Plasma Metabolomics Analysis Based on GC-MS in Infertile Males with Kidney-Yang Deficiency Syndrome

The therapeutic effect of wine-processed Corni Fructus on chronic renal failure in rats through the interference with the LPS/IL-1-mediated inhibition of RXR function

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Corni Fructus, derived from the fruit of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc, is a widely utilized traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with established efficacy in the treatment of diverse chronic kidney diseases. Crude Corni Fructus (CCF) and wine-processed Corni Fructus (WCF) are the main processed forms of Corni Fructus. Generally, TCM is often used after processing (paozhi). Despite the extensive use of processed TCM, the underlying mechanisms of processing for most TCMs have been unclear so far.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, an integrated strategy combined renal metabolomics with proteomics was established and investigated the potential processing mechanisms of CCF or WCF on chronic renal failure (CRF) models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, the differences in biochemical parameters and pathological histology were compared to evaluate the effects of CCF and WCF on CRF model rats. Then, the tissue differential metabolites and proteins between CCF and WCF on CRF model rats were screened based on metabolomics and proteomics technology. Concurrently, a combined approach of metabolomics and proteomics was employed to investigate the underlying mechanisms associated with these marker metabolic products and proteins.

RESULTS

Compared to the MG group, there were 27 distinct metabolites and 143 different proteins observed in the CCF-treatment group, while the WCF-treatment group exhibited 24 distinct metabolites and 379 different proteins. Further, the integration interactions analysis of the protein and lipid metabolite revealed that both WCF and CCF improved tryptophan degradation and LPS/IL-1-mediated inhibition of RXR function. WCF inhibited RXR function more than CCF via the modulation of LPS/IL-1 in the CRF model. Experimental results were validated by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Notably, the gene expression amount and protein levels of FMO3 and CYP2E1 among 8 genes influenced by WCF were higher compared to CCF.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for further study of Corni Fructus with different processing techniques in CRF. The findings also offer guidance for investigating the mechanism of action of herbal medicines in diseases employing diverse processing techniques.

A combination of Semen Cuscutae and Fructus Lycii improves testicular cell proliferation and inhibits their apoptosis in rats with spermatogenic dysfunction by regulating the SCF/c-kit--PI3K--Bcl-2 pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Semen Cuscutae is the seed of Cuscuta japonica Choisy, and Fructus Lycii is the mature fruit of Lycium barbarum L. (Solanaceae). Semen Cuscutae and Fructus Lycii (SC-FL) are well-known Chinese medicine which have been used to tonify the kidney and replenish the essence for thousands of years. Chinese physicians prefer to prescribe them for treating male infertility. Recent studies have found that SC-FL repair spermatogenic dysfunction, however, the therapeutic mechanism has yet to be clearly elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed at evaluating the therapeutic effect of SC-FL in glucosides of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f (GTW)-induced dyszoospermia rats and elucidating the underlying molecular mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy-eight Sprague-Dauley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control (treated with saline), GTW (treated with saline), GTW + levocarnitine (treated with levocarnitine), GTW + SCFL (treated with SC-FL), and LY (LY294002, the PI3K inhibitor) +SCFL (treated with SC-FL). GTW (40 mg/kg/d) was intragastrically administered for 4 weeks to establish dyszoospermia model. From the start of the study, LY was additionally injected into the tail vein of rats of the LY + SCFL group once a week. After 8 weeks, semen quality and organ coefficient were determined and sex hormone, inhibin B, and epididymal carnitine levels were measured. Testicular tissue and its ultrastructure were observed using H&E (hematoxylin-eosin) staining and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to determine the protein and mRNA expression of SCF, c-kit, PI3K, p-Akt, Bad, Bcl-2, and Bax in rat testis.

RESULTS

Compared with the GTW group, semen quality, the organ coefficient, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), and epididymal carnitine levels were significantly improved in the GTW + SCFL group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Histomorphology and testicular ultrastructural evaluation showed that in the GTW + SCFL group, the structure and arrangement of seminiferous tubules were better, the amount of spermatogenic cells increased significantly, the morphology of spermatogenic cells improved, and the mitochondria increased, compared to those in the GTW group. Immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and qRT-PCR results showed that compared with the GTW group, the expression of SCF, c-kit, PI3K, p-Akt, and Bcl-2 in the GTW + SCFL group was increased, while that of Bax and Bad was decreased. The expression of p-Akt and Bcl-2 decreased, while that of Bad and Bax increased in the LY + SCFL group compared with the SCFL group.

CONCLUSION

SC-FL can effectively inhibit spermatogenic cell apoptosis and promote their proliferation, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of the SCF/c-kit--PI3K--Bcl-2 pathway.

VISSA-PLS-DA-Based Metabolomics Reveals a Multitargeted Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Traumatic Brain Injury

Metabolomics is an emerging tool to uncover the complex pathogenesis of disease, as well as the multitargets of traditional Chinese medicines, with chemometric analysis being a key step. However, conventional algorithms are not suitable for directly analyzing data at all times. The variable iterative space shrinkage approach-partial least squares-discriminant analysis, a novel algorithm for data mining, was first explored to screen metabolic varieties to reveal the multitargets of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XFZY) against traumatic brain injury (TBI) by the 7th day. Rat plasma from Sham, Vehicle, and XFZY groups was used for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. This method showed an improved discrimination ability (area under the curve = 93.64%). Threonine, trans-4-hydroxyproline, and creatinine were identified as the direct metabolic targets of XFZY against TBI. Five metabolic pathways affected by XFZY in TBI rats, were enriched using Metabolic Pathway Analysis web tool (i.e., phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; phenylalanine metabolism; galactose metabolism; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; and tryptophan metabolism). In conclusion, metabolomics coupled with variable iterative space shrinkage approach-partial least squares-discriminant analysis model may be a valuable tool for identifying the holistic molecular mechanisms involved in the effects of traditional Chinese medicine, such as XFZY.

Novel applications of mass spectrometry-based metabolomics in herbal medicines and its active ingredients: Current evidence

Current evidence shows that herbal medicines could be beneficial for the treatment of various diseases. However, the complexities present in chemical compositions of herbal medicines are currently an obstacle for the progression of herbal medicines, which involve unclear bioactive compounds, mechanisms of action, undetermined targets for therapy, non-specific features for drug metabolism, etc. To overcome those issues, metabolomics can be a great to improve and understand herbal medicines from the small-molecule metabolism level. Metabolomics could solve scientific difficulties with herbal medicines from a metabolic perspective, and promote drug discovery and development. In recent years, mass spectrometry-based metabolomics was widely applied for the analysis of herbal constituents in vivo and in vitro. In this review, we highlight the value of mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and metabolism to address the complexity of herbal medicines in systems pharmacology, and to enhance their biomedical value in biomedicine, to shed light on the aid that mass spectrometry-based metabolomics can offer to the investigation of its active ingredients, especially, to link phytochemical analysis with the assessment of pharmacological effect and therapeutic potential. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev.

Metabolomics of Male Infertility: A New Tool for Diagnostic Tests

Infertility is a major health issue worldwide. Males and females contribute equally to this problem. Diagnostic semen analysis fails to identify 50% of male infertility disorders. In this regard, metabolomics as a new field of omics has been suggested to have the potential of solving and diagnosis of the male infertility problems. Metabo-lome has a history of around 20 years. However, there are only limited metabolomics studies carried out regarding male infertility. In this review, the current metabolomics researches that have been done in infertile men were reviewed. Based on our own results, using human seminal plasma for metabolomics studies is highly recommended to find potential biomarkers and developing diagnosis tests for detection of main deficiencies in infertile men.

The Effect of Volatile Oil from Vernonia anthelmintica Seeds on Melanin Synthesis in B16 Cells and Its Chemical Analysis by GC-QTOF-MS

Vernonia anthelmintica Willd. seeds have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of leukoderma in Xinjiang, China, for more than 300 years. The promoting activities of its volatile oil (AVO) in melanogenesis and its chemical composition were investigated in this paper. The bioactivities of AVO were examined by melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity assay in B16 cells. Using GC-QTOF-MS technology, each compound of AVO contains a single separated peak in GC and the retention indices of every GC peak were calculated by the retention times of C7~C30 n-alkanes that were injected at the same chromatographic conditions. Then each individual peak was identified by comparing its mass spectrum with the MS library (NIST 14). As a result, AVO increased the melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 10-30μg·mL⁻¹. The 64 compounds were identified in AVO which occupied 95.15% of total peak area in GC. They mainly contained caryophyllene (23.73%), sabinene (18.15%), α-thujene (6.57%), thymol (5.29%), 4-epi-α-acoradiene (4.98%), limonene (4.92%), anethole (3.44%), etc. According to the results the AVO can promote melanogenesis and upregulate tyrosinase activity in B16 cells.

Metabolomics-based evidence of the hypoglycemic effect of Ge-Gen-Jiao-Tai-Wan in type 2 diabetic rats via UHPLC-QTOF/MS analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ge-Gen-Jiao-Tai-Wan (GGJTW) formula, derived from traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is composed of Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Sanjappa & Pradeep (Ge-Gen in Chinese), Coptis chinensis Franch (Huang-Lian), and Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl (Rou-Gui). GGJTW is used for treatment of diabetes in China, reflecting the potent hypoglycemic effect of its ingredients. However, little is known of the hypoglycemic effect of GGJTW and the underlying metabolic mechanism.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of GGJTW in type 2 diabetic rats and the metabolic mechanism of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF/MS)-based metabolomics approach was used for monitoring hyperglycaemia induced by high-sugar high-fat fodder and streptozotocin (STZ), and the protective effect of GGJTW. Dynamic fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, body weight, and biochemical parameters, including lipid levels, hepatic-renal function, and hepatic histopathology were used to confirm the hyperglycaemic toxicity and attenuation effects. An orthogonal partial least squared-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) approach highlighted significant differences in the metabolome of the healthy control, diabetic, and drug-treated rats. The metabolomics pathway analysis (MetPA) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) database were used to investigate the underlying metabolic pathways.

RESULTS

Metabolic profiling revealed 37 metabolites as the most potential biomarker metabolites distinguishing GGJTW-treated rats from model rats. Most of the metabolites were primarily associated with bile acid metabolism and lipid metabolism. The most critical pathway was primary bile acid biosynthesis pathway involving the up-regulation of the levels of cholic acid (CA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), taurocholic acid (TCA), glycocholic acid (GCA), taurochenodesoxycholic acid (TCDCA), and taurine.

CONCLUSIONS

The significantly-altered metabolite levels indicated the hypoglycemic effect of GGJTW on diabetic rats and the underlying metabolic mechanism. This study will be meaningful for the clinical application of GGJTW and valuable for further exploration of the mechanism.