 2007. The evolution of technology has been paramount for the study of CPR within the human microbiota. In fact, since these ultramicrobacteria have yet to be axenically cultured despite ongoing efforts, progress in imaging technology has allowed their observation and morphological description. Although their genomic abilities and taxonomy are still being studied, great strides have been made regarding their taxonomic classification, as well as their lifestyle. In addition, advancements in next-generation sequencing and the continued development of bioinformatics tools have allowed their detection as commensals in different human habitats, including the oral cavity and gastrointestinal and genital tracts, thus highlighting CPR as a nonnegligible part of the human microbiota with an impact on physiological settings. Conversely, several pathologies present dysbiosis affecting CPR levels, including inflammatory, mucosal, and infectious diseases. In this exhaustive review of the literature, we provide a historical perspective on the study of CPR, an overview of the methods available to study these organisms and a description of their taxonomy and lifestyle. In addition, their distribution in the human microbiome is presented in both homeostatic and dysbiotic settings. Future efforts should focus on developing cocultures and, if possible, axenic cultures to obtain isolates and therefore genomes that would provide a better understanding of these ultramicrobacteria, the importance of which in the human microbiome is undeniable.

Integrative Role of Albumin: Evolutionary, Biochemical and Pathophysiological Aspects

Being one of the main proteins in the human body and many animal species, albumin plays a crucial role in the transport of various ions, electrically neutral molecules and in maintaining the colloidal osmotic pressure of the blood. Albumin is able to bind almost all known drugs, many nutraceuticals and toxic substances, determining their pharmaco- and toxicokinetics. However, albumin is not only the passive but also the active participant of the pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic processes possessing a number of enzymatic activities. Due to the thiol group of Cys34, albumin can serve as a trap for reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, thus participating in redox processes. The interaction of the protein with blood cells, blood vessels, and also with tissue cells outside the vascular bed is of great importance. The interaction of albumin with endothelial glycocalyx and vascular endothelial cells largely determines its integrative role. This review provides information of a historical nature, information on evolutionary changes, inflammatory and antioxidant properties of albumin, on its structural and functional modifications and their significance in the pathogenesis of some diseases.

The role of gut microbiome in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disease associated with maternal and foetal complications; gut microbiome might participate in GDM pathogenesis. Possible biological links include short chain fatty acids, incretin hormones, bile acids homeostasis and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma deficiency. Gut microbiome differs in patients with GDM even in early pregnancy, but no differences are observed five years postpartum. Patients have enriched Verrucomicrobia phylum, Christensenellaceae and Lachnospiraceae families, Haemophilus, Prevotella, Actinomyces, Collinsella and Ruminococcus genera during pregnancy. Clostridiales order, Alistipes, Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Eubacterium and Roseburia genera are depleted. However, there is great heterogeneity in the reviewed studies and scientific data on the use of gut microbiome characteristics and related biomarkers in GDM risk stratification and diagnosis are scarce. Probiotics and synbiotics have been tested for prevention and treatment for GDM with limited efficacy. Future studies should explore the effect of probiotics administration at first trimester of pregnancy and their value as adjuvant therapy.

Serum Albumin in Health and Disease: Esterase, Antioxidant, Transporting and Signaling Properties

Being one of the main proteins in the human body and many animal species, albumin plays a decisive role in the transport of various ions-electrically neutral and charged molecules-and in maintaining the colloidal osmotic pressure of the blood. Albumin is able to bind to almost all known drugs, as well as many nutraceuticals and toxic substances, largely determining their pharmaco- and toxicokinetics. Albumin of humans and respective representatives in cattle and rodents have their own structural features that determine species differences in functional properties. However, albumin is not only passive, but also an active participant of pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic processes, possessing a number of enzymatic activities. Numerous experiments have shown esterase or pseudoesterase activity of albumin towards a number of endogeneous and exogeneous esters. Due to the free thiol group of Cys34, albumin can serve as a trap for reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, thus participating in redox processes. Glycated albumin makes a significant contribution to the pathogenesis of diabetes and other diseases. The interaction of albumin with blood cells, blood vessels and tissue cells outside the vascular bed is of great importance. Interactions with endothelial glycocalyx and vascular endothelial cells largely determine the integrative role of albumin. This review considers the esterase, antioxidant, transporting and signaling properties of albumin, as well as its structural and functional modifications and their significance in the pathogenesis of certain diseases.

Gut Microbiota and Alzheimer's Disease: Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Perspectives

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly and is characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function. Amyloid-β protein accumulation is believed to be the key pathological hallmark of AD. Increasing evidence has shown that the gut microbiota has a role in brain function and host behaviors. The gut microbiota regulates the bidirectional interactions between the gut and brain through neural, endocrine, and immune pathways. With increasing age, the gut microbiota diversity decreases, and the dominant bacteria change, which is closely related to systemic inflammation and health status. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is related to cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases. The purpose of this review is to discuss the impacts of the gut microbiota on brain function and the development of AD. It is a feasible target for therapeutic invention. Modulating the composition of the gut microbiota through diet, physical activity or probiotic/prebiotic supplements can provide new prevention and treatment options for AD.