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Marafini I, Monteleone I, Laudisi F, Monteleone G. Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Signalling in the Control of Gut Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4527. [PMID: 38674118 PMCID: PMC11050475 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084527] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a transcription factor activated by many natural and synthetic ligands, represents an important mediator of the interplay between the environment and the host's immune responses. In a healthy gut, AHR activation promotes tolerogenic signals, which help maintain mucosal homeostasis. AHR expression is defective in the inflamed gut of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), where decreased AHR signaling is supposed to contribute to amplifying the gut tissue's destructive immune-inflammatory responses. We here review the evidence supporting the role of AHR in controlling the "physiological" intestinal inflammation and summarize the data about the therapeutic effects of AHR activators, both in preclinical mouse models of colitis and in patients with IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Marafini
- Gastroenterology Unit, Policlinico Universitario Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Ivan Monteleone
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Federica Laudisi
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Monteleone
- Gastroenterology Unit, Policlinico Universitario Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
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Popovic A, Cao EY, Han J, Nursimulu N, Alves-Ferreira EVC, Burrows K, Kennard A, Alsmadi N, Grigg ME, Mortha A, Parkinson J. Commensal protist Tritrichomonas musculus exhibits a dynamic life cycle that induces extensive remodeling of the gut microbiota. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae023. [PMID: 38366179 PMCID: PMC10944700 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Commensal protists and gut bacterial communities exhibit complex relationships, mediated at least in part through host immunity. To improve our understanding of this tripartite interplay, we investigated community and functional dynamics between the murine protist Tritrichomonas musculus and intestinal bacteria in healthy and B-cell-deficient mice. We identified dramatic, protist-driven remodeling of resident microbiome growth and activities, in parallel with Tritrichomonas musculus functional changes, which were accelerated in the absence of B cells. Metatranscriptomic data revealed nutrient-based competition between bacteria and the protist. Single-cell transcriptomics identified distinct Tritrichomonas musculus life stages, providing new evidence for trichomonad sexual replication and the formation of pseudocysts. Unique cell states were validated in situ through microscopy and flow cytometry. Our results reveal complex microbial dynamics during the establishment of a commensal protist in the gut, and provide valuable data sets to drive future mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Popovic
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Eric Y Cao
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Joanna Han
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Nirvana Nursimulu
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 2E4, Canada
| | - Eliza V C Alves-Ferreira
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Kyle Burrows
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Andrea Kennard
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Noor Alsmadi
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Michael E Grigg
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Arthur Mortha
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - John Parkinson
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
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Wang S, Li L, Chen Y, Liu Q, Zhou S, Li N, Wu Y, Yuan J. Houttuynia cordata thunb. alleviates inflammatory bowel disease by modulating intestinal microenvironment: a research review. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1306375. [PMID: 38077358 PMCID: PMC10702737 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1306375] [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: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex group of chronic intestinal diseases, the cause of which has not yet been clarified, but it is widely believed that the disorder of the intestinal microenvironment and its related functional changes are key factors in the development of the disease. Houttuynia cordata thunb. is a traditional plant with abundant resources and long history of utilization in China, which has attracted widespread attention in recent years due to its potential in the treatment of IBD. However, its development and utilization are limited owing to the aristolochic acid alkaloids contained in it. Therefore, based on the relationship between the intestinal microenvironment and IBD, this article summarizes the potential mechanisms by which the main active ingredients of Houttuynia cordata thunb., such as volatile oils, polysaccharides, and flavonoids, and related traditional Chinese medicine preparations, such as Xiezhuo Jiedu Formula, alleviate IBD by regulating the intestinal microenvironment. At the same time, combined with current reports, the medicinal and edible safety of Houttuynia cordata thunb. is explained for providing ideas for further research and development of Houttuynia chordate thunb. in IBD disease, more treatment options for IBD patients, and more insights into the therapeutic potential of plants with homology of medicine and food in intestinal diseases, and even more diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Wang
- First Clinical School of Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lei Li
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yuhan Chen
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Qian Liu
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Shengyu Zhou
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ning Li
- First Clinical School of Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yueying Wu
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Chronic Disease in Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jiali Yuan
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Chronic Disease in Prevention and Treatment, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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Singh S, Giron LB, Shaikh MW, Shankaran S, Engen PA, Bogin ZR, Bambi SA, Goldman AR, Azevedo JLLC, Orgaz L, de Pedro N, González P, Giera M, Verhoeven A, Sánchez-López E, Pandrea IV, Kannan T, Tanes CE, Bittinger K, Landay AL, Corley MJ, Keshavarzian A, Abdel-Mohsen M. Distinct Intestinal Microbial Signatures Linked to Accelerated Biological Aging in People with HIV. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3492242. [PMID: 37961645 PMCID: PMC10635386 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3492242/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Background People with HIV (PWH), even with controlled viral replication through antiretroviral therapy (ART), experience persistent inflammation. This is partly due to intestinal microbial dysbiosis and translocation. Such ongoing inflammation may lead to the development of non-AIDS-related aging-associated comorbidities. However, there remains uncertainty regarding whether HIV affects the biological age of the intestines and whether microbial dysbiosis and translocation influence the biological aging process in PWH on ART. To fill this knowledge gap, we utilized a systems biology approach, analyzing colon and ileal biopsies, blood samples, and stool specimens from PWH on ART and their matched HIV-negative counterparts. Results Despite having similar chronological ages, PWH on ART exhibit accelerated biological aging in the colon, ileum, and blood, as measured by various epigenetic aging clocks, compared to HIV-negative controls. Investigating the relationship between microbial translocation and biological aging, PWH on ART had decreased levels of tight junction proteins in the colon and ileum, along with increased microbial translocation. This increased intestinal permeability correlated with faster intestinal and systemic biological aging, as well as increased systemic inflammation. When investigating the relationship between microbial dysbiosis and biological aging, the intestines of PWH on ART had higher abundance of specific pro-inflammatory bacterial genera, such as Catenibacterium and Prevotella. These bacteria significantly correlated with accelerated local and systemic biological aging. Conversely, the intestines of PWH on ART had lower abundance of bacterial genera known for producing short-chain fatty acids and exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties, such as Subdoligranulum and Erysipelotrichaceae, and these bacteria taxa were associated with slower biological aging. Correlation networks revealed significant links between specific microbial genera in the colon and ileum (but not in feces), increased aging, a rise in pro-inflammatory microbial-related metabolites (e.g., those in the tryptophan metabolism pathway), and a decrease in anti-inflammatory metabolites like hippuric acid and oleic acid. Conclusions We identified a specific microbial composition and microbiome-related metabolic pathways that are intertwined with both intestinal and systemic biological aging in PWH on ART. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying these connections could potentially offer strategies to counteract premature aging and its associated health complications in PWH.
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