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Shatunova S, Aktar R, Peiris M, Lee JYP, Vetter I, Starobova H. The role of the gut microbiome in neuroinflammation and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 979:176818. [PMID: 39029779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most debilitating adverse effects caused by chemotherapy drugs such as paclitaxel, oxaliplatin and vincristine. It is untreatable and often leads to the discontinuation of cancer therapy and a decrease in the quality of life of cancer patients. It is well-established that neuroinflammation and the activation of immune and glial cells are among the major drivers of CIPN. However, these processes are still poorly understood, and while many chemotherapy drugs alone can drive the activation of these cells and consequent neuroinflammation, it remains elusive to what extent the gut microbiome influences these processes. In this review, we focus on the peripheral mechanisms driving CIPN, and we address the bidirectional pathways by which the gut microbiome communicates with the immune and nervous systems. Additionally, we critically evaluate literature addressing how chemotherapy-induced dysbiosis and the consequent imbalance in bacterial products may contribute to the activation of immune and glial cells, both of which drive neuroinflammation and possibly CIPN development, and how we could use this knowledge for the development of effective treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Shatunova
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Rubina Aktar
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Madusha Peiris
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jia Yu Peppermint Lee
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Irina Vetter
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia; The School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woollsiana, QLD, Australia
| | - Hana Starobova
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
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Oczkowski M, Dziendzikowska K, Pasternak-Winiarska A, Jarmołowicz K, Gromadzka-Ostrowska J. Oat Beta-Glucan Dietary Intervention on Antioxidant Defense Parameters, Inflammatory Response and Angiotensin Signaling in the Testes of Rats with TNBS-Induced Colitis. Nutrients 2024; 16:2546. [PMID: 39125425 PMCID: PMC11314422 DOI: 10.3390/nu16152546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Male infertility represents a significant public health concern. There is a negative impact of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) on the male reproductive system. The aim of this study was to investigate whether oat beta-glucan (OBG) with different molar mass can modulate parameters of antioxidant defense and inflammatory response in the testes of adult Sprague-Dawley rats with TNBS-induced colitis and whether the OBG intervention can modulate the inflammatory response in association with the RAS system. Results: higher testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) activities and glutathione (GSH) concentration, and lower testosterone (T) level and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, were observed in rats with colitis than in healthy control ones. TNBS-induced colitis resulted in decreased the angiotensin 1-7 (ANG 1-7) level in the testes of rats fed with low-molar mass OBG compared to control animals. Conclusions: although colitis induced moderate pro-oxidant changes in the gonads, it seems plausible that dietary intervention with different fractions of oat beta-glucans mass may support the maintenance of reproductive homeostasis via the stimulation of the local antioxidant defense system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Oczkowski
- Department of Dietetics, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland; (K.D.); (A.P.-W.); (K.J.); (J.G.-O.)
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Moadi L, Turjeman S, Asulin N, Koren O. The effect of testosterone on the gut microbiome in mice. Commun Biol 2024; 7:880. [PMID: 39030253 PMCID: PMC11271554 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06470-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The role of hormones in gut-brain crosstalk is largely elusive, but recent research supports specific changes in hormone levels correlated with the gut microbiota. An interesting but unstudied area in microbial endocrinology is the interplay between the microbiota and sex hormones. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of testosterone and sex on the mouse gut microbiome. We use in vitro experiments to test direct effects of testosterone on bacteria in fecal samples collected from male and female mice pre- and post-puberty. Sex-specific microbial and metabolic differences surrounding puberty are also examined in vivo. We then explore effects of testosterone supplementation in vivo, characterizing microbiota and metabolomes of male and female mice. We detect sex-specific differences in microbiota and associated metabolites of mice post-puberty, but in vitro experiments reveal that testosterone only affects microbiota of fecal samples collected before puberty. Testosterone supplementation in vivo affects gut microbiota and metabolomes in both male and female mice. Taking our results from in vitro and in vivo experiments, we conclude that the shift in the microbiome after puberty is at least partially caused by the higher levels of sex hormones, mainly testosterone, in the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lelyan Moadi
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Sondra Turjeman
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Nofar Asulin
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Omry Koren
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel.
- Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Shen W, Gao P, Zhou K, Li J, Bo T, Xu D. The Impact of High-Temperature Stress on Gut Microbiota and Reproduction in Siberian Hamsters ( Phodopus sungorus). Microorganisms 2024; 12:1426. [PMID: 39065194 PMCID: PMC11278997 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12071426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Global warming has induced alterations in the grassland ecosystem, such as elevated temperatures and decreased precipitation, which disturb the equilibrium of these ecosystems and impact various physiological processes of grassland rodents, encompassing growth, development, and reproduction. As global warming intensifies, the repercussions of high-temperature stress on small mammals are garnering increased attention. Recently, research has highlighted that the composition and ratio of gut microbiota are not only shaped by environmental factors and the host itself but also reciprocally influence an array of physiological functions and energy metabolism in animals. In this research, we combined 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing with conventional physiological assessments, to elucidate the consequences of high-temperature stress on the gut microbiota structure and reproductive capacity of Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). The results were as follows: 1. The growth and development of male and female hamsters in the high-temperature group were delayed, with lower body weight and reduced food intake. 2. High temperature inhibits the development of reproductive organs in both female and male hamsters. 3. High temperature changes the composition and proportion of gut microbiota, reducing bacteria that promote reproduction, such as Pseudobutyricoccus, Ruminiclostridium-E, Sporofaciens, UMGS1071, and CAG_353. Consequently, our study elucidates the specific impacts of high-temperature stress on the gut microbiota dynamics and reproductive health of Siberian hamsters, thereby furnishing insights for managing rodent populations amidst global climatic shifts. It also offers a valuable framework for understanding seasonal variations in mammalian reproductive strategies, contributing to the broader discourse on conservation and adaptation under changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Shen
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (W.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Peng Gao
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (W.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Kunying Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China; (K.Z.); (J.L.)
| | - Jin Li
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China; (K.Z.); (J.L.)
| | - Tingbei Bo
- School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (W.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Deli Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China; (K.Z.); (J.L.)
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Su Q, Tang Q, Ma C, Wang K. Advances in the study of the relationship between gut microbiota and erectile dysfunction. Sex Med Rev 2024:qeae049. [PMID: 38984896 DOI: 10.1093/sxmrev/qeae049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In recent years, in-depth research has revealed that gut microbiota has an inseparable relationship with erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. OBJECTIVES (1) To review the correlation between gut microbiota and ED from the perspective of its impact on men's mental health, metabolism, immunity, and endocrine regulation and (2) to provide reference to further explore the pathogenesis of ED and the improvement of clinical treatment plans. METHODS PubMed was used for the literature search to identify publications related to ED and gut microbiota. RESULTS Gut microbiota may induce depression and anxiety through the microbiota-gut-brain axis, leading to the occurrence of psychological ED. It may also cause vascular endothelial dysfunction and androgen metabolism disorder by interfering with lipid metabolism, immunity, and endocrine regulation, leading to the occurrence of organic ED. CONCLUSION Gut microbiota and its metabolites play an important role in the occurrence and development of ED. As a new influencing factor of ED, gut microbiota disorder is expected to become a target for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanxin Su
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116000, China
| | - Qizhen Tang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116000, China
| | - Chuanyu Ma
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116000, China
| | - Kenan Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116000, China
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Koceva A, Herman R, Janez A, Rakusa M, Jensterle M. Sex- and Gender-Related Differences in Obesity: From Pathophysiological Mechanisms to Clinical Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7342. [PMID: 39000449 PMCID: PMC11242171 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity, primarily characterized by excessive fat accumulation, is a multifactorial chronic disease with an increasing global prevalence. Despite the well-documented epidemiology and significant advances in understanding its pathophysiology and clinical implications, the impact of sex is typically overlooked in obesity research. Worldwide, women have a higher likelihood to become obese compared to men. Although women are offered weight loss interventions more often and at earlier stages than men, they are more vulnerable to psychopathology. Men, on the other hand, are less likely to pursue weight loss intervention and are more susceptible to the metabolic implications of obesity. In this narrative review, we comprehensively explored sex- and gender-specific differences in the development of obesity, focusing on a variety of biological variables, such as body composition, fat distribution and energy partitioning, the impact of sex steroid hormones and gut microbiota diversity, chromosomal and genetic variables, and behavioural and sociocultural variables influencing obesity development in men and women. Sex differences in obesity-related comorbidities and varying effectiveness of different weight loss interventions are also extensively discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrijana Koceva
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Medical Center Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Rok Herman
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andrej Janez
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matej Rakusa
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mojca Jensterle
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Center Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Rodríguez-Santiago Y, Garay-Canales CA, Nava-Castro KE, Morales-Montor J. Sexual dimorphism in colorectal cancer: molecular mechanisms and treatment strategies. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:48. [PMID: 38867310 PMCID: PMC11170921 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00623-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sexual dimorphism significantly influences cancer incidence and prognosis. Notably, females exhibit a lower risk and favorable prognosis for non-reproductive cancers compared to males, a pattern observable beyond the scope of risk behaviors such as alcohol consumption and smoking. Colorectal cancer, ranking third in global prevalence and second in mortality, disproportionately affects men. Sex steroid hormones, particularly estrogens and androgens, play crucial roles in cancer progression, considering epidemiological in vivo and in vitro, in general estrogens imparting a protective effect in females and androgens correlating with an increasing risk of colorectal cancer development. MAIN BODY The hormonal impact on immune response is mediated by receptor interactions, resulting in heightened inflammation, modulation of NF-kB, and fostering an environment conducive to cancer progression and metastasis. These molecules also influence the enteric nervous system, that is a pivotal in neuromodulator release and intestinal neuron stimulation, also contributes to cancer development, as evidenced by nerve infiltration into tumors. Microbiota diversity further intersects with immune, hormonal, and neural mechanisms, influencing colorectal cancer dynamics. A comprehensive understanding of hormonal influences on colorectal cancer progression, coupled with the complex interplay between immune responses, microbiota diversity and neurotransmitter imbalances, underpins the development of more targeted and effective therapies. CONCLUSIONS Estrogens mitigate colorectal cancer risk by modulating anti-tumor immune responses, enhancing microbial diversity, and curbing the pro-tumor actions of the sympathetic and enteric nervous systems. Conversely, androgens escalate tumor growth by dampening anti-tumor immune activity, reducing microbial diversity, and facilitating the release of tumor-promoting factors by the nervous system. These findings hold significant potential for the strategic purposing of drugs to fine-tune the extensive impacts of sex hormones within the tumor microenvironment, promising advancements in colorectal cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yair Rodríguez-Santiago
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Mexico City, 04510, México
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Edificio D, 1er piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, México
| | - Claudia Angelica Garay-Canales
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Mexico City, 04510, México
| | - Karen Elizabeth Nava-Castro
- Grupo de Biología y Química Atmosféricas, Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, CDMX, 04510, México
| | - Jorge Morales-Montor
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Mexico City, 04510, México.
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Yang M, Deng H, Zhou S, Lu D, Shen X, Huang L, Chen Y, Xu L. Irisin alleviated the reproductive endocrinal disorders of PCOS mice accompanied by changes in gut microbiota and metabolomic characteristics. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1373077. [PMID: 38846566 PMCID: PMC11153696 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1373077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Folliculogenesis and oligo/anovulation are common pathophysiological characteristics in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, and it is also accompanied by gut microbiota dysbiosis. It is known that physical activity has beneficial effects on improving metabolism and promoting ovulation and menstrual cycle disorder in PCOS patients, and it can also modulate the gastrointestinal microbiota in human beings. However, the mechanism remains vague. Irisin, a novel myokine, plays a positive role in the mediating effects of physical activity. Methods Mice were randomly divided into the control group, PCOS group and PCOS+irisin group. PCOS model was induced by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and high-fat diet (HFD). The PCOS+irisin group was given irisin 400μg/kg intraperitoneal injection every other day for 21 days. The serum sex hormones were measured by radioimmunoassay. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) Staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were conducted on ovarian tissue. The feces microbiota and metabolomic characteristics were collected by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Results In this study, we demonstrated that irisin supplementation alleviated reproductive endocrine disorders of PCOS mice, including estrous cycle disturbance, ovarian polycystic degeneration, and hyperandrogenemia. Irisin also improved the PCOS follicles dysplasia and ovulation disorders, while it had no significant effect on the quality of oocytes. Moreover, irisin could mitigate the decreased bacteria of Odoribacter and the increased bacteria of Eisenbergiella and Dubosiella in PCOS mice model. Moreover, irisin could alleviate the increased fecal metabolites: Methallenestril and PS (22:5(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z)/ LTE4). Conclusion These results suggest that irisin may alleviate the status of PCOS mice model by modulating androgen-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis and fecal metabolites. Hence, our study provided evidence that irisin may be considered as a promising strategy for the treatment of PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meina Yang
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Regulation Laboratory, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongxia Deng
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Regulation Laboratory, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Siyu Zhou
- Department of Public & Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Danhua Lu
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Regulation Laboratory, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoyang Shen
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Regulation Laboratory, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Lu Huang
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Regulation Laboratory, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Regulation Laboratory, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Liangzhi Xu
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Regulation Laboratory, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
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He G, Zhang B, Yi K, Chen T, Shen C, Cao M, Wang N, Zong J, Wang Y, Liu K, Chang F, Chen X, Chen L, Luo Y, Meng Y, Li C, Zhou X. Heat stress-induced dysbiosis of the gut microbiota impairs spermatogenesis by regulating secondary bile acid metabolism in the gut. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 937:173305. [PMID: 38777056 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Heat stress (HS) poses a substantial challenge to livestock. Studies have demonstrated that HS reduces fertility and leads to gut microbiota dysbiosis in bulls. However, the impact of the gut microbiota on fertility in bulls during HS is still unclear. Our research revealed that HS exposure decreased semen quality in bulls, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from heat-stressed bulls to recipient mice resulted in a significant decrease in number of testicular germ cells and epididymal sperm. Untargeted metabolomics methodology and 16S rDNA sequencing conjoint analysis revealed that Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) seemed to be a key bacterial regulator of spermatogenesis after HS exposure. Moreover, the research indicated that A. muciniphila regulated secondary bile acid metabolism by promoting the colonization of bile salt hydrolase (BSH)-metabolizing bacteria, leading to increase of retinol absorption in the host gut and subsequently elevation of testicular retinoic acid level, thereby improving spermatogenesis. This study sheds light on the relationship between HS-induced microbiota dysbiosis and spermatogenesis, offering a potential therapeutic approach for addressing bull spermatogenic dysfunction triggered by HS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guitian He
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Boqi Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Kangle Yi
- Grassland and Herbivore Research Laboratory, Hunan Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Research Institute, Changsha, China
| | - Tong Chen
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Caomeihui Shen
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Maosheng Cao
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Nan Wang
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jinxin Zong
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yueying Wang
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Kening Liu
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Fuqiang Chang
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xue Chen
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Lu Chen
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yuxin Luo
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yang Meng
- Jilin Province Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Institute, China
| | - Chunjin Li
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Xu Zhou
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
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Liu JL, Chen LJ, Liu Y, Li JH, Zhang KK, Hsu C, Li XW, Yang JZ, Chen L, Zeng JH, Xie XL, Wang Q. The gut microbiota contributes to methamphetamine-induced reproductive toxicity in male mice. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 279:116457. [PMID: 38754198 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Methamphetamine (METH) is a psychostimulant drug belonging to the amphetamine-type stimulant class, known to exert male reproductive toxicity. Recent studies suggest that METH can disrupt the gut microbiota. Furthermore, the gut-testis axis concept has gained attention due to the potential link between gut microbiome dysfunction and reproductive health. Nonetheless, the role of the gut microbiota in mediating the impact of METH on male reproductive toxicity remains unclear. In this study, we employed a mouse model exposed to escalating doses of METH to assess sperm quality, testicular pathology, and reproductive hormone levels. The fecal microbiota transplantation method was employed to investigate the effect of gut microbiota on male reproductive toxicity. Transcriptomic, metabolomic, and microbiological analyses were conducted to explore the damage mechanism to the male reproductive system caused by METH. We found that METH exposure led to hormonal disorders, decreased sperm quality, and changes in the gut microbiota and testicular metabolome in mice. Testicular RNA sequencing revealed enrichment of several Gene Ontology terms associated with reproductive processes, as well as PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. FMT conveyed similar reproductive damage from METH-treated mice to healthy recipient mice. The aforementioned findings suggest that the gut microbiota plays a substantial role in facilitating the reproductive toxicity caused by METH, thereby highlighting a prospective avenue for therapeutic intervention in the context of METH-induced infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Li Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Li-Jian Chen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jia-Hao Li
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Kai-Kai Zhang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Clare Hsu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiu-Wen Li
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jian-Zheng Yang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Long Chen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jia-Hao Zeng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiao-Li Xie
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Qi Wang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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11
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Caldarelli M, Rio P, Marrone A, Ocarino F, Chiantore M, Candelli M, Gasbarrini A, Gambassi G, Cianci R. Gut-Brain Axis: Focus on Sex Differences in Neuroinflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5377. [PMID: 38791415 PMCID: PMC11120930 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the concept of the "gut-brain axis". In addition to well-studied diseases associated with an imbalance in gut microbiota, such as cancer, chronic inflammation, and cardiovascular diseases, research is now exploring the potential role of gut microbial dysbiosis in the onset and development of brain-related diseases. When the function of the intestinal barrier is altered by dysbiosis, the aberrant immune system response interacts with the nervous system, leading to a state of "neuroinflammation". The gut microbiota-brain axis is mediated by inflammatory and immunological mechanisms, neurotransmitters, and neuroendocrine pathways. This narrative review aims to illustrate the molecular basis of neuroinflammation and elaborate on the concept of the gut-brain axis by virtue of analyzing the various metabolites produced by the gut microbiome and how they might impact the nervous system. Additionally, the current review will highlight how sex influences these molecular mechanisms. In fact, sex hormones impact the brain-gut microbiota axis at different levels, such as the central nervous system, the enteric nervous one, and enteroendocrine cells. A deeper understanding of the gut-brain axis in human health and disease is crucial to guide diagnoses, treatments, and preventive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Caldarelli
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Rome, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Rio
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Rome, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Marrone
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Rome, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Ocarino
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Rome, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Chiantore
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Rome, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Candelli
- Department of Emergency, Anesthesiological and Reanimation Sciences, Catholic University of Rome, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Gasbarrini
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Rome, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Gambassi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Rome, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Cianci
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Rome, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
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12
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Lv S, Huang J, Luo Y, Wen Y, Chen B, Qiu H, Chen H, Yue T, He L, Feng B, Yu Z, Zhao M, Yang Q, He M, Xiao W, Zou X, Gu C, Lu R. Gut microbiota is involved in male reproductive function: a review. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1371667. [PMID: 38765683 PMCID: PMC11099273 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1371667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Globally, ~8%-12% of couples confront infertility issues, male-related issues being accountable for 50%. This review focuses on the influence of gut microbiota and their metabolites on the male reproductive system from five perspectives: sperm quality, testicular structure, sex hormones, sexual behavior, and probiotic supplementation. To improve sperm quality, gut microbiota can secrete metabolites by themselves or regulate host metabolites. Endotoxemia is a key factor in testicular structure damage that causes orchitis and disrupts the blood-testis barrier (BTB). In addition, the gut microbiota can regulate sex hormone levels by participating in the synthesis of sex hormone-related enzymes directly and participating in the enterohepatic circulation of sex hormones, and affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis (HPT) axis. They can also activate areas of the brain that control sexual arousal and behavior through metabolites. Probiotic supplementation can improve male reproductive function. Therefore, the gut microbiota may affect male reproductive function and behavior; however, further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying microbiota-mediated male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuya Lv
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jingrong Huang
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yadan Luo
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yuhang Wen
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Baoting Chen
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Hao Qiu
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Huanxin Chen
- Gastrointestinal Surgery, Suining First People's Hospital, Suining, China
| | - Tianhao Yue
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Lvqin He
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Baochun Feng
- Gastrointestinal Surgery, Suining First People's Hospital, Suining, China
| | - Zehui Yu
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Mingde Zhao
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Qian Yang
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Manli He
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Wudian Xiao
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxia Zou
- Gastrointestinal Surgery, Suining First People's Hospital, Suining, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Congwei Gu
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ruilin Lu
- Gastrointestinal Surgery, Suining First People's Hospital, Suining, China
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13
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Romano L, Napolitano L, Crocetto F, Sciorio C, Sio MD, Miranda A, Romano M, Priadko K. Prostate and gut: Any relationship? A narrative review on the available evidence and putative mechanisms. Prostate 2024; 84:513-524. [PMID: 38353479 DOI: 10.1002/pros.24675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gut microbiome is a community of microorganisms that lives in the human intestine and exerts various functions on the host, including metabolic, immunoregulatory, and control over cell proliferation. Gut microbiome alterations have been associated with various pathological conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Gut-prostate axis is explained by the association between gut microbiome quantitative and functional alterations along with increased intestinal epithelial permeability with prostatediseases. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical importance of this association are not completely clarified yet. METHODS We conducted a narrative review of the most relevant articles in the Medline (US National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA), Scopus (Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) and Web of Science Core Collection (Thomson Reuters, Toronto, ON, Canada) databases. No chronological restrictions were applied, and the most related papers published until December 2023 were included. RESULTS Gut microbiota (GM) and its metabolites are capable of modifying host androgen level, as well as prostate cancer (PCa) therapy response. Moreover, patients with inflammatory bowel disease have higher rates of prostatitis-like symptoms and a potential risk of developing PCa. CONCLUSIONS There is evidence that interventions on the GM and its metabolites have a high potential to serve as diagnostic and therapeutic tools for prostate diseases, including PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Romano
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology and Urology Unit, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, Unit of Urology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Napolitano
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology and Urology Unit, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Felice Crocetto
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology and Urology Unit, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Marco De Sio
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, Unit of Urology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Agnese Miranda
- Department of Precision Medicine and Hepatogastroenterology Unit, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Romano
- Department of Precision Medicine and Hepatogastroenterology Unit, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Kateryna Priadko
- Department of Precision Medicine and Hepatogastroenterology Unit, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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Huan C, Wang M, Song Y, Jia Z, Wei D, Wang L, Xu Q, Wang J, Zhao M, Geng J, Shi J, Ma C, Mao Z, Wang C, Huo W. Inflammatory markers and androstenedione modify the effect of serum testosterone on obesity among men: Findings from a Chinese population. Andrology 2024; 12:850-861. [PMID: 37823215 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies are available on the relationship of androstenedione with inflammation and obesity and the effect of androstenedione and inflammation on the association between testosterone and obesity. This study intended to examine the mediation effect of inflammatory markers on the association of testosterone with obesity and the moderation effect of androstenedione on the association of testosterone with inflammation and obesity in Chinese rural men. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional research enrolled 2536 male rural inhabitants from the Henan Rural Cohort study. The serum concentrations of testosterone and androstenedione were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Linear and logistic regression were used to examine the relationships between testosterone, inflammatory markers, and obesity. Mediation and moderation analyses were carried out to evaluate the potential effects of inflammatory markers on the relationship between testosterone and obesity, as well as androstenedione on the relationships of testosterone with inflammation and obesity. RESULTS After adjusting for confounding factors, the results showed that testosterone and androstenedione were negatively related to obesity, and inflammatory markers were positively associated with obesity. Besides, testosterone and androstenedione were negatively associated with inflammatory markers. Mediation analysis showed that white blood cell, neutrophil, monocyte, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein had mediating effects on the association between testosterone and obesity. The most vital mediator was high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and its proportion of the effect was 11.02% (defined by waist circumference), 11.15% (defined by waist-to-hip ratio), 12.92% (defined by waist-to-height ratio), and full mediating effect (defined by body mass index). Moreover, androstenedione played negative moderation effects on the associations of testosterone with inflammation and obesity. CONCLUSION Inflammatory markers and androstenedione were first found to have modifying effects on the association of testosterone with obesity. Higher levels of testosterone and androstenedione could reduce the inflammation level and risk of obesity, indicating their potential roles in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changsheng Huan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Mian Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Yu Song
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Zexin Jia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Dandan Wei
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Lulu Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Qingqing Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Mengzhen Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Jintian Geng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Jiayu Shi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Cuicui Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Zhenxing Mao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Chongjian Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Wenqian Huo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P. R. China
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15
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Tang L, Yang X, Zhou M, Feng L, Ji C, Liang J, Zhang B, Shen R, Wang L. Inhibition of inosine metabolism of the gut microbiota decreases testosterone secretion in the testis. mSystems 2024; 9:e0013824. [PMID: 38470251 PMCID: PMC11019917 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00138-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence indicates that gut microbiota is involved in the regulation of the host's sex hormone levels, such as through interfering with the sex hormone metabolism in the intestine. However, if gut microbiota or its metabolites directly influence the sex hormone biosynthesis in the gonad remains largely unknown. Our previous study showed that colistin, as a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, can significantly downregulate the serum testosterone levels and thus enhance the antitumor efficiency of anti-PD-L1 in male mice; however, the underlying mechanism for the regulation of the host's testosterone levels remains uninvestigated. In the present study, we analyzed the impact of colistin on the immune microenvironment of the testis as well as the composition and metabolism of gut microbiota in male mice. Our results showed that colistin has an impact on the immune microenvironment of the testis and can downregulate serum testosterone levels in male mice through inhibition of Akkermansia, leading to destroyed inosine metabolism. Supplement with inosine can restore testosterone secretion probably by prompting the recovery of the intestinal mucus barrier and the serum lipopolysaccharides levels. All these findings reveal a new pathway for the regulation of the host's sex hormone levels by gut microbiota.IMPORTANCEThis study demonstrates that exposure to even narrow-spectrum antibiotics may affect the host's testosterone levels by altering the gut microbiota and its metabolites. Our findings provide evidence that some specific gut bacteria have an impact on the sex hormone biosynthesis in the testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Tang
- Department of Special Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xizhong Yang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Qingdao Haici Medical Group, Qingdao, China
| | - Mengting Zhou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lingxin Feng
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Cuijie Ji
- Department of Spine Surgery, Qingdao Haici Medical Group, Qingdao, China
| | - Jie Liang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Bei Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ruowu Shen
- Department of Special Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Luoyang Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Qingdao Haici Medical Group, Qingdao, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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16
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Kalinen S, Kallonen T, Gunell M, Ettala O, Jambor I, Knaapila J, Syvänen KT, Taimen P, Poutanen M, Aronen HJ, Ollila H, Pietilä S, Elo LL, Lamminen T, Hakanen AJ, Munukka E, Boström PJ. Differences in Gut Microbiota Profiles and Microbiota Steroid Hormone Biosynthesis in Men with and Without Prostate Cancer. EUR UROL SUPPL 2024; 62:140-150. [PMID: 38500636 PMCID: PMC10946286 DOI: 10.1016/j.euros.2024.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Although prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer in men in Western countries, there is significant variability in geographical incidence. This might result from genetic factors, discrepancies in screening policies, or differences in lifestyle. Gut microbiota has recently been associated with cancer progression, but its role in PCa is unclear. Objective Characterization of the gut microbiota and its functions associated with PCa. Design setting and participants In a prospective multicenter clinical trial (NCT02241122), the gut microbiota profiles of 181 men with a clinical suspicion of PCa were assessed utilizing 16S rRNA sequencing. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Sequences were assigned to operational taxonomic units, differential abundance analysis, and α- and β-diversities, and predictive functional analyses were performed. Plasma steroid hormone levels corresponding to the predicted microbiota steroid hormone biosynthesis profiles were investigated. Results and limitations Of 364 patients, 181 were analyzed, 60% of whom were diagnosed with PCa. Microbiota composition and diversity were significantly different in PCa, partially affected by Prevotella 9, the most abundant genus of the cohort, and significantly higher in PCa patients. Predictive functional analyses revealed higher 5-α-reductase, copper absorption, and retinol metabolism in the PCa-associated microbiome. Plasma testosterone was associated negatively with the predicted microbial 5-α-reductase level. Conclusions Gut microbiota of the PCa patients differed significantly compared with benign individuals. Microbial 5-α-reductase, copper absorption, and retinol metabolism are potential mechanisms of action. These findings support the observed association of lifestyle, geography, and PCa incidence. Patient summary In this report, we found that several microbes and potential functions of the gut microbiota are altered in prostate cancer compared with benign cases. These findings suggest that gut microbiota could be the link between environmental factors and prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Kalinen
- Research Center for Infections and Immunity, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Teemu Kallonen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Clinical Microbiome Bank, Microbe Center, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Marianne Gunell
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Clinical Microbiome Bank, Microbe Center, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Otto Ettala
- Department of Urology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Ivan Jambor
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Enterprise Service Group - Radiology, Mass General Brigham, Boston, MA
| | - Juha Knaapila
- Department of Urology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Kari T. Syvänen
- Department of Urology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Pekka Taimen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Pathology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Matti Poutanen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Hannu J. Aronen
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Helena Ollila
- Turku Clinical Research Centre, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Sami Pietilä
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Laura L. Elo
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Tarja Lamminen
- Department of Urology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Antti J. Hakanen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Clinical Microbiome Bank, Microbe Center, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Eveliina Munukka
- Clinical Microbiome Bank, Microbe Center, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Biocodex: Biocodex Nordics, Espoo, Finland
| | - Peter J. Boström
- Department of Urology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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17
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Tian Z, Zhang X, Yao G, Jin J, Zhang T, Sun C, Wang Z, Zhang Q. Intestinal flora and pregnancy complications: Current insights and future prospects. IMETA 2024; 3:e167. [PMID: 38882493 PMCID: PMC11170975 DOI: 10.1002/imt2.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Numerous studies have demonstrated the pivotal roles of intestinal microbiota in many physiopathological processes through complex interactions with the host. As a unique period in a woman's lifespan, pregnancy is characterized by changes in hormones, immunity, and metabolism. The gut microbiota also changes during this period and plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Consequently, anomalies in the composition and function of the gut microbiota, namely, gut microbiota dysbiosis, can predispose individuals to various pregnancy complications, posing substantial risks to both maternal and neonatal health. However, there are still many controversies in this field, such as "sterile womb" versus "in utero colonization." Therefore, a thorough understanding of the roles and mechanisms of gut microbiota in pregnancy and its complications is essential to safeguard the health of both mother and child. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the changes in gut microbiota during pregnancy, its abnormalities in common pregnancy complications, and potential etiological implications. It also explores the potential of gut microbiota in diagnosing and treating pregnancy complications and examines the possibility of gut-derived bacteria residing in the uterus/placenta. Our aim is to expand knowledge in maternal and infant health from the gut microbiota perspective, aiding in developing new preventive and therapeutic strategies for pregnancy complications based on intestinal microecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Tian
- National Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory; The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Cardiology Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Jinan China
| | - Xinjie Zhang
- Department of Biology University College London London UK
| | - Guixiang Yao
- National Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory; The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Cardiology Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Jinan China
| | - Jiajia Jin
- National Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory; The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Cardiology Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Jinan China
| | - Tongxue Zhang
- National Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory; The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Cardiology Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Jinan China
| | - Chunhua Sun
- Department of Health Management Center, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine Shandong University Jinan China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Geriatrics Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University Jinan China
| | - Qunye Zhang
- National Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory; The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Cardiology Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Jinan China
- Cardiovascular Disease Research Center of Shandong First Medical University Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University Jinan China
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18
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Deng R, Huang Y, Tian Z, Zeng Q. Association between gut microbiota and male infertility: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Int Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s10123-024-00512-y. [PMID: 38489097 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-024-00512-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Previous research has confirmed the significant association between gut microbiota (GM) and male infertility (MI), but the causality between them remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between GM and MI using Mendelian randomization (MR) and provide supplementary information for the optimization of future randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Instrumental variables for 211 GM taxa were obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the main analysis method for two-sample MR analysis to assess the impact of GM on the risk of MI. Four methods were used to test for horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity of MR results to ensure the reliability of the MR findings. A total of 50 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) closely related to GM were included, and ultimately identified 1 family and 4 general are causally associated with MI. Among them, Anaerotruncus (OR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.31-3.40, P = 0.016) is significantly associated with increased MI risk. Furthermore, we used four MR methods to evaluate the causality, and the results supported these findings. The leave-one-out analysis showed stable results with no instrumental variables exerting strong influence on the results. The causal direction indicated a positive effect, and the effects of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy on the estimation of causal effect were minimized. We confirmed a causal relationship between GM taxa and MI, providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying GM-mediated MI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runpei Deng
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Road Number 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yebao Huang
- Liuzhou People's Hospital, Wenchang Road Number 8, Liuzhou Guangxi, Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Zhaohui Tian
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Road Number 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Qingqi Zeng
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xianlin Road Number 138, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
- Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Huangshanling Road Number 69, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
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19
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Wu Z, Huang Y, Zhang R, Zheng C, You F, Wang M, Xiao C, Li X. Sex differences in colorectal cancer: with a focus on sex hormone-gut microbiome axis. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:167. [PMID: 38454453 PMCID: PMC10921775 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01549-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism has been observed in the incidence and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC), with men generally exhibiting a slightly higher incidence than women. Research suggests that this difference may be attributed to variations in sex steroid hormone levels and the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome in CRC shows variations in composition and function between the sexes, leading to the concept of 'microgenderome' and 'sex hormone-gut microbiome axis.' Conventional research indicates that estrogens, by promoting a more favorable gut microbiota, may reduce the risk of CRC. Conversely, androgens may have a direct pro-tumorigenic effect by increasing the proportion of opportunistic pathogens. The gut microbiota may also influence sex hormone levels by expressing specific enzymes or directly affecting gonadal function. However, this area remains controversial. This review aims to explore the differences in sex hormone in CRC incidence, the phenomenon of sexual dimorphism within the gut microbiome, and the intricate interplay of the sex hormone-gut microbiome axis in CRC. The objective is to gain a better understanding of these interactions and their potential clinical implications, as well as to introduce innovative approaches to CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihong Wu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuqing Huang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Renyi Zhang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuan Zheng
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Fengming You
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Institute of Oncology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Min Wang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Chong Xiao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
| | - Xueke Li
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
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20
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Ashonibare VJ, Akorede BA, Ashonibare PJ, Akhigbe TM, Akhigbe RE. Gut microbiota-gonadal axis: the impact of gut microbiota on reproductive functions. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1346035. [PMID: 38482009 PMCID: PMC10933031 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1346035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The influence of gut microbiota on physiological processes is rapidly gaining attention globally. Despite being under-studied, there are available data demonstrating a gut microbiota-gonadal cross-talk, and the importance of this axis in reproduction. This study reviews the impacts of gut microbiota on reproduction. In addition, the possible mechanisms by which gut microbiota modulates male and female reproduction are presented. Databases, including Embase, Google scholar, Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science, were explored using relevant key words. Findings showed that gut microbiota promotes gonadal functions by modulating the circulating levels of steroid sex hormones, insulin sensitivity, immune system, and gonadal microbiota. Gut microbiota also alters ROS generation and the activation of cytokine accumulation. In conclusion, available data demonstrate the existence of a gut microbiota-gonadal axis, and role of this axis on gonadal functions. However, majority of the data were compelling evidences from animal studies with a great dearth of human data. Therefore, human studies validating the reports of experimental studies using animal models are important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victory J. Ashonibare
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria
| | - Bolaji A. Akorede
- Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, United States
| | - Precious J. Ashonibare
- Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria
- Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Tunmise M. Akhigbe
- Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria
- Breeding and Genetic Unit, Department of Agronomy, Osun State University, Ejigbo, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Roland Eghoghosoa Akhigbe
- Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria
- Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
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21
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Hokanson KC, Hernández C, Deitzler GE, Gaston JE, David MM. Sex shapes gut-microbiota-brain communication and disease. Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:151-161. [PMID: 37813734 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Research into the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) has entered a golden age, raising the hope that therapeutics acting on it may offer breakthroughs in the treatment of many illnesses. However, most of this work overlooks a fundamental, yet understudied, biological variable: sex. Sex differences exist at every level of the MGBA. Sex steroids shape the structure of the gut microbiota, and these microbes in turn regulate levels of bioactive sex steroids. These hormones and microbes act on gut sensory enteroendocrine cells, which modulate downstream activity in the enteric nervous system, vagus nerve, and brain. We examine recent advances in this field, and discuss the scientific and moral imperative to include females in biomedical research, using autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as an example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenton C Hokanson
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA; Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
| | | | - Grace E Deitzler
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Jenna E Gaston
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Maude M David
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
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22
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Jin Z, Cao Y, Wen Q, Zhang H, Fang Z, Zhao Q, Xi Y, Luo Z, Jiang H, Zhang Z, Hang J. Dapagliflozin ameliorates diabetes-induced spermatogenic dysfunction by modulating the adenosine metabolism along the gut microbiota-testis axis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:641. [PMID: 38182877 PMCID: PMC10770392 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51224-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Male infertility is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Dapagliflozin is widely used to manage the type II DM. This study aimed to assess the dapagliflozin's effects on the spermatogenesis by administering either dapagliflozin (Dapa) or vehicle (db) to male db/db mice, and using littermate male db/m mice as the control (Con). We further performed the integrative analyses of the cecal shotgun metagenomics, cecal/plasmatic/testicular metabolomics, and testicular proteomics. We found that dapagliflozin treatment significantly alleviated the diabetes-induced spermatogenic dysfunction by improving sperm quality, including the sperm concentration and sperm motility. The overall microbial composition was reshaped in Dapa mice and 13 species (such as Lachnospiraceae bacterium 3-1) were regarded as potential beneficial bacteria. Metabolites exhibited modified profiles, in which adenosine, cAMP, and 2'-deoxyinosine being notably altered in the cecum, plasma, and testis, respectively. Testicular protein expression patterns were similar between the Dapa and Con mice. In vivo results indicated that when compared with db group, dapagliflozin treatment alleviated apoptosis and oxidative stress in testis tissues by down-regulating 2'-deoxyinosine. This was further validated by in vitro experiments using GC-2 cells. Our findings support the potential use of dapagliflozin to prevent the diabetes-induced impaired sperm quality and to treat diabetic male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zirun Jin
- Department of Urology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
- Department of Urology, Department of Andrology, Peking University First Hospital, No. 8, Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Yalei Cao
- Department of Urology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Qi Wen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, No.49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproduction, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing, China
| | - Haitao Zhang
- Department of Urology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, No.49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zhuofan Fang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, No.49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproduction, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing, China
| | - Qiancheng Zhao
- Department of Urology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yu Xi
- Department of Urology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zhichao Luo
- Department of Urology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Urology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Department of Urology, Department of Andrology, Peking University First Hospital, No. 8, Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China.
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Urology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, No.49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Jing Hang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Peking University Third Hospital, No.49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproduction, Beijing, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing, China.
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23
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Zhu T, Liu X, Yang P, Ma Y, Gao P, Gao J, Jiang H, Zhang X. The Association between the Gut Microbiota and Erectile Dysfunction. World J Mens Health 2024; 42:42.e17. [PMID: 38311371 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.230181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Explore the causal relationship between the gut microbiota and erectile dysfunction (ED) at phylum, class, order, family, and genus levels, and identify specific pathogenic bacteria that may be associated with the onset and progression of ED. MATERIALS AND METHODS The genetic variation data of 196 human gut microbiota incorporated in our study came from the human gut microbiome Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) dataset released by the MiBioGen Consortium. The GWAS statistics for ED were extracted from one study by Bovijn et al., which included 223,805 participants of European ancestry, of whom 6,175 were diagnosed with ED. Subsequently, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was carried out to explore whether a causal relationship exists between the gut microbiota and ED. Additionally, bidirectional MR analysis was performed to examine the directionality of the causal relationship. RESULTS Through MR analysis, we found that family Lachnospiraceae (odds ratio [OR]: 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.52, p=0.01) and its subclass genus LachnospiraceaeNC2004 group (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.37, p=0.04) are associated with a higher risk of ED. In addition, genus Oscillibacter (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.02-1.35, p=0.03), genus Senegalimassilia (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.06-1.64, p=0.01) and genus Tyzzerella3 (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02-1.27, p=0.02) also increase the risk of ED. In contrast, the inverse variance weighted estimate of genus RuminococcaceaeUCG013 (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.61-0.96, p=0.02) suggests that it has a protective effect against the occurrence of ED. CONCLUSIONS This study preliminarily identified 6 bacterial taxa that may have a causal relationship with ED, including family Lachnospiraceae, genus Lachnospiraceae NC2004 group, Oscillibacter, Senegalimassilia, Tyzzerella 3 and Ruminococcaceae UCG013. These identified important bacterial taxa may serve as candidates for microbiome intervention in future ED clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianle Zhu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xi Liu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Peng Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yukuai Ma
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Pan Gao
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jingjing Gao
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Urology, Peking University Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiansheng Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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24
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Feješ A, Belvončíková P, Porcel Sanchis D, Borbélyová V, Celec P, Džunková M, Gardlík R. The Effect of Cross-Sex Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Metabolism and Hormonal Status in Adult Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:601. [PMID: 38203771 PMCID: PMC10778742 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence of sexual dimorphism in the pathophysiology of metabolic complications caused by sex steroids is under investigation. The gut microbiota represents a complex microbial ecosystem involved in energy metabolism, immune response, nutrition acquisition, and the health of host organisms. Gender-specific differences in composition are present between females and males. The purpose of this study was to use cross-sex fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for the detection of sex-dependent metabolic, hormonal, and gut microbiota changes in female and male recipients. Healthy non-obese female and male Wistar rats were divided into donor, same-sex, and cross-sex recipient groups. After a 30-day period of FMT administration, biochemical markers (glucose and lipid metabolism) and sex hormones were measured, and the gut microbiota was analyzed. The cross-sex male recipients displayed a significantly lower testosterone concentration compared to the males that received same-sex FMT. Sex-dependent changes caused by cross-sex FMT were detected, while several bacterial taxa correlated with plasma testosterone levels. This study represents the first to study the effect of cross-sex changes in the gut microbiome concerning metabolic and hormonal changes/status in adult non-obese Wistar rats. Herein, we present cross-sex FMT as a potential tool to modify sex-specific pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Feješ
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (A.F.); (P.B.); (V.B.); (P.C.)
| | - Paulína Belvončíková
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (A.F.); (P.B.); (V.B.); (P.C.)
| | - Dafne Porcel Sanchis
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, University of Valencia and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 469 80 Valencia, Spain; (D.P.S.)
| | - Veronika Borbélyová
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (A.F.); (P.B.); (V.B.); (P.C.)
| | - Peter Celec
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (A.F.); (P.B.); (V.B.); (P.C.)
| | - Mária Džunková
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology, University of Valencia and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 469 80 Valencia, Spain; (D.P.S.)
| | - Roman Gardlík
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia; (A.F.); (P.B.); (V.B.); (P.C.)
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25
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Panghal A, Jena G. Gut-Gonad Perturbations in Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus: Role of Dysbiosis, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Energy-Dysbalance. Curr Diabetes Rev 2024; 20:e220823220204. [PMID: 37608613 DOI: 10.2174/1573399820666230822151740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a major metabolic disorder that affects people of all age groups throughout the world. It is responsible for the alterations in male gonadal physiology in experimental models as well as in clinical cases. On the other side, diabetes mellitus has also been associated with perturbations in the gut physiology and microbiota dysbiosis. The accumulating evidence suggests a link between the gut and gonad as evident from the i) experimental data providing insights into type 1 diabetes mellitus induced gut perturbations, ii) link of gut physiology with alterations of testicular health, iii) role of gut microbiota in androgen metabolism in the intestine, and iv) epidemiological evidence linking type 1 diabetes mellitus with inflammatory bowel disease and male infertility. Considering all the pieces of evidence, it is summarized that gut dysbiosis, oxidative stress, inflammation and energy dys-balance are the prime factors involved in the gonadal damage under type 1 diabetes mellitus, in which the gut contributes significantly. Identification of novel biomarkers and intervention of suitable agents targeting these prime factors may be a step forward to restore the gonadal damage in diabetic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archna Panghal
- Facility for Risk Assessment and Intervention Studies, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
| | - Gopabandhu Jena
- Facility for Risk Assessment and Intervention Studies, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
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26
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Giatti S, Diviccaro S, Cioffi L, Cosimo Melcangi R. Post-Finasteride Syndrome And Post-Ssri Sexual Dysfunction: Two Clinical Conditions Apparently Distant, But Very Close. Front Neuroendocrinol 2024; 72:101114. [PMID: 37993021 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2023.101114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Post-finasteride syndrome and post-SSRI sexual dysfunction, are two poorly explored clinical conditions in which men treated for androgenetic alopecia with finasteride or for depression with SSRI antidepressants show persistent side effects despite drug suspension (e.g., sexual dysfunction, psychological complaints, sleep disorders). Because of some similarities in the symptoms, common pathological mechanisms are proposed here. Indeed, as discussed, clinical studies and preclinical data obtained so far suggest an important role for brain modulators (i.e., neuroactive steroids), neurotransmitters (i.e., serotonin, and cathecolamines), and gut microbiota in the context of the gut-brain axis. In particular, the observed interconnections of these signals in these two clinical conditions may suggest similar etiopathogenetic mechanisms, such as the involvement of the enzyme converting norepinephrine into epinephrine (i.e., phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase). However, despite the current efforts, more work is still needed to advance the understanding of these clinical conditions in terms of diagnostic markers and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Giatti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Diviccaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Lucia Cioffi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Roberto Cosimo Melcangi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
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27
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Liu M, Zhang J, Zhou Y, Xiong S, Zhou M, Wu L, Liu Q, Chen Z, Jiang H, Yang J, Liu Y, Wang Y, Chen C, Huang L. Gut microbiota affects the estrus return of sows by regulating the metabolism of sex steroid hormones. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2023; 14:155. [PMID: 38115159 PMCID: PMC10731813 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00959-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex hormones play important roles in the estrus return of post-weaning sows. Previous studies have demonstrated a complex and bi-directional regulation between sex hormones and gut microbiota. However, the extent to which the gut microbiota affects estrus return of post-weaning sows is largely unknown. RESULTS In this study, we first screened 207 fecal samples from well-phenotyped sows by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and identified significant associations between microbes and estrus return of post-weaning sows. Using metagenomic sequencing data from 85 fecal samples, we identified 37 bacterial species that were significantly associated with estrus return. Normally returning sows were characterized by increased abundances of L. reuteri and P. copri and decreased abundances of B. fragilis, S. suis, and B. pseudolongum. The changes in gut microbial composition significantly altered the functional capacity of steroid hormone biosynthesis in the gut microbiome. The results were confirmed in a validation cohort. Significant changes in sex steroid hormones and related compounds were found between normal and non-return sows via metabolome analysis. An integrated analysis of differential bacterial species, metagenome, and fecal metabolome provided evidence that normal return-associated bacterial species L. reuteri and Prevotella spp. participated in the degradation of pregnenolone, progesterone, and testosterone, thereby promoting estrogen biosynthesis. Furthermore, the microbial metabolites related to sow energy and nutrient supply or metabolic disorders also showed relationships with sow estrus return. CONCLUSIONS An integrated analysis of differentially abundant bacterial species, metagenome, and fecal metabolome revealed the involvement of L. reuteri and Prevotella spp. in sow estrus return. These findings provide deep insight into the role of gut microbiota in the estrus return of post-weaning sows and the complex cross-talk between gut microbiota and sex hormones, suggesting that the manipulation of the gut microbiota could be an effective strategy to improve sow estrus return after weaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Jia Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Yunyan Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Shuqi Xiong
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Mengqing Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Lin Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Qin Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Zhe Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Jiawen Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Yuxin Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Yaxiang Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Congying Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China.
| | - Lusheng Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China.
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Yu L, Chen X, Bai X, Fang J, Sui M. Microbiota Alters and Its Correlation with Molecular Regulation Underlying Depression in PCOS Patients. Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s12035-023-03744-7. [PMID: 37995075 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03744-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Depression is one of the complications in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that leads to considerable mental health. Accumulating evidence suggests that human gut microbiomes are associated with the progression of PCOS and depression. However, whether microbiota influences depression development in PCOS patients is still uncharacterized. In this study, we employed metagenomic sequencing and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to profile the composition of the fecal microbiota and gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in depressed women with PCOS (PCOS-DP, n = 27) in comparison to mentally healthy women with PCOS (PCOS, n = 18) and compared with healthy control (HC, n = 27) and patients with major depressive disorder (MDD, n = 29). Gut microbiota assessment revealed distinct patterns in the relative abundance in the PCOS-DP compared to HC, MDD, and PCOS groups. Several gut microbes exhibited uniquely and significantly higher abundance in the PCOS-DP compared to PCOS patients, inducing EC Ruminococcus torques, Coprococcus comes, Megasphaera elsdenii, Acidaminococcus intestini, and Barnesiella viscericola. Bacteroides eggerthii was a potential gut microbial biomarker for the PCOS-DP. RNA-seq profiling identified that 35 and 37 genes were significantly elevated and downregulated in the PCOS-DP, respectively. The enhanced differential expressed genes (DEGs) in the PCOS-DP were enriched in pathways involved in signal transduction and endocrine and metabolic diseases, whereas several lipid metabolism pathways were downregulated. Intriguingly, genes correlated with the gut microbiota were found to be significantly enriched in pathways of neurodegenerative diseases and the immune system, suggesting that changes in the microbiota may have a systemic impact on the expression of neurodegenerative diseases and immune genes. Gut microbe-related DEGs of CREB3L3 and CCDC173 were possible molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets of women with PCOS-DP. Our multi-omics data indicate shifts in the gut microbiome and host gene regulation in PCOS patients with depression, which is of possible etiological and diagnostic importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liying Yu
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, 362000, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, 362000, China
| | - Xuefeng Bai
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, 362000, China
| | - Jingping Fang
- College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, China
| | - Ming Sui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, 362000, China.
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Sisk-Hackworth L, Brown J, Sau L, Levine AA, Tam LYI, Ramesh A, Shah RS, Kelley-Thackray ET, Wang S, Nguyen A, Kelley ST, Thackray VG. Genetic hypogonadal mouse model reveals niche-specific influence of reproductive axis and sex on intestinal microbial communities. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:79. [PMID: 37932822 PMCID: PMC10626657 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00564-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gut microbiome has been linked to many diseases with sex bias including autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and reproductive disorders. While numerous studies report sex differences in fecal microbial communities, the role of the reproductive axis in this differentiation is unclear and it is unknown how sex differentiation affects microbial diversity in specific regions of the small and large intestine. METHODS We used a genetic hypogonadal mouse model that does not produce sex steroids or go through puberty to investigate how sex and the reproductive axis impact bacterial diversity within the intestine. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyzed alpha and beta diversity and taxonomic composition of fecal and intestinal communities from the lumen and mucosa of the duodenum, ileum, and cecum from adult female (n = 20) and male (n = 20) wild-type mice and female (n = 17) and male (n = 20) hypogonadal mice. RESULTS Both sex and reproductive axis inactivation altered bacterial composition in an intestinal section and niche-specific manner. Hypogonadism was significantly associated with bacteria from the Bacteroidaceae, Eggerthellaceae, Muribaculaceae, and Rikenellaceae families, which have genes for bile acid metabolism and mucin degradation. Microbial balances between males and females and between hypogonadal and wild-type mice were also intestinal section-specific. In addition, we identified 3 bacterial genera (Escherichia Shigella, Lachnoclostridium, and Eggerthellaceae genus) with higher abundance in wild-type female mice throughout the intestinal tract compared to both wild-type male and hypogonadal female mice, indicating that activation of the reproductive axis leads to female-specific differentiation of the gut microbiome. Our results also implicated factors independent of the reproductive axis (i.e., sex chromosomes) in shaping sex differences in intestinal communities. Additionally, our detailed profile of intestinal communities showed that fecal samples do not reflect bacterial diversity in the small intestine. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that sex differences in the gut microbiome are intestinal niche-specific and that sampling feces or the large intestine may miss significant sex effects in the small intestine. These results strongly support the need to consider both sex and reproductive status when studying the gut microbiome and while developing microbial-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sisk-Hackworth
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jada Brown
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lillian Sau
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Reeya S Shah
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Sophia Wang
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anita Nguyen
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Cotton S, Clayton CA, Tropini C. Microbial endocrinology: the mechanisms by which the microbiota influences host sex steroids. Trends Microbiol 2023; 31:1131-1142. [PMID: 37100633 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent progress in microbial endocrinology has propelled this field from initially providing correlational links to defining the mechanisms by which microbes influence systemic sex hormones. Importantly, the interaction between the gut-resident bacteria and host-secreted hormones has been shown to be critical for host development as well as hormone-mediated disease progression. This review investigates how microbes affect active sex hormone levels, with a focus on gut-associated bacteria hormonal modifications and the resulting host physiological status. Specifically, we focus on the ability of the microbiota to reactivate estrogens and deactivate androgens and thereby influence systemic levels of host hormones in a clinically significant manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Cotton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Charlotte A Clayton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Carolina Tropini
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Humans and the Microbiome Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), Toronto, Canada.
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31
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Lushington GH, Linde A, Melgarejo T. Bacterial Proteases as Potentially Exploitable Modulators of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Logic from the Literature, Informatics, and Inspiration from the Dog. BIOTECH 2023; 12:61. [PMID: 37987478 PMCID: PMC10660736 DOI: 10.3390/biotech12040061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic left many intriguing mysteries. Retrospective vulnerability trends tie as strongly to odd demographics as to exposure profiles, genetics, health, or prior medical history. This article documents the importance of nasal microbiome profiles in distinguishing infection rate trends among differentially affected subgroups. (2) Hypothesis: From a detailed literature survey, microbiome profiling experiments, bioinformatics, and molecular simulations, we propose that specific commensal bacterial species in the Pseudomonadales genus confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 infections by expressing proteases that may interfere with the proteolytic priming of the Spike protein. (3) Evidence: Various reports have found elevated Moraxella fractions in the nasal microbiomes of subpopulations with higher resistance to COVID-19 (e.g., adolescents, COVID-19-resistant children, people with strong dietary diversity, and omnivorous canines) and less abundant ones in vulnerable subsets (the elderly, people with narrower diets, carnivorous cats and foxes), along with bioinformatic evidence that Moraxella bacteria express proteases with notable homology to human TMPRSS2. Simulations suggest that these proteases may proteolyze the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in a manner that interferes with TMPRSS2 priming.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Annika Linde
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA;
| | - Tonatiuh Melgarejo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA;
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32
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Liu S, Zhou W, Deng X, Jiang W, Wang Y, Zhan J, Hu B. Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide are linear molecules that alter the abundance and composition of intestinal microbiota in Sprague Dawley rats. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1231485. [PMID: 37841402 PMCID: PMC10568496 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1231485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The macromolecular polysaccharide Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide (IOP) is composed of various monosaccharides, and it could modulate the composition and diversity of intestinal flora. However, its impact on the intestinal flora in rats of different genders remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the structural changes of IOP and its effects on the intestinal flora after administration in male and female rats. Methods In this study, the molecular weight and purity of IOP were analyzed by high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) and phenol sulfuric acid method, and NMR was used to confirm the chemical structure of IOP. Sex hormone [testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2)] levels and intestinal microbial changes were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and 16S rRNA, respectively, after gavage of IOP (100 mg/kg) in male and female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Results HPGPC analysis showed that the average molecular weight (Mw) of IOP was 4,828 Da, and the total sugar content of the purified IOP was 96.2%, indicating that the polysaccharide is of high purity. NMR revealed that IOP is a linear macromolecule with an α-D-type glucose backbone. The results of ELISA and 16S rRNA showed that the IOP increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Clostridia_UCG-014 and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31, and reduced that of harmful bacteria, such as Colidextribacter and Desulfobacterota in the intestine of both male and female rats, and IOP changed the levels of sex hormones in male and female rats. Further analyses revealed that the increase in alpha diversity was higher in male than female rats. α diversity and β diversity revealed a significant difference in the composition of cecal microbiota between male and female rats in the control group, but IOP intake reduced this difference. Meanwhile, α analysis revealed a change in the composition of bacterial flora was more stable in male than female rats. Conclusions This study enhances our comprehension of the IOP structure and elucidates the alterations in intestinal flora following IOP administration in rats of varying genders. Nonetheless, further investigation is warranted to explore the specific underlying reasons for these discrepancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songqing Liu
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Characteristic Horticultural Biological Resources, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenjing Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine (Institute of Comparative Medicine), Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xin Deng
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Characteristic Horticultural Biological Resources, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanping Wang
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Characteristic Horticultural Biological Resources, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiasui Zhan
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Binhong Hu
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Characteristic Horticultural Biological Resources, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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Poutanen M, Hagberg Thulin M, Härkönen P. Targeting sex steroid biosynthesis for breast and prostate cancer therapy. Nat Rev Cancer 2023:10.1038/s41568-023-00609-y. [PMID: 37684402 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00609-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Matti Poutanen
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
- Turku Center for Disease Modelling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- FICAN West Cancer Center, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
| | - Malin Hagberg Thulin
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pirkko Härkönen
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- FICAN West Cancer Center, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
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Canha-Gouveia A, Di Nisio V, Salumets A, Damdimopoulou P, Coy P, Altmäe S, Sola-Leyva A. The Upper Reproductive System Microbiome: Evidence beyond the Uterus. Semin Reprod Med 2023; 41:190-199. [PMID: 38320577 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1778056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The microbiome of the female upper reproductive system has garnered increasing recognition and has become an area of interest in the study of women's health. This intricate ecosystem encompasses a diverse consortium of microorganisms (i.e., microbiota) and their genomes (i.e., microbiome) residing in the female upper reproductive system, including the uterus, the fallopian tubes, and ovaries. In recent years, remarkable advancements have been witnessed in sequencing technologies and microbiome research, indicating the potential importance of the microbial composition within these anatomical sites and its impact in women's reproductive health and overall well-being. Understanding the composition, dynamics, and functions of the microbiome of the female upper reproductive system opens up exciting avenues for improving fertility, treating gynecological conditions, and advancing our comprehension of the intricate interplay between the microbiome and the female reproductive system. The aim of this study is to compile currently available information on the microbial composition of the female upper reproductive system in humans, with a focus beyond the uterus, which has received more attention in recent microbiome studies compared with the fallopian tubes and ovaries. In conclusion, this review underscores the potential role of this microbiome in women's physiology, both in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Analuce Canha-Gouveia
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University Clinical Hospital "Virgen de la Arrixaca," Murcia, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Valentina Di Nisio
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andres Salumets
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Pauliina Damdimopoulou
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pilar Coy
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University Clinical Hospital "Virgen de la Arrixaca," Murcia, Spain
| | - Signe Altmäe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alberto Sola-Leyva
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia
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Abstract
Cancer cells originate from a series of acquired genetic mutations that can drive their uncontrolled cell proliferation and immune evasion. Environmental factors, including the microorganisms that colonize the human body, can shift the metabolism, growth pattern and function of neoplastic cells and shape the tumour microenvironment. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is now recognized as a hallmark of cancer by the scientific community. However, only a few microorganisms have been identified that directly initiate tumorigenesis or skew the immune system to generate a tumour-permissive milieu. Over the past two decades, research on the human microbiome and its functionalities within and across individuals has revealed microbiota-focused strategies for health and disease. Here, we review the evolving understanding of the mechanisms by which the microbiota acts in cancer initiation, promotion and progression. We explore the roles of bacteria in gastrointestinal tract malignancies and cancers of the lung, breast and prostate. Finally, we discuss the promises and limitations of targeting or harnessing bacteria in personalized cancer prevention, diagnostics and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geniver El Tekle
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- The Harvard T. H. Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Wendy S Garrett
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- The Harvard T. H. Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center, Boston, MA, USA.
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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Patel J, Chaudhary H, Rajput K, Parekh B, Joshi R. Assessment of gut microbial β-glucuronidase and β-glucosidase activity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11967. [PMID: 37488157 PMCID: PMC10366212 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39168-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
PCOS is a prevalent endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, characterized by hormonal imbalances and metabolic disturbances. This study explores the correlation between gut microbial β-glucuronidase and β-glucosidase and PCOS, focusing on their association with hormone levels and other clinical parameters. In this case-control study, fecal samples were collected from women of reproductive age, both with and without PCOS. The analysis of gut β-glucuronidase and β-glucosidase enzymes was conducted with the other clinical parameters, including body mass index, hormone levels, and hirsutism. These factors were then subjected to correlation analysis. PCOS women showed significantly higher levels of β-glucuronidase activity with a statistically significant P-value (0.05 ± 0.1 vs. 0.04 ± 0.1; P = 0.006) as well as β-glucosidase activity (0.13 ± 0.08 vs. 0.09 ± 0.05; P = 0.06) compared to the controls. This study also revealed intriguing connections between the selected enzymes and hormone levels, particularly testosterone and estradiol. Gut microbial enzymes β-glucuronidase and β-glucosidase may be used as biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of PCOS in women with metabolic challenges. It could lead to improved diagnostic tools and treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalpa Patel
- Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Science, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Hiral Chaudhary
- Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Science, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Kiransinh Rajput
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
| | - Bhavin Parekh
- School of Applied Sciences and Technology, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India.
| | - Rushikesh Joshi
- Department of Biochemistry and Forensic Science, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India.
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Song F, Ma S, Zhang Y, Yang X, Zhang H, Han Y, Liu Y, Gao F, Yuan Z. Seasonal Variation in Gut Microbiota of the Wild Daurian Ground Squirrel ( Spermophilus dauricus): Metagenomic Insights into Seasonal Breeding. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2235. [PMID: 37444034 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Spermophilus dauricus, the wild Daurian ground squirrel, is known to exhibit seasonal breeding behavior. Although the importance of gut microbiota in animal digestion, metabolism, and immunity is well-established, the correlation between gut microbiota and seasonal breeding in this species remains inadequately explored. In the present study, using metagenomic sequencing technology, the compositions and functions of the gut microbiota of wild Daurian ground squirrels in different breeding seasons were explored. The dominant gut microbial phyla were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. The Firmicutes were predominant in the breeding season, whereas Bacteroidetes were predominant in the non-breeding season. At the genus level, Lactobacillus accumulated during the breeding season, whereas Odoribacter and Alistipes increased during the non-breeding season. GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome) annotations indicated that genes in gut samples were highly associated with metabolic functions. The differential expression gene analysis showed that genes related to the phosphotransferase system, cysteine, and methionine metabolism were highly expressed during the breeding season, whereas the non-breeding season upregulated genes were enriched in starch and sucrose metabolism and bacterial chemotaxis pathways. In conclusion, this study could provide a reference for investigating gut microbiota in seasonal breeding animals and offer new insight into gut microbial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengcheng Song
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shubao Ma
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yujiao Zhang
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiaoying Yang
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Haolin Zhang
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yingying Han
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yuning Liu
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Fuli Gao
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Zhengrong Yuan
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
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Salia S, Martin Y, Burke FF, Myles LA, Jackman L, Halievski K, Bambico FR, Swift-Gallant A. Antibiotic-induced socio-sexual behavioral deficits are reversed via cecal microbiota transplantation but not androgen treatment. Brain Behav Immun Health 2023; 30:100637. [PMID: 37256194 PMCID: PMC10225889 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2023.100637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence has demonstrated a sex-specific role of the gut microbiome on social behavior such as anxiety, possibly driven by a reciprocal relationship between the gut microbiome and gonadal hormones. For instance, gonadal hormones drive sex differences in gut microbiota composition, and certain gut bacteria can produce androgens from glucocorticoids. We thus asked whether the gut microbiome can influence androgen-dependent socio-sexual behaviors. We first treated C57BL/6 mice with broad-spectrum antibiotics (ABX) in drinking water to deplete the gut microbiota either transiently during early development (embryonic day 16-postnatal day [PND] 21) or in adulthood (PND 60-85). We hypothesized that if ABX interferes with androgens, then early ABX would interfere with critical periods for sexual differentiation of brain and thus lead to long-term decreases in males' socio-sexual behavior, while adult ABX would interfere with androgens' activational effects on behavior. We found that in males but not females, early and adult ABX treatment decreased territorial aggression, and adult ABX also decreased sexual odor preference. We then assessed whether testosterone and/or cecal microbiota transplantation (CMT) via oral gavage could prevent ABX-induced socio-sexual behavioral deficits in adult ABX-treated males. Mice were treated with same- or other-sex control cecum contents or with testosterone for two weeks. While testosterone was not effective in rescuing any behavior, we found that male CMT restored both olfactory preference and aggression in adult ABX male mice, while female CMT restored olfactory preference but not aggression. These results suggest sex-specific effects of the gut microbiome on socio-sexual behaviors, independent of androgens.
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39
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Sola-Leyva A, Pérez-Prieto I, Molina NM, Vargas E, Ruiz-Durán S, Leonés-Baños I, Canha-Gouveia A, Altmäe S. Microbial composition across body sites in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Biomed Online 2023; 47:129-150. [PMID: 37208218 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder affecting reproductive-aged women, but the cause remains unclear. Recent evidence has linked microbial composition with PCOS; however, the results are inconsistent. The aim of this systematic review was to gather current knowledge of the microbes across body sites (oral cavity, blood, vagina/cervix, gut) in women with PCOS, and meta-analyse the microbial diversity in PCOS. For this purpose, a systematic search using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane and Scopus was carried out. After selection, 34 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies associated changes in the microbiome with PCOS, whereas heterogeneity of the studies in terms of ethnicity, body mass index (BMI) and methodology, among other confounders, made it difficult to corroborate this relationship. In fact, 19 out of 34 of the studies were categorised as having high risk of bias when the quality assessment was conducted. Our meta-analysis on the gut microbiome of 14 studies demonstrated that women with PCOS possess significantly lower microbial alpha diversity compared with controls (SMD = -0.204; 95% CI -0.360 to -0.048; P = 0.010; I2 = 5.508, by Shannon Index), which may contribute to the development of PCOS. Nevertheless, future studies should specifically overcome the shortcomings of the current studies by through well planned and conducted studies with larger sample sizes, proper negative and positive controls and adequate case-control matching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Sola-Leyva
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Pérez-Prieto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Nerea M Molina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Eva Vargas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain; Systems Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Susana Ruiz-Durán
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain; UGC Obstetricia y Ginecología. HU Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Irene Leonés-Baños
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Analuce Canha-Gouveia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, IMIB-Arrixaca, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Signe Altmäe
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain; Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Magill RG, MacDonald SM. Male infertility and the human microbiome. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2023; 5:1166201. [PMID: 37361341 PMCID: PMC10289028 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2023.1166201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The historical belief in urology was that the genitourinary system should be sterile in a normal, healthy, asymptomatic adult. This idea was perpetuated for decades until research revealed a diverse microbiota existing in human anatomical niches that contributed to both human health and disease processes. In recent years, the search for an etiology and modifiable risk factors in infertility has turned to the human microbiome as well. Changes in the human gut microbiome have been associated with changes in systemic sex hormones and spermatogenesis. Certain microbial species are associated with higher levels of oxidative stress, which may contribute to an environment higher in oxidative reactive potential. Studies have demonstrated a link between increased oxidative reactive potential and abnormal semen parameters in infertile men. It has also been hypothesized that antioxidant probiotics may be able to correct an imbalance in the oxidative environment and improve male fertility, with promising results in small studies. Further, the sexual partner's microbiome may play a role as well; studies have demonstrated an overlap in the genitourinary microbiomes in sexually active couples that become more similar after intercourse. While the potential applications of the microbiome to male fertility is exciting, there is a need for larger studies with uniform microbial sequencing procedures to further expand this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Resa G. Magill
- McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Susan M. MacDonald
- Department of Urology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
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Katrib M, Haddad R, Hamdan Z, Rida MA. The dynamic relationship of gut microbiota with sex hormones in systemic lupus erythematosus. Reumatologia 2023; 61:130-136. [PMID: 37223365 PMCID: PMC10201382 DOI: 10.5114/reum/163091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease. The sex hormones estrogen and testosterone may have an influence on the production of antibodies. In addition, the gut microbiota also shows an effect on the onset and progression of SLE. Hence, the molecular interplay between sex hormones in terms of gender difference, gut microbiota and SLE is being clarified day after day. The aim of this review is to investigate the dynamic relationship of the gut microbiota with sex hormones in systemic lupus erythematosus taking into account the bacterial strains shown to be affected, effects of antibiotics and other factors that affect the gut microbiome, which itself strongly affects the pathogenesis of SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Katrib
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Lebanon
| | - Rafi Haddad
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Lebanon
| | - Zahi Hamdan
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Lebanon
| | - Mohamad Ali Rida
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Lebanon
- Department of Rheumatology, Clemenceau Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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Zhang M, Deng YL, Liu C, Lu WQ, Zeng Q. Impacts of disinfection byproduct exposures on male reproductive health: Current evidence, possible mechanisms and future needs. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 331:138808. [PMID: 37121289 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are a class of ubiquitous chemicals in drinking water and inevitably result in widespread human exposures. Potentially adverse health effects of DBP exposures, including reproductive and developmental outcomes, have been increasing public concerns. Several reviews have focused on the adverse pregnancy outcomes of DBPs. This review summarized current evidence on male reproduction health upon exposure to DBPs from toxicological and epidemiological literature. Based on existing experimental studies, there are sufficient evidence showing that haloacetic acids (HAAs) are male reproductive toxicants, including reduced epididymal weight, decreased semen parameters and sperm protein 22, and declined testosterone levels. However, epidemiological evidence remains insufficient to support a link of DBP exposures with adverse male reproductive outcomes, despite that blood and urinary DBP biomarkers are associated with decreased semen quality. Eight potential mechanisms, including germ/somatic cell dysfunction, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, inflammation, endocrine hormones, folate metabolism, epigenetic alterations, and gut microbiota, are likely involved in male reproductive toxicity of DBPs. We also identified knowledge gaps in toxicological and epidemiological studies to enhance future needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, And State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Yan-Ling Deng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, And State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Chong Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, And State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Wen-Qing Lu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, And State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Qiang Zeng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, And State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
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Basit A, Amory JK, Mettu VS, Li CY, Heyward S, Jariwala PB, Redinbo MR, Prasad B. Relevance of Human Aldoketoreductases and Microbial β-Glucuronidases in Testosterone Disposition. Drug Metab Dispos 2023; 51:427-435. [PMID: 36623880 PMCID: PMC10043941 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.122.000975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Testosterone exhibits high variability in pharmacokinetics and glucuronidation after oral administration. Although testosterone metabolism has been studied for decades, the impact of UGT2B17 gene deletion and the role of gut bacterial β-glucuronidases on its disposition are not well characterized. We first performed an exploratory study to investigate the effect of UGT2B17 gene deletion on the global liver proteome, which revealed significant increases in proteins from multiple biological pathways. The most upregulated liver proteins were aldoketoreductases [AKR1D1, AKR1C4, AKR7A3, AKR1A1, and 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7)] and alcohol or aldehyde dehydrogenases (ADH6, ADH1C, ALDH1A1, ALDH9A1, and ALDH5A). In vitro assays revealed that AKR1D1 and AKR1C4 inactivate testosterone to 5β-dihydrotestosterone (5β-DHT) and 3α,5β-tetrahydrotestosterone (3α,5β-THT), respectively. These metabolites also appeared in human hepatocytes treated with testosterone and in human serum collected after oral testosterone dosing in men. Our data also suggest that 5β-DHT and 3α, 5β-THT are then eliminated through glucuronidation by UGT2B7 in UGT2B17 deletion individuals. Second, we evaluated the potential reactivation of testosterone glucuronide (TG) after its secretion into the intestinal lumen. Incubation of TG with purified gut microbial β-glucuronidase enzymes and with human fecal extracts confirmed testosterone reactivation into testosterone by gut bacterial enzymes. Both testosterone metabolic switching and variable testosterone activation by gut microbial enzymes are important mechanisms for explaining the disposition of orally administered testosterone and appear essential to unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying UGT2B17-associated pathophysiological conditions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study investigated the association of UGT2B17 gene deletion and gut bacterial β-glucuronidases with testosterone disposition in vitro. The experiments revealed upregulation of AKR1D1 and AKR1C4 in UGT2B17 deletion individuals, and the role of these enzymes to inactivate testosterone to 5β-dihydrotestosterone and 3α, 5β-tetrahydrotestosterone, respectively. Key gut bacterial species responsible for testosterone glucuronide activation were identified. These data are important for explaining the disposition of exogenously administered testosterone and appear essential to unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying UGT2B17-associated pathophysiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Basit
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington (A.B., V.S.M., B.P.); Departments of Medicine (J.K.A.) and Pharmaceutics (C.Y.L.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; BioIVT Inc., Baltimore, Maryland (S.H.); and Departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology and the Integrated Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (P.B.J., M.R.R.)
| | - John K Amory
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington (A.B., V.S.M., B.P.); Departments of Medicine (J.K.A.) and Pharmaceutics (C.Y.L.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; BioIVT Inc., Baltimore, Maryland (S.H.); and Departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology and the Integrated Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (P.B.J., M.R.R.)
| | - Vijaya Saradhi Mettu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington (A.B., V.S.M., B.P.); Departments of Medicine (J.K.A.) and Pharmaceutics (C.Y.L.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; BioIVT Inc., Baltimore, Maryland (S.H.); and Departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology and the Integrated Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (P.B.J., M.R.R.)
| | - Cindy Yanfei Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington (A.B., V.S.M., B.P.); Departments of Medicine (J.K.A.) and Pharmaceutics (C.Y.L.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; BioIVT Inc., Baltimore, Maryland (S.H.); and Departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology and the Integrated Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (P.B.J., M.R.R.)
| | - Scott Heyward
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington (A.B., V.S.M., B.P.); Departments of Medicine (J.K.A.) and Pharmaceutics (C.Y.L.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; BioIVT Inc., Baltimore, Maryland (S.H.); and Departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology and the Integrated Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (P.B.J., M.R.R.)
| | - Parth B Jariwala
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington (A.B., V.S.M., B.P.); Departments of Medicine (J.K.A.) and Pharmaceutics (C.Y.L.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; BioIVT Inc., Baltimore, Maryland (S.H.); and Departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology and the Integrated Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (P.B.J., M.R.R.)
| | - Matthew R Redinbo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington (A.B., V.S.M., B.P.); Departments of Medicine (J.K.A.) and Pharmaceutics (C.Y.L.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; BioIVT Inc., Baltimore, Maryland (S.H.); and Departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology and the Integrated Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (P.B.J., M.R.R.)
| | - Bhagwat Prasad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington (A.B., V.S.M., B.P.); Departments of Medicine (J.K.A.) and Pharmaceutics (C.Y.L.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; BioIVT Inc., Baltimore, Maryland (S.H.); and Departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology and the Integrated Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (P.B.J., M.R.R.)
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Diviccaro S, Falvo E, Piazza R, Cioffi L, Herian M, Brivio P, Calabrese F, Giatti S, Caruso D, Melcangi RC. Gut microbiota composition is altered in a preclinical model of type 1 diabetes mellitus: Influence on gut steroids, permeability, and cognitive abilities. Neuropharmacology 2023; 226:109405. [PMID: 36572179 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Sex steroid hormones are not only synthesized from the gonads but also by other tissues, such as the brain (i.e., neurosteroids) and colon (i.e., gut steroids). Gut microbiota can be shaped from sex steroid hormones synthesized from the gonads and locally interacts with gut steroids as in turn modulates neurosteroids. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by dysbiosis and also by diabetic encephalopathy. However, the interactions of players of gut-brain axis, such as gut steroids, gut permeability markers and microbiota, have been poorly explored in this pathology and, particularly in females. On this basis, we have explored, in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced adult female rats, whether one month of T1DM may alter (I) gut microbiome composition and diversity by 16S next-generation sequencing, (II) gut steroid levels by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, (III) gut permeability markers by gene expression analysis, (IV) cognitive behavior by the novel object recognition (NOR) test and whether correlations among these aspects may occur. Results obtained reveal that T1DM alters gut β-, but not α-diversity. The pathology is also associated with a decrease and an increase in colonic pregnenolone and allopregnanolone levels, respectively. Additionally, diabetes alters gut permeability and worsens cognitive behavior. Finally, we reported a significant correlation of pregnenolone with Blautia, claudin-1 and the NOR index and of allopregnanolone with Parasutterella, Gammaproteobacteria and claudin-1. Altogether, these results suggest new putative roles of these two gut steroids related to cognitive deficit and dysbiosis in T1DM female experimental model. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Microbiome & the Brain: Mechanisms & Maladies".
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Diviccaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Eva Falvo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Rocco Piazza
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Cioffi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Monika Herian
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Brivio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Calabrese
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Giatti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Donatella Caruso
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Cosimo Melcangi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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Song F, Xu Y, Peng P, Li H, Zheng R, Zhang H, Han Y, Weng Q, Yuan Z. Seasonal Changes in the Structure and Function of Gut Microbiota in the Muskrat ( Ondatra zibethicus). Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13020248. [PMID: 36837868 PMCID: PMC9966595 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13020248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the nutrition, metabolism, and immune function of the host animal. The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a typical seasonal breeding animal. The present study performed a metagenomic analysis of cecum contents from muskrats in the breeding and non-breeding seasons. The results indicated that the breeding muskrats and non-breeding muskrats differed in gut microbiota structure and function. During the breeding season, the relative abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes, genus Prevotella, and genus Alistipes increased, while the relative abundance of phylum Firmicutes and phylum Actinobacteria decreased. The muskrat gut microbiota was enriched in the metabolism-related pathways, especially amino acid and vitamin metabolism, and genetically related metabolites in the breeding season. We presumed that the muskrat gut microbiota might seasonally change to secure reproductive activity and satisfy the metabolic demands of different seasons. This study could explore potential mechanisms by which gut microbiota affects reproduction. Moreover, this study may provide a new theoretical basis for the management of muskrat captive breeding.
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Interaction between gut microbiota and sex hormones and their relation to sexual dimorphism in metabolic diseases. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:4. [PMID: 36750874 PMCID: PMC9903633 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00490-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic diseases, such as obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), are now a widespread pandemic in the developed world. These pathologies show sex differences in their development and prevalence, and sex steroids, mainly estrogen and testosterone, are thought to play a prominent role in this sexual dimorphism. The influence of sex hormones on these pathologies is not only reflected in differences between men and women, but also between women themselves, depending on the hormonal changes associated with the menopause. The observed sex differences in gut microbiota composition have led to multiple studies highlighting the interaction between steroid hormones and the gut microbiota and its influence on metabolic diseases, ultimately pointing to a new therapy for these diseases based on the manipulation of the gut microbiota. This review aims to shed light on the role of sexual hormones in sex differences in the development and prevalence of metabolic diseases, focusing on obesity, MetS and T2D. We focus also the interaction between sex hormones and the gut microbiota, and in particular the role of microbiota in aspects such as gut barrier integrity, inflammatory status, and the gut-brain axis, given the relevance of these factors in the development of metabolic diseases.
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Sisk-Hackworth L, Kelley ST, Thackray VG. Sex, puberty, and the gut microbiome. Reproduction 2023; 165:R61-R74. [PMID: 36445259 PMCID: PMC9847487 DOI: 10.1530/rep-22-0303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In brief Sex differences in the gut microbiome may impact multiple aspects of human health and disease. In this study, we review the evidence for microbial sex differences in puberty and adulthood and discuss potential mechanisms driving differentiation of the sex-specific gut microbiome. Abstract In humans, the gut microbiome is strongly implicated in numerous sex-specific physiological processes and diseases. Given this, it is important to understand how sex differentiation of the gut microbiome occurs and how these differences contribute to host health and disease. While it is commonly believed that the gut microbiome stabilizes after 3 years of age, our review of the literature found considerable evidence that the gut microbiome continues to mature during and after puberty in a sex-dependent manner. We also review the intriguing, though sparse, literature on potential mechanisms by which host sex may influence the gut microbiome, and vice versa, via sex steroids, bile acids, and the immune system. We conclude that the evidence for the existence of a sex-specific gut microbiome is strong but that there is a dearth of research on how host-microbe interactions lead to this differentiation. Finally, we discuss the types of future studies needed to understand the processes driving the maturation of sex-specific microbial communities and the interplay between gut microbiota, host sex, and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott T. Kelley
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182
| | - Varykina G. Thackray
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
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Liang J, Wu T, Wang T, Ma Y, Li Y, Zhao S, Guo Y, Liu B. Moringa oleifera leaf ethanolic extract benefits cashmere goat semen quality via improving rumen microbiota and metabolome. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1049093. [PMID: 36777668 PMCID: PMC9911920 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1049093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Artificial insemination (AI) is an effective reproductive technique to improve the performance of cashmere goats and prevent the spread of diseases, and the quality of the semen determines the success of AI. The potential of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) and Moringa oleifera leaf ethanolic extract (MOLE) to improve semen quality has been reported, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. For the purpose, 18 mature male cashmere goats were randomly assigned into three groups: the control (CON), MOLP, and MOLE groups. The CON group received distilled water orally; the MOLP group was orally treated with 200 mg/kg body weight (BW) MOLP; and the MOLE group was orally treated with 40 mg/kg BW MOLE. Results Results showed that MOLE contained long-chain fatty acids and flavonoids. Treatment with MOLP and MOLE increased the activities of the serum catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05), enhanced the total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.05), and reduced the serum malondialdehyde level (P < 0.05). At the same time, MOLE increased the contents of serum gonadotropin releasing hormone and testosterone (P < 0.05). Moreover, MOLE significantly increased sperm concentration, motility, and viability (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, MOLE raised the Chao1 index (P < 0.05) and altered the composition of the rumen microbiota; it also raised the relative abundance of Treponema (P < 0.05) and Fibrobacter (P < 0.05) and reduced the relative abundance of Prevotella (P < 0.1). Correlation analysis revealed the genus Prevotella was significantly negatively correlated with sperm concentration, as well as sperm motility and viability. Furthermore, MOLE significantly increased the rumen levels of the steroid hormones testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (P < 0.05), as well as the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) alpha-Linolenic acid, gamma-Linolenic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and 9-S-Hydroperoxylinoleicacid (P < 0.05). Conclusions Oral MOLE supplementation can improve semen quality by increasing the antioxidant capacity and altering the rumen microbiota and metabolites of cashmere goats. Moreover, the MOLP supplementation could enhance the antioxidant capacity of cashmere goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyong Liang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China,Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot, China
| | - Tiecheng Wu
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot, China,Engineering Laboratory of Genetic Resources Evaluation and Breeding Technology of Mutton Sheep in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot, China,Alxa White Cashmere Goat Breeding Farm, Alxa League, China
| | - Yuejun Ma
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot, China
| | - Yurong Li
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot, China
| | - Shengguo Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yanli Guo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China,*Correspondence: Yanli Guo ✉
| | - Bin Liu
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot, China,Bin Liu ✉
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49
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Cao Y, Wang H, Jin Z, Hang J, Jiang H, Wu H, Zhang Z. Characterization of Non-Obstructive Azoospermia in Men Using Gut Microbial Profiling. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12020701. [PMID: 36675631 PMCID: PMC9861525 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12020701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a complex multifactorial disease and the causes of most NOA cases remain unknown. (2) Methods: Here, we performed comprehensive clinical analyses and gut microbial profiling using shotgun metagenomic sequencing in patients with NOA and control individuals. (3) Results: The gut microbial alpha and beta diversity significantly differed between patients with NOA and controls. Several microbial strains, including Bacteroides vulgatus and Streptococcus thermophilus, were significantly more abundant in the NOA group, whereas Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Parabacteroides sp. CT06 were enriched in the control group. Moreover, functional pathway analysis suggested that the altered microbiota in NOA suppressed the carbohydrate metabolism pathway, while amino acid metabolism and methane metabolism pathways were enhanced. We observed that the differential microbial species, such as Acinetobacter johnsonii, had a strong correlation with clinical parameters, including age, body mass index, testosterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone. Communication and interplay among microbial genera were significantly increased in NOA than in the control group. (4) Conclusions: Altered microbial composition and functional pathways in the NOA group were revealed, which highlight the utility of gut microbiota in understanding microbiota-related pathogenesis of NOA and might be helpful to the clinical management of NOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalei Cao
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Haojie Wang
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zirun Jin
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jing Hang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproduction, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Urology, Beijing 100034, China
- Correspondence: (H.J.); (H.W.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Huajun Wu
- Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Center for Precision Medicine Multi-Omics Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100191, China
- Correspondence: (H.J.); (H.W.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Correspondence: (H.J.); (H.W.); (Z.Z.)
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50
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Wang L, Tang L, Zhai D, Song M, Li W, Xu S, Jiang S, Meng H, Liang J, Wang Y, Zhang B. The role of the sex hormone-gut microbiome axis in tumor immunotherapy. Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2185035. [PMID: 36880651 PMCID: PMC10012946 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2185035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggested that both gut microbiome and sex play a critical role in the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Considering the reciprocal relationship between sex hormones and gut microbiome, the sex hormone-gut microbiome axis may participate in the regulation of the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In this review, it was attempted to summarize the current knowledge about the influences of both sex and gut microbiome on the antitumor efficacy of ICIs and describe the interaction between sex hormones and gut microbiome. Accordingly, this review discussed the potential of enhancing the antitumor efficacy of ICIs through regulating the levels of sex hormones through manipulation of gut microbiome. Collectively, this review provided reliable evidence concerning the role of the sex hormone-gut microbiome axis in tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luoyang Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lei Tang
- Department of Special Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Dongchang Zhai
- Department of Special Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Meiying Song
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shuo Xu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Suli Jiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Haining Meng
- School of Emergency Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jie Liang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Bei Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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