基于粪便代谢组学技术的逍遥散抗抑郁作用机制研究

目的应用核磁共振氢谱(1H-NMR)代谢组学技术研究慢性温和不可预知应激(CUMS)抑郁大鼠粪便中内源性代谢物及代谢通路的变化,并评价逍遥散的改善作用,探讨其抗抑郁作用机制。方法使用CUMS造模程序建立抑郁模型,采用1H-NMR技术结合多变量统计分析方法,研究CUMS抑郁大鼠粪便代谢物谱的变化、鉴定相关代谢标志物并构建代谢通路。结果在抑郁大鼠粪便样本中共筛选10种与抑郁相关的潜在生物标志物。与对照组比较,模型组天冬酰胺、天冬氨酸、乳酸和丙酸水平显著升高(P0.05、0.01),而苯丙氨酸、酪氨酸、谷氨酸、谷氨酰胺、丙氨酸和脯氨酸水平显著降低(P0.05、0.01)。与模型组相比,逍遥散能显著升高苯丙氨酸、酪氨酸、谷氨酸、谷氨酰胺和脯氨酸的水平,能显著降低天冬酰胺、乳酸和丙酸的水平。与对照组比较,CUMS抑郁大鼠粪便中6条代谢通路发生了显著变化:包括(1)氨基酰t RNA生物合成,(2)丙氨酸、天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢,(3)精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢,(4)谷氨酸和谷氨酰胺代谢,(5)苯丙氨酸代谢以及(6)丙酮酸代谢。而逍遥散可显著回调(2)、(3)、(4)、(5)和(6)条代谢通路。结论逍遥散可能通过调控氨基酸代谢、糖代谢和肠道微生物的代谢等途径发挥抗抑郁作用。

Anti-depression mechanisms of Xiaoyao Powder based on fecal metabolomics

Objective To characterize the endogenous metabolites and metabolic changes of feces of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats by ¹H-NMR, evaluate the improvement effects of Xiaoyao Powder and investigate the underlying mechanisms. Methods The depression model was established by CUMS procedure. ¹H-NMR coupled with multivariate statistical analysis was employed to reveal the changes of fecal metabolic profiles of CUMS rats and identify potential bio-markers involved in CUMS-induced depression. Based on the potential bio-markers, the relevant metabolic pathways were constructed. Results A total of 10 metabolites was identified as potential bio-markers in fecal samples for the CUMS model. Compared with the control group, the contents of asparagine, aspartate, lactate and propionic acid in the CUMS rats were significantly increased (P<0.05, 0.01), while phenylalanine, tyrosine, glutamate, glutamine, alanine and proline were significantly decreased (P<0.05, 0.01). The administration of Xiaoyao Powder could significantly increase the levels of phenylalanine, tyrosine, glutamate, glutamine and proline, whereas reduced the levels of asparagine, lactate and propionic acid. Compared with the control group, six metabolic pathways were recognized as the most influenced pathways associated with the CUMS-induced depression:(1) aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, (2) alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, (3) arginine and proline metabolism, (4) glutamine and glutamate metabolism, (5) phenylalanine metabolism and (6) pyruvate metabolism. Among them, Xiaoyao Powder significantly mediated abnormalities of five pathways of (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6). Conclusion It is the first report to investigate the antidepressant-like effects and underlying mechanisms of Xiaoyao Powder from the perspective of fecal metabolites. The current results showed that the anti-depression mechanisms of Xiaoyao Powder might be related to regulating the amino acid metabolism, glucose metabolism and intestinal microbial metabolism. This study provides a solid basis for revealing the anti-depression mechanisms of Xiaoyao Powder comprehensively and deeply.