Metabolites最新文献

Metabolites, once viewed mainly as energy substrates or structural precursors, are now increasingly recognized as key extracellular signaling mediators that regulate diverse physiological processes. This review synthesizes and systematizes current knowledge on metabolite-mediated signaling through G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in teleosts and, importantly, highlights new conceptual links between specific metabolite-GPCR axes and key physiological functions relevant to aquaculture. By integrating evidence across metabolite-GPCRs axes, including succinate-SUCNR1, aromatic amino acids (tryptophan and phenylalanine)-GPR142, basic amino acids (L-arginine)-GPRC6A, and lactate-GPR81. We clarify how metabolite-receptor interactions have the potential to modulate glucose homeostasis, immune responses, energy metabolism, and stress coping. A major contribution of this review is illustrating how metabolites act not only as nutrients but also as extracellular signaling molecules governing core physiological processes via GPCRs. Particularly from an evolutionary perspective, compared with peptide-activated GPCRs, metabolite-sensing GPCRs are relatively conserved across different species, suggesting that relevant findings from biomedical research could be translated to aquaculture applications. Therefore, understanding GPCR-mediated metabolite sensing provides a molecular foundation for improving nutrient formulation, developing functional feeds, and designing selective breeding strategies in precision aquaculture.

Background: Metabolomics is recognized as crucial technology for advancing our ability to diagnose, characterize, and monitor treatment of disease. Yet, metabolomics-based diagnostic testing has not been widely adapted into clinical practice because its technical requirements make it generally incompatible with operation at the point of care. One way to expand the reach of metabolomics-based testing, and its clinical benefits, is to utilize dried blood spots (DBS) as a testing sample type. Their easy collection, ambient storage capability, and cost-effective shipment make DBSs ideal for diagnostic tests that require the use of a centralized technology.

Methods: To date, relatively few studies have investigated the performance of DBSs at capturing the global metabolome and reporting changes associated with physiological processes. In this study, we investigated those factors by performing global metabolomic profiling on DBSs collected from study volunteers under fasted and postprandial states, with and without dietary fish oil supplementation.

Results: DBSs demonstrated broad coverage of metabolic pathways and captured numerous metabolic changes associated with feeding, fasting, and fish oil supplementation that have been reported in plasma and serum.

Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that DBSs are a viable sample type for metabolomics-based diagnostic testing and justify follow-up validation studies.

Background:Chionanthus retusus Lindl. et Paxt., a deciduous tree of the genus Chionanthus (Oleaceae), represents a significant native species and a widely cultivated ornamental. Its tender leaves can be processed into tea, traditionally consumed in southern China under the common name "Nuomi Cha". Methods: Our team quantified the tea polyphenol content across 150 individual trees of C. retusus and selected three low-polyphenol (ZB_D_14, AQ_2, AQ_1) and three high-polyphenol (SX_3, SXG_D_8, TS_D_13) lines for transcriptome sequencing of their young leaves. The resulting data were analyzed to screen for candidate genes. Subsequently, transgenic plants were constructed, and their tea polyphenol content was determined. Results: A significant difference in tea polyphenol content was confirmed between the high- and low-polyphenol lines. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) pinpointed a key module strongly associated with tea polyphenol synthesis, encompassing 432 DEGs, which were predominantly enriched in pathways like phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. A comparative transcriptomic analysis further yielded 84 DEGs (40 up- and 44 down-regulated). Enrichment analysis showed these were primarily involved in flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways. Expression profiling of genes in the tea polyphenol biosynthetic pathway indicated that several key genes (e.g., 4CL, CHS, DFR) were highly expressed in the high-content lines. A gene interaction network related to this synthesis identified 20 hub genes (e.g., CrHSP70-14, CrMYB44, CrbHLH92). Functional validation of four hubs (CrMYB44, CrHSP70-14, CrCDC6B, CrRAE1) via tobacco transient transformation assays demonstrated that all four significantly elevated tea polyphenol levels, with CrHSP70-14 overexpression yielding the highest content. Furthermore, stable CrHSP70-14 overexpression transgenic tobacco lines were generated, exhibiting significantly higher leaf tea polyphenol content versus controls. Conclusions: This study identifies multiple regulatory genes involved in C. retusus tea polyphenol biosynthesis, provides initial mechanistic insights, and establishes a molecular foundation for breeding specialized tea cultivars of this species.

Background/Objectives: Successful and sustained breastfeeding depends on maternal, psychological, metabolic and obstetric factors including hydration status, body composition, gestational age at delivery and mode of delivery, which are rarely assessed together in routine postpartum care. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) provides a non-invasive assessment of hydration and tissue composition, yet its potential to support lactation outcomes remains insufficiently studied. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between postpartum body composition, hydration status assessed with BIA, and breastfeeding duration. Methods: A total of 122 women in the early postpartum period after term singleton deliveries were enrolled, of whom 50 completed the full protocol, including a 7-month follow-up. BIA and anthropometric measurements were performed on postpartum days 2 and 3. Breastfeeding duration was assessed at 7 months via telephone interview and categorized as <6 months or ≥6 months. Two indices (PLBI and sPLBI) were calculated to describe BMI change from pre-pregnancy to 7 months postpartum. Results: Breastfeeding for ≥6 months was significantly associated with marital status, mode of delivery, lower BMI on postpartum day 2, and a positive change in the overhydration index (ΔOH). Women in this group exhibited significantly lower PLBI and sPLBI values, indicating more effective postpartum weight recovery and a greater return toward pre-pregnancy BMI. Hydration parameters derived from BIA differentiated between shorter and longer breastfeeding duration. Conclusions: Positive postpartum hydration balance (ΔOH ≥ 0) and efficient metabolic recovery, reflected by lower PLBI and sPLBI values, may support longer breastfeeding. BIA-based assessment of hydration and body composition could help identify women at higher risk of early breastfeeding cessation. Further longitudinal research is warranted to confirm the clinical utility of BIA in postpartum care and its potential role in early lactation support.

Background: Early prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains a major clinical challenge, and the current oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is time-consuming and inconvenient for clinical routine. This study aimed to develop a novel predictive model for postprandial hyperglycemia GDM (pp-GDM) and postprandial glucose elevation using fasting serological and metabolic profiles. Method: We used High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to analyze fasting plasma amino acid profiles at 24-28 weeks of gestation for 60 pp-GDM patients and 120 controls. Binary logistic regression model was constructed to identify potential biomarkers for pp-GDM prediction. Results: By incorporating amino acid indicators such as isoleucine, phenylalanine, threonine, and aspartate into the predictive model alongside traditional predictors (including BMI at sampling, fasting insulin, glycated hemoglobin, and uric acid), the overall predictive performance was significantly improved from 78.2% to 91.1%. A clinically practical nomogram for risk assessment was subsequently developed. Conclusions: This fasting metabolite-based model provides a reliable tool for early prediction of pp-GDM and postprandial hyperglycemia, which may reduce the need for OGTT and facilitate timely clinical decision making.

Background: Post-harvest losses in bananas, particularly due to diseases such as anthracnose and stem-end rot, significantly limit their storage life and marketability. Developing effective and non-toxic treatments to prolong the shelf life of fruits while maintaining quality is crucial inenabling long-distance transport and facilitating exports. Methods: The most popular and commercial banana variety, 'Grand Naine', was treated with a proprietary secondary metabolite-based formulation (this refers to a solution containing natural compounds produced by living organisms, which are not directly involved in growth but can influence various biological processes, such as antimicrobial activity) and stored under cold conditions at 13 °C, using vacuum packaging (a method where air is removed from the packaging to reduce spoilage and prolong freshness). Untreated fruits were considered as controls, meaning that they were not subjected to the treatment and served as a baseline for comparison. Shelf life-related parameters such as ethylene production (a plant hormone responsible for triggering fruit ripening), ACC oxidase activity (an enzyme central to ethylene synthesis), respiration rate (the rate at which fruit consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide), firmness, total soluble solids (TSS; measures the sugar content in fruit), acidity, and metabolic composition were assessed, including indices of susceptibility to disease. These measurements were taken at regular intervals for both treated and control fruits. Results: Secondary metabolite-treated bananas maintained quality for 45 days, staying free from anthracnose and stem-end rot. Control fruits showed over-ripening and an 11.6% percent disease index (PDI). Treated fruits had lower ethylene production (7.80 μg/kg/s vs. 10.03 μg/kg/s in controls), reduced ACC oxidase activity, and a slower respiration rate, delaying ripening. They also had greater firmness (1.45 kg/cm²), optimal TSS (13.5 °Brix), balanced acidity (0.58%), and increased flavonoid and antioxidant levels compared to controls. Conclusions: Secondary metabolite-based treatment, combined with cold storage and vacuum packaging, extended banana shelf life to 45 days, minimized disease, and preserved fruit quality. This approach substantially reduced post-harvest losses, demonstrating export potential through extended storage.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has emerged as a global health challenge due to its complex pathophysiological processes. Systemic inflammation may profoundly affect disease progression, but the correlation between inflammatory markers and disease severity remains inadequately explored. This cross-sectional analysis within a prospective cohort evaluated associations of inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α, hsCRP) with MASLD severity (five non-invasive scores) and metabolic indices, primarily with early-stage disease (66.7% mild fibrosis by TE).

Methods: We recruited 120 patients diagnosed with MASLD. Assessment included anthropometric measurements, laboratory analyses, and non-invasive fibrosis evaluation using five validated scoring systems (APRI, FIB-4, NAFLD fibrosis score, FAST score, and transient elastography). Inflammatory markers were quantified using high-sensitivity ELISA techniques. Medication/comorbidities were recorded (statins 23.3%, diabetes drugs 26.7%), and multivariate regressions and FDR correction were applied.

Results: Patients showed remarkably elevated inflammatory markers compared to reference ranges: IL-6 (15.1 ± 9.3 pg/mL), TNF-α (38.8 ± 29.1 pg/mL), and hsCRP (12.3 ± 11.1 mg/L). No correlations were found between inflammatory markers and disease severity across any non-invasive scoring system. However, TNF-α correlated significantly with waist circumference (r = 0.28, p = 0.002) and ALT (r = 0.19, p = 0.03), while showing inverse correlations with total cholesterol (r = -0.27, p = 0.03) and LDL (r = -0.22, p = 0.02). In contrast, hsCRP correlated positively with LDL (r = 0.20, p = 0.02) and WBC count (r = 0.24, p = 0.008).

Conclusion: This study reveals a dissociation between systemic inflammatory markers and hepatic fibrosis severity in MASLD. Inflammatory Markers showed stronger metabolic associations than fibrosis, limiting their utility as fibrosis surrogates in early MASLD. These findings support a dual-pathway approach to MASLD management, targeting metabolic and hepatic components independently. The divergent associations of TNF-α and hsCRP with lipid profiles suggest distinct inflammatory mechanisms in MASLD.

Background: The association between oxidative stress and inflammation in obesity motivates investigation of the effects of d-limonene, gallic acid, ellagic acid, p-coumaric acid, and their mixture, which are major compounds of Callistemon citrinus, on oxidative stress and inflammation in the brains of rats fed a high-fat-sucrose diet. This study aimed to identify the specific bioactive compounds in C. citrinus leaf extract responsible for its neuroprotective effects against diet-induced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight groups (n = 6). Group 1 (control) received a standard diet, while group 2 received a high-fat, high-sucrose diet (HFSD). Groups 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 were also fed HFSD supplemented with C. citrinus extract, its main compounds, and a mixture of these compounds administered once daily via oral cannula for 23 weeks. The antioxidant and pro-inflammatory enzymes, along with oxidative biomarkers, were evaluated in the brains of the rats. Results:C. citrinus leaf extract and its four main components, both separately and together, modulated the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and paraoxonase-1. They also affected levels of reduced glutathione while decreasing the amounts of advanced oxidative protein products, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxynonenal. Additionally, they decreased the activities of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2), 5-lipoxygenase, xanthine oxidase, and myeloperoxidase in the brains of rats, despite a high-fat-sucrose diet. Conclusions: These results show that the main compounds in C. citrinus leaf extract are essential for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which help protect against oxidative stress in the brains of rats on a high-calorie diet.

Background/objectives: Both HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy contribute to dyslipidemia and abnormal body fat distribution in people living with HIV (PLWH). Exercise training is an effective intervention to protect against these metabolic changes. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the impact of exercise training on lipid metabolism in PLWH. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the effect of high-intensity functional circuit training on the plasma lipidome of PLWH and HIV-negative subjects (control).

Methods: PLWH (n = 13) and control (n = 14) were submitted to 8 weeks of exercise training. Body composition, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters were measured. Plasma was obtained in a fasting state for lipidomic analysis.

Results: Anthropometric and biochemical parameters revealed lower levels of leptin, HDL-C, body fat %, and BMI combined with elevated aspartate transaminase (AST) and Homeostasis Model Assessment of β-cell function (HOMA_beta) in PLWH when compared to control subjects that persisted from baseline to post-exercise training. Nonetheless, contrasting levels of adiponectin, fasting insulin, and phosphatidylcholine-containing lipids observed at baseline were equalized after training in PLWH. In control subjects, significant reductions in concentrations of triglycerides alongside phosphatidylinositol and glycosylated ceramides were observed post-exercise training. By contrast, PWLH displayed an increase in diglycerides, acylcarnitines, and free cholesterol levels after exercise training, together with decreased concentrations of free fatty acids, cholesteryl esters, and glycosylated ceramides.

Conclusions: In addition to specific lipidome alterations in each group, particularly driven by improved insulin resistance in PLWH, this study showed concomitant modulation of several glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids, suggesting health-promoting effects of short-term exercise training. Collectively, these modulated lipid species represent interesting targets for future lipidomic-based studies evaluating not only the effects of exercise training but also the molecular mechanisms resulting in a healthier plasma lipidome profile.

Sensory systems allow the detection of external and internal cues essential for adaptive responses. Chemosensation exemplifies this integration, guiding feeding, mating, and toxin avoidance while also influencing physiological regulation. Across taxa, chemical detection relies on diverse receptor families, and emerging evidence reveals that transient receptor potential (TRP) channels-traditionally associated with phototransduction, thermosensation, and mechanotransduction-also mediate chemosensory functions. Studies in Drosophila melanogaster and vertebrates demonstrate that TRPs detect tastants, odorants, and internal chemical states, highlighting their evolutionary conservation and functional versatility. This review synthesizes current insights into the roles of TRP channels across four major domains: taste, smell, internal state, and central circuit modulation. Using D. melanogaster and mammalian systems as comparative frameworks, we highlight how TRP channels function as polymodal sensors, signal amplifiers, and modulators embedded within canonical receptor pathways rather than as standalone chemoreceptors. Recognizing these integrative functions not only expands our understanding of how organisms coordinate behavior with internal states but also points to TRP channels as potential targets for addressing chemosensory disorders and metabolic diseases. This framework highlights key directions for future research into TRP-mediated sensory and homeostatic regulation.