Sex Difference of Effect of Sophora flavescens on Gut Microbiota in Rats

Sex differences and testosterone interfere with the structure of the gut microbiota through the bile acid signaling pathway

Background

The gut microbiome has a significant impact on human wellness, contributing to the emergence and progression of a range of health issues including inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular problems, and psychiatric disorders. Notably, clinical observations have revealed that these illnesses can display differences in incidence and presentation between genders. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the composition of gut microbiota is associated with sex-specific differences and to elucidate the mechanism.

Methods

16S-rRNA-sequencing technology, hormone analysis, gut microbiota transplantation, gonadectomy, and hormone treatment were employed to investigate the correlation between the gut microbiome and sex or sex hormones. Meanwhile, genes and proteins involved bile acid signaling pathway were analyzed both in the liver and ileum tissues.

Results

The composition and diversity of the microbiota from the jejunum and feces and the level of sex hormones in the serum differed between the sexes in young and middle-aged Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. However, no similar phenomenon was found in geriatric rats. Interestingly, whether in young, middle-aged, or old rats, the composition of the microbiota and bacterial diversity differed between the jejunum and feces in rats. Gut microbiota transplantation, gonadectomy, and hormone replacement also suggested that hormones, particularly testosterone (T), influenced the composition of the gut microbiota in rats. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein level of genes involved bile acid signaling pathway (specifically SHP, FXR, CYP7A1, and ASBT) exhibited gender-specific differences, and T may play a significant role in mediating the expression of this pathway.

Conclusion

Sex-specific differences in the structure of the gut microbiota are mediated by T through the bile acid signaling pathway, pointing to potential targets for disease prevention and management techniques by indicating that sex differences and T levels may alter the composition of the gut microbiota via the bile acid signaling pathway.

Therapeutic effects of the Qingre-Qushi recipe on atopic dermatitis through the regulation of gut microbiota and skin inflammation

Accumulating evidence has highlighted a strong association between gut microbiota and the occurrence, development, prevention, and treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). The regulation of gut microbial dysbiosis by oral traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has garnered significant attention. In the treatment of AD, the TCM formula Qingre-Qushi Recipe (QRQS) has demonstrated clinical efficacy. However, both the therapeutic mechanisms of QRQS and its impact on gut microbiota remain unclear. Thus, our study aimed to assess the efficacy of QRQS and evaluate its influence on the composition and diversity of gut microbiota in AD animal models. First, we investigated the therapeutic effect of QRQS on AD using two animal models: filaggrin-deficient mice (Flaky tail, ft/ft) and MC903-induced AD-like mice. Subsequently, we explored its influence on the composition and diversity of gut microbiota. Our results demonstrated that QRQS treatment ameliorated the symptoms in both ft/ft mice and MC903-induced AD-like mice. It also reduced the levels of serum IgE and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, IL-13, IL-17A, and TNF-α. Furthermore, QRQS remarkably regulated gut microbiota diversity by increasing Lactobacillaceae and decreasing Bacteroidales. The inflammatory factors in peripheral serum of ft/ft mice showed a close correlation with gut microbiota, as determined using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Additionally, PICRUSt analysis revealed an enrichment in ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and biosynthesis, and propanoate metabolism in the QRQS group compared to the ft/ft group. Finally, we identified liquiritin as the primary active ingredient of QRQS using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). Our findings revealed that QRQS improved AD-like symptoms and alleviated skin inflammation in ft/ft and MC903-induced mice. This suggests that modulating the gut microbiota may help elucidate its anti-inflammation activation mechanism, highlighting a new therapeutic strategy that targets the intestinal flora to prevent and treat AD.

Long access heroin self-administration significantly alters gut microbiome composition and structure

Introduction

It is well known that chronic opioid use disorder is associated with alterations in gastrointestinal (GI) function that include constipation, reduced motility, and increased bacterial translocation due to compromised gut barrier function. These signs of disrupted GI function can be associated with alterations in the gut microbiome. However, it is not known if long-access opioid self-administration has effects on the gut microbiome.

Methods

We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the gut microbiome in three independent cohorts (N=40 for each) of NIH heterogeneous stock rats before onset of long-access heroin self-administration (i.e., naïve status), at the end of a 15-day period of self-administration, and after post-extinction reinstatement. Measures of microbial α- and β-diversity were evaluated for all phases. High-dimensional class comparisons were carried out with MaAsLin2. PICRUSt2 was used for predicting functional pathways impacted by heroin based on marker gene sequences.

Results

Community α-diversity was not altered by heroin at any of the three phases by comparison to saline-yoked controls. Analyses of β-diversity showed that the heroin and saline-yoked groups clustered significantly apart from each other using the Bray-Curtis (community structure) index. Heroin caused significant alterations at the ASV level at the self-administration and extinction phases. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes was increased at the self-administration phase. Deferribacteres was decreased in heroin whereas Patescibacteria was increased in heroin at the extinction phase. Potential biomarkers for heroin emerged from the MaAsLin2 analysis. Bacterial metabolomic pathways relating to degradation of carboxylic acids, nucleotides, nucleosides, carbohydrates, and glycogen were increased by heroin while pathways relating to biosynthesis of vitamins, propionic acid, fatty acids, and lipids were decreased.

Discussion

These findings support the view that long access heroin self-administration significantly alters the structure of the gut microbiome by comparison to saline-yoked controls. Inferred metabolic pathway alterations suggest the development of a microbial imbalance favoring gut inflammation and energy expenditure. Potential microbial biomarkers and related functional pathways likely invoked by heroin self-administration could be targets for therapeutic intervention.

Electroacupuncture promoted intestinal defensins and rescued the dysbiotic cecal microbiota of high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Obesity is currently one of the most important challenges to public health worldwide. Acupuncture has been widely used to treat obesity. However, whether acupuncture regulates intestinal innate immunity via intestinal microbiota against obesity remains to be elucidated. In this study, electroacupuncture (EA) effectively reduced body weight and fat accumulation in obese mice persistently fed a high-fat diet. Full-length 16S rDNA sequencing showed dysbiotic microbiota in the cecum of obese mice. The composition and function of the cecal microbiota of obese mice were markedly restored after EA treatment. After 21 d of EA intervention, the expression of defensin alpha 5 (Defa5) was restored to healthy controls, whereas fat digestion and absorption genes including fabp1 were markedly decreased in the jejunum of obese mice. The Defa5 levels were positively correlated with the family Lachnospiraceae and negatively correlated with obesity indexes. EA also reduced tissue inflammation, ameliorated misaligned glucose tolerance, and inhibited key genes for intestinal lipid absorption. In summary, EA exerted an anti-obesity effect by promoting intestinal defensins, rescuing dysbiotic cecal microbiota, and reducing lipid absorption in a synergistic mode. We present for the first time the key role of alpha defensins in the relationship between gut microbiota and disease during electroacupuncture treatment of obesity. The mucosal innate immunity seems to have a stronger ability to shape the microbiota than dietary factors.

Study on Masking the Bitterness of Chinese Medicine Decoction-Mate

Background

Traditional Chinese medicine decoction (TCMD) is an oral liquid made by decocting crude medicinal compounds with water. It has complex compositions and diverse odor and taste, most of which have an unacceptable level of bitterness which seriously affects patients' medication compliance. To solve this problem, a variety of taste-masking pathways and different types of taste-masking excipients were combined, using the application of coffee-mate to mask the bitterness of coffee as an existing example. Three composite taste-masking adjuvants were developed to improve the taste of TCMD, referred to as the Chinese Medicine Decoction-Mate (CMD-M). However, whether CMD-M has a good taste-masking effect and whether it affects the chemical compositions and pharmacological effects of the medicine remain unclear.

Method

The commonly used pediatric medicine Qingre Huazhi Decoction (QRHZD) and the personalized decoctions used in clinical practices were used as the masking research carriers. The taste-masking effect of CMD-M on QRHZD was evaluated by both healthy volunteers and an electronic tongue, and the personalized decoctions were evaluated by clinical subjects. The changes of chemical components of QRHZD before and after taste-masking were evaluated by HPLC. The changes in anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by establishing mice as an acute inflammatory model.

Results

The taste-masking effect evaluation results showed that the bitterness of QRHZD was significantly reduced after adding CMD-M. There was no significant difference in the relative peak areas change rate and total peak areas ratio of common peaks of QRHZD before and after taste-masking (P > 0.05), shown by HPLC analysis. The inhibitory rates of QRHZD on ear swelling in mice before and after taste-masking also showed no significant difference (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

CMD-M can effectively mask the bitterness of decoctions while bringing no significant difference overall in chemical compositions and pharmacological effects before and after QRHZD masking.