1
|
Shao J, Qu L, Liu Y, Zhang J, Liu Y, Deng J, Ma X, Fan D. Ginsenoside Rk3 Regulates Tryptophan Metabolism along the Brain-Gut Axis by Targeting Tryptophan Hydroxylase and Remodeling the Intestinal Microenvironment to Alleviate Depressive-Like Behavior in Mice. J Agric Food Chem 2024; 72:7100-7120. [PMID: 38488514 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Depression is a neuropsychiatric disease that significantly impacts the physical and mental health of >300 million people worldwide and places a major burden on society. Ginsenosides are the main active ingredient in ginseng and have been proven to have various pharmacological effects on the nervous system. Herein, we investigated the antidepressant effect of ginsenoside Rk3 and its underlying mechanism in a murine model of depression. Rk3 significantly improved depression-like behavior in mice, ameliorated the disturbance of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, and alleviated neuronal damage in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of mice. Additionally, Rk3 improved the abnormal metabolism of tryptophan in brain tissue by targeting tryptophan hydroxylase, thereby reducing neuronal apoptosis and synaptic structural damage in the mouse hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, Rk3 reshaped the composition of the gut microbiota of mice and regulated intestinal tryptophan metabolism, which alleviated intestinal barrier damage. Thus, this study provides valuable insights into the role of Rk3 in the tryptophan metabolic cycle along the brain-gut axis, suggesting that Rk3 may have the potential for treating depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Shao
- Shaanxi Institute of Microbiology, Xiying Road 76, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710043, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Linlin Qu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Shaanxi Institute of Microbiology, Xiying Road 76, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710043, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Shaanxi Institute of Microbiology, Xiying Road 76, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710043, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Yannan Liu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Jianjun Deng
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Ma
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Daidi Fan
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Taibai North Road 229, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Herring G, Eagles-Smith CA, Varland DE. Mercury and lead exposure in avian scavengers from the Pacific Northwest suggest risks to California condors: Implications for reintroduction and recovery. Environ Pollut 2018; 243:610-619. [PMID: 30218871 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) are widespread contaminants that pose risks to avian scavengers. In fact, Pb exposure is the primary factor limiting population recovery in the endangered California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) and Hg can impair avian reproduction at environmentally relevant exposures. The Pacific Northwest region of the US was historically part of the condor's native range, and efforts are underway to expand recovery into this area. To identify potential threats to reintroduced condors we assessed foraging habitats, Hg and Pb exposure, and physiological responses in two surrogate avian scavenger species (common ravens [Corvus corax] and turkey vultures [Cathartes aura] across the region between 2012 and 2016. Mercury exposure near the Pacific coast was 17-27-fold higher than in inland areas, and stable carbon and sulfur isotopes ratios indicated that coastal scavengers were highly reliant on marine prey. In contrast, Pb concentrations were uniformly elevated across the region, with 18% of the birds exposed to subclinical poisoning levels. Elevated Pb concentrations were associated with lower delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD) activity, and in ravens there was an interactive effect between Hg and Pb on fecal corticosterone concentrations. This interaction indicated that the effects of Hg and Pb exposure on the stress axis are bidirectional, and depend on the magnitude of simultaneous exposure to the other contaminant. Our results suggest that condors released to the Pacific Northwest may be exposed to both elevated Hg and Pb, posing challenges to management of future condor populations in the Pacific Northwest. Developing a robust monitoring program for reintroduced condors and surrogate scavengers will help both better understand the drivers of exposure and predict the likelihood of impaired health. These findings provide a strong foundation for such an effort, providing resource managers with valuable information to help mitigate potential risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Garth Herring
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Collin A Eagles-Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang D, Gao Q, Zhao G, Kan Z, Wang X, Wang H, Huang J, Wang T, Qian F, Ho CT, Wang Y. Protective Effect and Mechanism of Theanine on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation and Acute Liver Injury in Mice. J Agric Food Chem 2018; 66:7674-7683. [PMID: 29969892 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b02293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Theanine, a unique bioactive constituent from tea ( Camellia sinensis) leaves, is widely used as a functional ingredient and dietary supplement. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of theanine and its molecular mechanism, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation mouse model was employed in this study. The survival rate of mice in the theanine-treated group increased significantly compared with that of LPS-only group mice. Furthermore, ICR male mice were randomly divided into three or four groups: control, LPS (LPS treatment only), LPS + theanine (20 mg/kg/day), and theanine (theanine treatment only). The results showed that compared with the LPS group, the liver damage and oxidative stress of the theanine-treated group decreased significantly, based on plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations, hepatic total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and histological scores and apoptosis [terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining and caspase-3 activity] in the liver tissues. Furthermore, compared with no treatment, pretreatment with theanine significantly decreased the release of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, inhibited the expression of several inflammatory factors (including IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6), and increased the IL-10/interferon (IFN)-γ ratio in the hepatic tissues. In the LPS-induced inflammation model, theanine inhibited the expression of proinflammatory mediators involved in the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and attenuated the phosphorylation of NF-κB in the hepatic tissues. Moreover, theanine suppressed the acute-phase response (elevated nitric oxide and C-reactive protein levels). Furthermore, theanine suppressed the LPS-induced inflammatory state by normalizing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity. Taken together, the results suggest that theanine potentially ameliorates LPS-induced inflammation and acute liver injury; molecular mechanism of action may involve normalization of HPA axis hyperactivity and inactivation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongxu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, School of Tea and Food Science & Technology , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
- International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
| | - Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, School of Tea and Food Science & Technology , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
| | - Guangshan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, School of Tea and Food Science & Technology , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
| | - Zhipeng Kan
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, School of Tea and Food Science & Technology , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, School of Tea and Food Science & Technology , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
| | - Haisong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, School of Tea and Food Science & Technology , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
- International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
| | - Jinbao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, School of Tea and Food Science & Technology , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
- International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
| | - Taotao Wang
- Department of Clinical Nutrition , Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University , Zhenjiang , Jiangsu 212000 , China
| | - Frank Qian
- Pritzker School of Medicine , University of Chicago , Chicago , Illinois 60637 , United States
| | - Chi-Tang Ho
- International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
- Department of Food Science , Rutgers University , New Brunswick , New Jersey 08901 , United States
| | - Yijun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, School of Tea and Food Science & Technology , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
- International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects , Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei , Anhui 230036 , China
| |
Collapse
|