Curcumin and Its Potential Impact on Microbiota

Curcumin is one of the most frequently researched herbal substances; however, it has been reported to have a poor bioavailability and fast metabolism, which has led to doubts about its effectiveness. Curcumin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and has demonstrated favorable health effects. Nevertheless, well-reported in vivo pharmacological activities of curcumin are limited by its poor solubility, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetic profile. The bidirectional interactions between curcumin and gut microbiota play key roles in understanding the ambiguity between the bioavailability and biological activity of curcumin, including its wider health impact.     

Potential Role of Probiotics in Ameliorating Psoriasis by Modulating Gut Microbiota in Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-Like Mice

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated systemic disease that may be treated with probiotics. In this study, probiotic strains that could or could not decrease interleukin (IL)-17 levels were applied to imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mice via oral administration. Bifidobacterium adolescentis CCFM667, B. breve CCFM1078, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei CCFM1074, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri CCFM1132 ameliorated psoriasis-like pathological characteristics and suppressed the release of IL-23/T helper cell 17 (Th17) axis-related inflammatory cytokines, whereas B. animalis CCFM1148, L. paracasei CCFM1147, and L. reuteri CCFM1040 neither alleviated the pathological characteristics nor reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines. All effective strains increased the contents of short-chain fatty acids, which were negatively correlated with the levels of inflammatory cytokines. By performing 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the diversity of gut microbiota in psoriasis-like mice was found to decrease, but all effective strains made some specific changes to the composition of gut microbiota compared to the ineffective strains. Furthermore, except for B. breve CCFM1078, all other effective strains decreased the abundance of the family Rikenellaceae, which was positively correlated with psoriasis-like pathological characteristics and was negatively correlated with propionate levels. These findings demonstrated effects of strain-specificity, and how probiotics ameliorated psoriasis and provide new possibilities for the treatment of psoriasis.     

Gut Microbiota Prevents Sugar Alcohol-Induced Diarrhea

While poorly-absorbed sugar alcohols such as sorbitol are widely used as sweeteners, they may induce diarrhea in some individuals. However, the factors which determine an individual’s susceptibility to sugar alcohol-induced diarrhea remain unknown. Here, we show that specific gut bacteria are involved in the suppression of sorbitol-induced diarrhea. Based on 16S rDNA analysis, the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria increased in response to sorbitol consumption. We found that Escherichia coli of the family Enterobacteriaceae degraded sorbitol and suppressed sorbitol-induced diarrhea. Finally, we showed that the metabolism of sorbitol by the E. coli sugar phosphotransferase system helped suppress sorbitol-induced diarrhea. Therefore, gut microbiota prevented sugar alcohol-induced diarrhea by degrading sorbitol in the gut. The identification of the gut bacteria which respond to and degrade sugar alcohols in the intestine has implications for microbiome science, processed food science, and public health.     

Gut Microbiota Profile and Its Association with Clinical Variables and Dietary Intake in Overweight/Obese and Lean Subjects: A Cross-Sectional Study

We aimed to differentiate gut microbiota composition of overweight/obese and lean subjects and to determine its association with clinical variables and dietary intake. A cross-sectional study was performed with 96 overweight/obese subjects and 32 lean subjects. Anthropometric parameters were positively associated with Collinsella aerofaciens, Dorea formicigenerans and Dorea longicatena, which had higher abundance the overweight/obese subjects. Moreover, different genera of Lachnospiraceae were negatively associated with body fat, LDL and total cholesterol. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were negatively associated with the genus Intestinimonas, a biomarker of the overweight/obese group, whereas SFAs were positively associated with Roseburia, a biomarker for the lean group. In conclusion, Dorea formicigenerans, Dorea longicatena and Collinsella aerofaciens could be considered obesity biomarkers, Lachnospiraceae is associated with lipid cardiovascular risk factors. SFAs exhibited opposite association profiles with butyrate-producing bacteria depending on the BMI. Thus, the relationship between diet and microbiota opens new tools for the management of obesity.     

Foxtail Millet Improves Blood Glucose Metabolism in Diabetic Rats through PI3K/AKT and NF-κB Signaling Pathways Mediated by Gut Microbiota

Foxtail millet (FM) is receiving ongoing increased attention due to its beneficial health effects, including the hypoglycemic effect. However, the underlying mechanisms of the hypoglycemic effect have been underexplored. In the present study, the hypoglycemic effect of FM supplementation was confirmed again in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with significantly decreased fasting glucose (FG), glycated serum protein, and areas under the glucose tolerance test (p < 0.05). We employed 16S rRNA and liver RNA sequencing technologies to identify the target gut microbes and signaling pathways involved in the hypoglycemic effect of FM supplementation. The results showed that FM supplementation significantly increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Ruminococcus_2, which were significantly negatively correlated with FG and 2-h glucose. FM supplementation significantly reversed the trends of gene expression in diabetic rats. Specifically, FM supplementation inhibited gluconeogenesis, stimulated glycolysis, and restored fatty acid synthesis through activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. FM also reduced inflammation through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Spearman’s correlation analysis indicated a complicated set of interdependencies among the gut microbiota, signaling pathways, and metabolic parameters. Collectively, the above results suggest that the hypoglycemic effect of FM was at least partially mediated by the increased relative abundance of Lactobacillus, activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.     

基于网络药理学和16SrDNA测序的当归六黄汤合煎与单煎治疗阴虚甲亢作用的差异研究

目的 探讨当归六黄汤的抗阴虚甲亢作用,阐释传统汤剂合煎和单煎的差异。方法 运用网络药理学方法,筛选当归六黄汤的主要活性成分和治疗阴虚甲亢疾病的相关靶点,并对交集靶点进行蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用（protein-protein interaction,PPI）网络分析、基因本体（gene ontology,GO）功能和京都基因与基因组百科全书（Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG）通路富集分析,构建药材-成分-靶点-通路网络;进一步进行实验验证,构建阴虚甲亢大鼠模型,评价当归六黄汤合煎和单煎对阴虚甲亢大鼠体质量、粪便含水率及相关血清学指标的影响;利用16S rDNA测序技术,揭示合煎和单煎对大鼠肠道微生物群落多样性的影响。结果 筛选获得当归六黄汤方中102个活性成分,检索出与阴虚甲亢有关靶点116个。富集分析获得871条GO条目和158条KEGG相关条目（P<0.05）,其中生物过程（biological process,BP）675条、细胞组分（cellular component,CC）77条、分子功能（molecular fu...     

Washed microbiota transplantation stopped the deterioration of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: The first case report and narrative review

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is known as a progressive paralysis disorder characterized by degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons, and has an average survival time of three to five years. Growing evidence has suggested a bidirectional link between gut microbiota and neurodegeneration. Here we aimed to report one female case with ALS, who benefited from washed microbiota transplantation (WMT), an improved fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), through a transendoscopic enteral tube during a 12-month follow-up. Notedly, the accidental scalp trauma the patient suffered later was treated with prescribed antibiotics that caused ALS deterioration. The subsequent rescue WMTs successfully stopped the progression of the disease with a quick improvement. The plateaus and reversals occurred during the whole course of WMT. The stool and blood samples from the first WMT to the last were collected for dynamic microbial and metabolomic analysis. We observed the microbial and metabolomic changing trend consistent with the disease status. This case report for the first time shows the direct clinical evidence on using WMT for treating ALS, indicating that WMT may be the novel treatment strategy for controlling this so-called incurable disease.     

基于“人卧血归于肝”探讨睡眠障碍对代谢相关脂肪性肝病的影响

“人卧血归于肝”是睡眠与“肝”藏象功能的重要关联,也是肝主藏血、肝主疏泄的具体体现。现基于“人卧血归于肝” 梳理睡眠与“肝”藏象的必然联系,总结睡眠障碍对肝脏糖脂代谢紊乱的影响,指出睡眠障碍通过中枢调控系统引发进食异常从而增加肝脏代谢负担,并通过其诱发的免疫反应加重肝脏代谢紊乱和肝脏炎症,也可增加胰岛素抵抗引发糖脂代谢异常并增加肝脏脂肪堆积。除此以外,睡眠障碍还可通过影响肠道菌群的变化对脂肪的消化吸收促进肝脏脂肪变性。故以“人卧血归于肝”的理论引出睡眠对于肝脏疾病的重要作用,并以期为进一步探索中西医结合防治方案提供理论参考。