Effects of synbiotic supplementation on gut microbiome, serum level of TNF-α, and expression of microRNA-126 and microRNA-146a in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: study protocol for a double-blind controlled randomized clinical trial

Multi-species synbiotic supplementation increased fecal short chain fatty acids and anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 in adult men with dyslipidemia; A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Mounting evidence revealed that an imbalance of Gut Microbiota (GM) leads to metabolic disorders. Synbiotics through regulation of GM composition can be an effective intervention in the management of metabolic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of multi-species synbiotic supplementation on serum interleukin10 (IL-10) and fecal Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) in patients with dyslipidemia.

METHODS

In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, fifty-six adult men with dyslipidemia were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups and received either synbiotic or placebo powder twice a day for 12 weeks. Each synbiotic sachet contained 6 species of probiotic microorganisms with a total dose of 3 × 1010 Colony Forming Unit (CFU) and 5 gr inulin and Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) as prebiotics. Blood and stool samples were collected at the baseline and end of the study. Dietary intake, physical activity, anthropometric measurements, serum IL-10, and fecal SCFAs were assessed before and after the intervention.

RESULT

There were no significant differences between the baseline characteristics of patients in the two groups. Serum IL-10 was increased in the synbiotic group (p < 0.0001). Moreover, synbiotic supplementation increased fecal concentration of acetate (p < 0.0001), butyrate (p = 0.043), propionate (p < 0.0001), and valerate (p < 0.026). A significant positive correlation was observed between the changes in fecal butyrate level and serum IL-10 concentration in the control group (r = 0.48, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

A Twelve-week synbiotic supplementation increased fecal SCFAs and improved inflammation in adult men with dyslipidemia.

Non-coding RNAs involved in fibroblast-like synoviocyte functioning in arthritis rheumatoid: From pathogenesis to therapy

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a polygenic autoimmune disorder with an uncertain etiology, primarily impacting the joints. Moreover, the disease may manifest beyond articular involvement, leading to extra-articular manifestations. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are cells of mesenchymal origin that possess crucial physiological significance within the synovium, contributing to the synthesis of specific constituents found in the synovial fluid and articular cartilage. Consequently, there has been a growing focus on FLS as a potential therapeutic target in the context of RA. Recent investigations have revealed that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) serve as pivotal regulators of FLS function, with their dysregulated expression patterns being detected within FLS populations. NcRNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), assume essential functions as regulators of gene expression at both the post-transcriptional and transcriptional levels, and also serve as guiding molecules for chromatin-modifying complexes. Majority of these ncRNAs contribute to various FLS activities including metastasis, proliferation, and cytokine production. In the current work, we comprehensively review the existing literature on ncRNAs, which play pivotal roles in FLS activity and the pathogenesis of RA. Furthermore, this study provides a comprehensive summary and description of the lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axes in FLS activity, along with potential implications for the RA development. As well, in the final section, we illustrated that therapeutic agents including herbal medicine, and exosomes by modulating ncRNAs regulate FLS activity.

Non-coding RNAs: A new frontier in benzene-mediated toxicity

One of the most frequent environmental contaminants, benzene is still widely used as an industrial solvent around the world, especially in developing nations, posing a serious occupational risk. While the processes behind the toxicity of benzene grounds are not fully understood, it is generally accepted that its metabolism, which involves one or more reactive metabolites, is crucial to its toxicity. In order to evaluate the many ways that benzene could influence gene regulation and thus have an impact on human health, new methodologies have been created. The pathophysiology of the disorder may result from epigenetic reprogramming caused by exposure to benzene, including changes in non-coding RNA (ncRNA) markers, according to recent studies. We are interested in the identification of hazardous regulatory ncRNAs, the identification of these ncRNAs' targets, and the comprehension of the significance of these interactions in the mechanisms behind benzene toxicity. Hence, the focus of recent research is on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), and some of the more pertinent articles are also discussed.

Microbiome modulation in inflammatory diseases: Progress to microbiome genetic engineering

Recent developments in sequencing technology and analytical approaches have allowed researchers to show that the healthy gut microbiome is very varied and capable of performing a wide range of tasks. The importance of gut microbiota in controlling immunological, neurological, and endocrine function is becoming well-recognized. Thereby, numerous inflammatory diseases, including those that impact the gastrointestinal system, as well as less obvious ones, including Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), cancer, gestational diabetes (GD), type 1 diabetes (T1D), and type 2 diabetes (T2D), have been linked to dysbiotic gut microbiota. Microbiome engineering is a rapidly evolving frontier for solutions to improve human health. Microbiome engineering seeks to improve the function of an ecosystem by manipulating the composition of microbes. Thereby, generating potential therapies against metabolic, inflammatory, and immunological diseases will be possible through microbiome engineering. This essay first provides an overview of the traditional technological instruments that might be used for microbiome engineering, such as Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT), prebiotics, and probiotics. Moreover, we will also discuss experimental genetic methods such as Metagenomic Alteration of Gut microbiome by In situ Conjugation (MAGIC), Bacteriophage, and Conjugative plasmids in manipulating intestinal microbiota.

Understanding the lncRNA/miRNA-NFκB regulatory network in Diabetes Mellitus: From function to clinical translation

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and its significant ramifications make out one of the primary reasons behind morbidity worldwide. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs, are involved in regulating manifold biological processes, including diabetes initiation and progression. One of the established pathways attributed to DM development is NF-κB signaling. Neurons, β cells, adipocytes, and hepatocytes are among the metabolic tissues where NF-κB is known to produce a range of inflammatory chemokines and cytokines. The direct or indirect role of ncRNAs such as lncRNAs and miRNAs on the NF-κB signaling pathway and DM development has been supported by many studies. As a result, effective diabetes treatment and preventive methods will benefit from a comprehensive examination of the interplay between NF-κB and ncRNAs. Herein, we provide a concise overview of the role of NF-κB-mediated signaling pathways in diabetes mellitus and its consequences. The reciprocal regulation of ncRNAs and the NF-κB signaling pathway in diabetes is then discussed, shedding light on the pathogenesis of the illness and its possible therapeutic interventions.

An interplay between non-coding RNAs and gut microbiota in human health

Humans have a complicated symbiotic relationship with their gut microbiome, which is postulated to impact host health and disease broadly. Epigenetic alterations allow host cells to regulate gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. The gut microbiome, offering environmental hints, can influence responses to stimuli by host cells with modifications on their epigenome and gene expression. Recent increasing data suggest that regulatory non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, circular RNAs, and long lncRNA) may affect host-microbe interactions. These RNAs have been suggested as potential host response biomarkers in microbiome-associated disorders, including diabetes and cancer. This article reviews the current understanding of the interplay between gut microbiota and non-coding RNA, including lncRNA, miRNA, and circular RNA. This can lead to a profound understanding of human disease and influence therapy. Furthermore, microbiome engineering as a mainstream strategy for improving human health has been discussed and confirms the hypothesis about a direct cross-talk between microbiome composition and non-coding RNA.

Gut microbiota intervention by pre and probiotics can induce regulatory T cells and reduce the risk of severe acute GVHD following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is one of the leading causes of limitation and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Numerous studies have shown that changes in the gut microbiome diversity increased post-transplant problems, including the occurrence of aGVHD. Probiotics and prebiotics can reconstitute the gut microbiota and thus increase bacterial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that have immunomodulatory effects preventing aGVHD in recipients of allo-HSCTs.

METHODS/STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a pilot randomized clinical trial to investigate whether oral synbiotics are associated with the prevention or reduction in occurrence/severity and mitigate complications of aGVHD following allo-HSCT. A commercially available synbiotic mixture containing high levels of 7 safe bacterial strains plus fructo-oligosaccharides as a prebiotic was administered to allo-HSCT recipients. Out of 40 allo-HSCT patients, 20 received daily a synbiotic 21 days prior to transplantation (days -21 to day 0). In contrast, in the control group 20 recipients of allo-HSCT did not receive a symbiotic therapy.

RESULTS

Within first 100 days of observation, the incidence of severe (grade III/IV) aGVHD in the a synbiotic-therapy group was 0% (0 out of 20 patients), whereas it was 25% (5 out of 20 patients) in the control group (P = 0.047). The median percentage of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) among CD4+ lymphocytes on day 28 after HSCT in the synbiotic group was higher (2.54%) than in control group (1.73%; P = 0.01). There was no difference in Treg cells on day 7 after HSCT between two groups. However, the median percentage and the absolute count of Tregs in patients who experience aGVHD was significantly lower on days 7 and 28 after HSCT (both P < 0.05). The overall 12-month survival (OS) rate was higher (90%) in the symbiotic-treated patients than in the control group (75%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.234).

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary findings suggest that synbiotic intake before and during the conditioning regimen of allo-HSCT patients may lead to a reduction in the incidence and severity of aGVHD through the induction of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, thus contributing to the improvement of transplant outcomes. Much larger studies are needed to confirm our observations.

Non-coding RNAs: An emerging player in particulate matter 2.5-mediated toxicity

Exposure to air pollution has been connected to around seven million early deaths annually and also contributing to higher than 3 % of disability-adjusted lost life years. Particulate matters (PM) are among the key pollutants that directly discharged or formed due to atmospheric chemical interactions. Among these matters, due of its large surface area, PM2.5 may absorb a different harmful and toxic substances. One of the outcomes of such environmental disturbance is oxidative stress which affects cellular processes including apoptosis, inflammation, and epithelial mesenchymal transition. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) such as, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs are classified as non-protein coding RNA's. Over the past few years these small molecules have been gaining so much attention since they participate in variety of physiological and pathological processes and their expression change during disease periods. Regarding epigenetic properties, ncRNAs play an important function in organism's response to environmental stimulus. In this manner, it was revealed that exposure to PM2.5 may cause epigenetic reprogramming, such as, ncRNAs signature's alteration, which can be effective concerning pathophysiology state. In this review, we describe PM2.5 impact on ncRNAs and excavate its roles in toxicity caused by PM2.5.

MicroRNA-206 in human cancer: Mechanistic and clinical perspectives

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs approximately 20-25 nt in length, play important roles via directly binding to the corresponding 3' UTR of target mRNAs. Recent research has shown that miRNAs cover a wide range of diseases, including several types of cancer. It is interesting to note that miR-206 operates as a tumor suppressor and is downregulated in abundant cancer types, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and so forth. Interestingly, a growing number of studies have also reported that miR-206 could function as an oncogene and promote tumor cell proliferation. Thereby, miR-206 may act as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors under certain conditions. In addition, it was widely acknowledged that restoring tumor-suppressor miR-206 has emerged as an unconventional cancer therapy strategy. Therefore, miR-206 might be a newfangled procedure for achieving a more significant treatment outcome for cancer patients. This review summarizes the role of miR-206 in several cancer types and the contributions made between miR-206 and the diagnosis, treatment, and drug resistance of solid tumors.

MiR-211 plays a dual role in cancer development: From tumor suppressor to tumor enhancer

Cancer is a general term for more than 100 unique malignancies in different organs of the body. Each cancer type and subtype has its own unique genetic, epigenetic, and cellular factors accountable for malignant progression and metastasis. Small non-coding RNAs called miRNAs target mRNAs and play a vital part in the pathogenesis of human diseases, specifically cancer. Recent investigations provided knowledge of the deregulation of miR-211 in various cancer types and disclosed that miR-211 has an oncogenic or tumor-suppressive impact on tumourigenesis and cancer development. Moreover, recent discoveries which clarify the essential functions of miR-211 might provide proof for its prognosis, diagnostic and therapeutic impact on cancer. Thereby, this review will discuss recent findings regarding miR-211 expression level, target genes, and mechanisms in different cancers. In addition, the most recent results that propose miR-211 usefulness as a noninvasive biomarker and therapeutic factor for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer will be explained.

Non-coding RNA in SARS-CoV-2: Progress toward therapeutic significance

The recently developed pathogenic virus, SARS-CoV-2, was found in the Hubei Province, China. Giving rise to a broad spectrum of symptoms, SARS-CoV-2 rapidly spread across the globe, causing multi-systemic and dangerous complications, with death in extreme cases. Thereby, the number of research cases increases every day on preventing infection and treating its resulting damage. Accumulating evidence suggests noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are necessary for modifying virus infection and antiviral immune reaction, along with biological processes regulating SARS-CoV-2 and subsequent disease states. Therefore, understanding these mechanisms might provide a further understanding of the pathogenesis and feasible therapy alternatives against SARS-CoV2. Consequently, the molecular biology of SARS-CoV-2, ncRNA's role in its infection, and various RNA therapy tactics against the virus have been presented in this review section.

Progress toward molecular therapy for diabetes mellitus: A focus on targeting inflammatory factors

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been the most prevalent global metabolic disease, turning into a serious risk for human health. Several researches have recorded a role for inflammation and immunity in the pathogenesis of both in T1DM and in T2DM. Lots of chemical agents are available to control and to cure diabetic patients, which are not always sufficient for euglycemia maintenance and late stage diabetic complications avoidance. Therefore, newborn therapeutic methods to refine clinical outcomes in DM are required. Nucleic-acid-based therapy also known as gene expression level regulator within the target cells has been calculated to be promising in various diseases. Thus, pronounced attempts have been dedicated to develop new targeted molecular therapy aimed at improving insulin resistance in DM. This review mainly focuses on recent progress in DM molecular therapy and whether, has potential efficacy against inflammatory mediators involved in DM.

The Role of Nutritional Factors in the Modulation of the Composition of the Gut Microbiota in People with Autoimmune Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a disease marked by oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and the presence of autoantibodies. The gut microbiota has been shown to be involved in the alleviation of oxidative stress and inflammation as well as strengthening immunity, thus its’ possible involvement in the pathogenesis of T1DM has been highlighted. The goal of the present study is to analyze information on the relationship between the structure of the intestinal microbiome and the occurrence of T1DM. The modification of the intestinal microbiota can increase the proportion of SCFA-producing bacteria, which could in turn be effective in the prevention and/or treatment of T1DM. The increased daily intake of soluble and non-soluble fibers, as well as the inclusion of pro-biotics, prebiotics, herbs, spices, and teas that are sources of phytobiotics, in the diet, could be important in improving the composition and activity of the microbiota and thus in the prevention of metabolic disorders. Understanding how the microbiota interacts with immune cells to create immune tolerance could enable the development of new therapeutic strategies for T1DM and improve the quality of life of people with T1DM.

Association of rs2910164 in miR-146a with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A case-control and meta-analysis study

OBJECTIVE

Several studies have shown that miR-146a rs2910164 (C > G) is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) susceptibility, but the results are still controversial. This study is divided into two parts, and one is to explore the relationship between miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism and the genetic susceptibility of T2DM in Chinese Han population. Second, a meta-analysis on the basis of a larger sample size was used to determine whether this is a susceptibility gene for T2DM.

METHODS

A case-control study including 574 T2DM patients and 596 controls was used to evaluate the association of miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism with the risk of T2DM in Chinese Han People. Then, we systematically searched studies investigating the correlation between miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism and T2DM susceptibility published before April 2022 from PubMed, Web of Science, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, and a meta-analysis including six studies was carried out. The results were expressed by odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

RESULTS

In a case-control study, we found that there were no statistical differences in genotype frequencies between T2DM and control group. Subgroup analysis showed that, compared with the CC genotype, CG + GG genotype was associated with a decreased risk of T2DM in the subgroup of individuals ≥ 65 years old (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.58-0.98; P _adjusted = 0.032) and BMI < 18.5 (OR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.03-0.89; P _adjusted = 0.037). In overall meta-analysis, significant heterogeneity was detected. No significant association between miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism and T2DM was observed in all genetic models under random effects models. Subgroup analysis revealed that there was a significant difference in genotype frequencies between the T2DM and control group in recessive model (CC vs. CG + GG: OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.08-2.96; P_Q = 0.307, I ² = 4.0%) and homozygote model (CC vs. GG: OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.07-3.00; P_Q = 0.216, I ² = 34.7%) in Caucasians.

CONCLUSION

The results of our study demonstrate that the miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism might have ethnicity-dependent effects in T2DM and may be related to T2DM susceptibility in Caucasians.

Gut micobiota alteration by Lactobacillus rhamnosus reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and glucose level in the adult model of Zebrafish

Objective

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is still a challenge for physicians to manage patient’s circumstances. It is assumed that alterations in the normal flora may be involved in the pathogenesis of T2DM through inducing chronic inflammation. To investigate the effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus as a common probiotic on T2DM, we induced an experimental model of T2DM in adult male Zebrafish by gradient hyper-glucose accumulation methodology.

Results

In this trial 3-month old male adult Zebrafish were divided in to four groups including two control groups and T2DM induced groups with or without probiotic treatment. After 5 days of acclimation, T2DM was induced by a gradient hyper-glucose accumulation methodology. Diabetic fishes had statistically abnormal blood glucose and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels compared to control group (p = 0.0001). These results suggest that probiotic intervention decreased the blood glucose level in the T2DM-P group by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines responsible for signaling in T2DM therapeutic modalities.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-021-05706-5.

Circulating microRNA-122, microRNA-126-3p and microRNA-146a are associated with inflammation in patients with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A case control study

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing dramatically worldwide. Dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) as key regulators of gene expression, has been reported in numerous diseases including diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression levels of miRNA-122, miRNA-126-3p and miRNA-146a in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients and in healthy individuals, and to determine whether the changes in the level of these miRNAs are reliable biomarkers in diagnosis, prognosis, and pathogenesis of T2DM. Additionally, we examined the relationship between miRNA levels and plasma concentrations of inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (Il-6) as well as insulin resistance. In this case-control study, participants (n = 90) were allocated to three groups (n = 30/group): T2DM, pre-diabetes and healthy individuals as control (males and females, age: 25–65, body mass index: 25–35). Expression of miRNA was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and fasting insulin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated as an indicator of insulin resistance. MiRNA-122 levels were higher while miRNA-126-3p and miRNA-146a levels were lower in T2DM and pre-diabetic patients compared to control (p<0.05). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between miRNA-122 expression and TNF-α (r = 0.82), IL-6 (r = 0.83) and insulin resistance (r = 0.8). Conversely, negative correlations were observed between miRNA-126-3p and miRNA-146a levels and TNF-α (r = -0.7 and r = -0.82 respectively), IL-6 (r = -0.65 and r = -0.78 respectively) as well as insulin resistance (r = -0.67 and r = -0.78 respectively) (all p<0.05). Findings of this study suggest the miRNAs can potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of T2DM. Further studies are required to examine the reproducibility of these findings.

Regulatory MicroRNAs in T2DM and Breast Cancer

MicroRNAs orchestrate the tight regulation of numerous cellular processes and the deregulation in their activities has been implicated in many diseases, including diabetes and cancer. There is an increasing amount of epidemiological evidence associating diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes mellitus, to an elevated risk of various cancer types, including breast cancer. However, little is yet known about the underlying molecular mechanisms and even less about the role miRNAs play in driving the tumorigenic potential of the cell signaling underlying diabetes pathogenesis. This article reviews the role of miRNA in bridging the diabetes–breast cancer association by discussing specific miRNAs that are implicated in diabetes and breast cancer and highlighting the overlap between the disease-specific regulatory miRNA networks to identify a 20-miRNA signature that is common to both diseases. Potential therapeutic targeting of these molecular players may help to alleviate the socioeconomic burden on public health that is imposed by the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)–breast cancer association.

Effects of probiotics on glycemic control and intestinal dominant flora in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

With the rapid development of modern society, people's dietary structure has been changing accordingly. Diets high in salt, fat, and sugar have led to an increase in the incidence of diabetes year by year, posing a great threat to human health. More than 90% of diabetic patients have type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is currently believed that the onset of T2DM is mainly related to factors such as genetics, insulin resistance, impaired insulin cell function, and obesity. The main mechanisms are as follows:The dominant flora of normal intestinal tract is mainly anaerobic bacteria which are beneficial to the human body. Under certain conditions, when intestinal flora is maladjusted, harmful bacteria and opportunistic bacteria become the dominant intestinal bacteria, resulting in metabolic disorders. Ingestion of probiotics can correct the imbalance of intestinal flora, and then, have a therapeutic effect on T2DM. Therefore, we designed this study to evaluate the effects of probiotics on blood glucose control and intestinal dominant flora in patients with T2DM.

METHODS

The retrieval period of meta-analysis literature is set from January 1, 1990 to September 2020. We will mainly search five English electronic databases, including Cochrane Library, Pubmed, Excerpt Medical Database (EMBASE), Science Direct and Web of Science, and search the following four Chinese databases: China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science Journal Database (VIP), Wanfang Database, and so on. At the same time, the two reviewers will independently conduct research selection, data extraction and deviation risk assessment, and use Review Manager 5.3 software provided by the Cochrane Collaboration for meta-analysis and heterogeneity assessment.

RESULTS

This study will demonstrate an evidence-based review of probiotics on glycemic control and intestinal dominant flora in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSION

This study can be used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of probiotics on glycemic control and intestinal dominant flora in patients with T2DM. REGISTRATION NUMBER:: is INPLASY202090104.