Genome-wide association study of metabolic traits reveals novel gene-metabolite-disease links.

Metabolic traits are molecular phenotypes that can drive clinical phenotypes and may predict disease progression. Here, we report results from a metabolome- and genome-wide association study on (1)H-NMR urine metabolic profiles. The study was conducted within an untargeted approach, employing a novel method for compound identification. From our discovery cohort of 835 Caucasian individuals who participated in the CoLaus study, we identified 139 suggestively significant (P<5×10(-8)) and independent associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and metabolome features. Fifty-six of these associations replicated in the TasteSensomics cohort, comprising 601 individuals from São Paulo of vastly diverse ethnic background. They correspond to eleven gene-metabolite associations, six of which had been previously identified in the urine metabolome and three in the serum metabolome. Our key novel findings are the associations of two SNPs with NMR spectral signatures pointing to fucose (rs492602, P = 6.9×10(-44)) and lysine (rs8101881, P = 1.2×10(-33)), respectively. Fine-mapping of the first locus pinpointed the FUT2 gene, which encodes a fucosyltransferase enzyme and has previously been associated with Crohn's disease. This implicates fucose as a potential prognostic disease marker, for which there is already published evidence from a mouse model. The second SNP lies within the SLC7A9 gene, rare mutations of which have been linked to severe kidney damage. The replication of previous associations and our new discoveries demonstrate the potential of untargeted metabolomics GWAS to robustly identify molecular disease markers.

GWAS of human bitter taste perception identifies new loci and reveals additional complexity of bitter taste genetics.

Human perception of bitterness displays pronounced interindividual variation. This phenotypic variation is mirrored by equally pronounced genetic variation in the family of bitter taste receptor genes. To better understand the effects of common genetic variations on human bitter taste perception, we conducted a genome-wide association study on a discovery panel of 504 subjects and a validation panel of 104 subjects from the general population of São Paulo in Brazil. Correction for general taste-sensitivity allowed us to identify a SNP in the cluster of bitter taste receptors on chr12 (10.88- 11.24 Mb, build 36.1) significantly associated (best SNP: rs2708377, P = 5.31 × 10(-13), r(2) = 8.9%, ß = -0.12, s.e. = 0.016) with the perceived bitterness of caffeine. This association overlaps with-but is statistically distinct from-the previously identified SNP rs10772420 influencing the perception of quinine bitterness that falls in the same bitter taste cluster. We replicated this association to quinine perception (P = 4.97 × 10(-37), r(2) = 23.2%, ß = 0.25, s.e. = 0.020) and additionally found the effect of this genetic locus to be concentration specific with a strong impact on the perception of low, but no impact on the perception of high concentrations of quinine. Our study, thus, furthers our understanding of the complex genetic architecture of bitter taste perception.

Brain dynamics of meal size selection in humans.

Although neuroimaging research has evidenced specific responses to visual food stimuli based on their nutritional quality (e.g., energy density, fat content), brain processes underlying portion size selection remain largely unexplored. We identified spatio-temporal brain dynamics in response to meal images varying in portion size during a task of ideal portion selection for prospective lunch intake and expected satiety. Brain responses to meal portions judged by the participants as 'too small', 'ideal' and 'too big' were measured by means of electro-encephalographic (EEG) recordings in 21 normal-weight women. During an early stage of meal viewing (105-145 ms), data showed an incremental increase of the head-surface global electric field strength (quantified via global field power; GFP) as portion judgments ranged from 'too small' to 'too big'. Estimations of neural source activity revealed that brain regions underlying this effect were located in the insula, middle frontal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus, and are similar to those reported in previous studies investigating responses to changes in food nutritional content. In contrast, during a later stage (230-270 ms), GFP was maximal for the 'ideal' relative to the 'non-ideal' portion sizes. Greater neural source activity to 'ideal' vs. 'non-ideal' portion sizes was observed in the inferior parietal lobule, superior temporal gyrus and mid-posterior cingulate gyrus. Collectively, our results provide evidence that several brain regions involved in attention and adaptive behavior track 'ideal' meal portion sizes as early as 230 ms during visual encounter. That is, responses do not show an increase paralleling the amount of food viewed (and, in extension, the amount of reward), but are shaped by regulatory mechanisms.

Verbal labels selectively bias brain responses to high-energy foods.

The influence of external factors on food preferences and choices is poorly understood. Knowing which and how food-external cues impact the sensory processing and cognitive valuation of food would provide a strong benefit toward a more integrative understanding of food intake behavior and potential means of interfering with deviant eating patterns to avoid detrimental health consequences for individuals in the long run. We investigated whether written labels with positive and negative (as opposed to 'neutral') valence differentially modulate the spatio-temporal brain dynamics in response to the subsequent viewing of high- and low-energetic food images. Electrical neuroimaging analyses were applied to visual evoked potentials (VEPs) from 20 normal-weight participants. VEPs and source estimations in response to high- and low- energy foods were differentially affected by the valence of preceding word labels over the ~260-300 ms post-stimulus period. These effects were only observed when high-energy foods were preceded by labels with positive valence. Neural sources in occipital as well as posterior, frontal, insular and cingulate regions were down-regulated. These findings favor cognitive-affective influences especially on the visual responses to high-energetic food cues, potentially indicating decreases in cognitive control and goal-adaptive behavior. Inverse correlations between insular activity and effectiveness in food classification further indicate that this down-regulation directly impacts food-related behavior.

Plant-based hydrolysates as building blocks for cellular agriculture.

Cellular agriculture, an emerging technology, aims to produce animal-based products such as meat through scalable tissue culture methods. Traditional techniques rely on chemically undefined media using fetal bovine serum (FBS) or chemically defined media utilizing specific growth factors. To be a viable alternative to conventional meat production, cellular agriculture requires cost-effective materials with established supply chains for growth media. Here, we investigate hydrolysates from Kikuyu grass, Alfalfa grass, and cattle rearing pellets. We identified conditions that promote C2C12 myoblast cell growth in media containing 0.1% and 0% serum. These effects are more pronounced in combination with existing growth promoters such as insulin, transferrin, and selenium. Overall, the rearing pellet hydrolysates were most effective in promoting growth particularly when in combination with the growth promoters. Our findings suggest that leveraging these materials, along with known growth factors, can facilitate the development of improved, scalable, and commercially viable media for cellular agriculture.

Obtaining source material for cellular agriculture.

Cellular Agriculture (CellAg) is an attractive concept for innovative technology with the intent to provide food and nutrition complementary to existing supply streams. The past decade has seen considerable progress in the field with advancement of cellular technology that delivers the initial building blocks for meaningful implementation. The availability of natural cell-based material that can serve as nutrient-filled source for human consumption at low cost is a critical challenge for the emerging cellular agriculture industry. Therefore, here the isolation of bovine myofibroblasts of the Black Angus breed has been pursued and accomplished together with its characterisation by using RNA sequencing and proteomics through western blotting. To transition CellAg from a concept to a game changing technology for the industry, multiple challenges need to be overcome. The field requires powerful initial material, i.e., dedicated cells that can proliferate and differentiate robustly at scale. The methodology described allows for the production of healthy cells, which have been unequivocally characterized as clonal representatives of a stable myofibroblast cell line using transcriptomics and proteomics validation. Stringent and rigorous live cell monitoring of a nascent cell line derived from healthy muscle tissue allowed for stable cell growth. In this research article, a simple and precise methodology is presented for creating a bovine myofibroblast cell line (Bov.mia). Our work puts forward a low-tech use of materials and expertise that is devoid of transgenic approaches, thus creating a reliable approach for lab-scale research.

Differential expression analysis throughout the weaning period in the mouse cerebral cortex.

At weaning, mammals switch from drinking mother's milk to eating foods of environmental origin. These foods contain natural compounds with novel tastes and textures, which are provided to the young for the first time following the termination of breastfeeding. This novel eating experience may alter the cognitive brain function of mammalian babies, increasing their reactions to their food environments. Because the cerebral cortex is a central organ for cognition and learning, we investigated differences in whole-gene expression profiles in the mouse cerebral cortex using microarray analysis before and after weaning. Of 45,037 murine genes, 35 genes were upregulated and 31 genes were downregulated, in response to weaning. In particular, immediate early genes, molecular chaperones, and myelin-related genes were upregulated. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that the mRNA for an immediate early gene, Egr-2/KROX-20, was transported from the nucleus to the cell body at layer 5/6 of the somatosensory cortex during weaning. In contrast, in animals without any food supply other than mother's milk, Egr-2/KROX-20 mRNA was retained within the nucleus at the somatosensory cortex. These data suggest that the novel experience of food intake modulates gene expression profiles in the murine cerebral cortex at the weaning stage.

Quinine controls body weight gain without affecting food intake in male C57BL6 mice.

BACKGROUND: Quinine is a natural molecule commonly used as a flavouring agent in tonic water. Diet supplementation with quinine leads to decreased body weight and food intake in rats. Quinine is an in vitro inhibitor of Trpm5, a cation channel expressed in taste bud cells, the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. The objective of this work is to determine the effect of diet supplementation with quinine on body weight and body composition in male mice, to investigate its mechanism of action, and whether the effect is mediated through Trpm5. RESULTS: Compared with mice consuming AIN, a regular balanced diet, mice consuming AIN diet supplemented with 0.1% quinine gained less weight (2.89 ± 0.30 g vs 5.39 ± 0.50 g) and less fat mass (2.22 ± 0.26 g vs 4.33 ± 0.43 g) after 13 weeks of diet, and had lower blood glucose and plasma triglycerides. There was no difference in food intake between the mice consuming quinine supplemented diet and those consuming control diet. Trpm5 knockout mice gained less fat mass than wild-type mice. There was a trend for a diet-genotype interaction for body weight and body weight gain, with the effect of quinine less pronounced in the Trpm5 KO than in the WT background. Faecal weight, energy and lipid contents were higher in quinine fed mice compared to regular AIN fed mice and in Trpm5 KO mice compared to wild type mice. CONCLUSION: Quinine contributes to weight control in male C57BL6 mice without affecting food intake. A partial contribution of Trpm5 to quinine dependent body weight control is suggested.

Effects of pre-exercise sucralose ingestion on carbohydrate oxidation during exercise.

Recent studies have demonstrated a direct link between increased exogenous CHO oxidation (CHOexog) and enhanced performance. The limiting factor for CHOexog appears to be at the level of intestinal transporters, with sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) and glucose transporter Type 5 (GLUT5) responsible for glucose and fructose transport, respectively. Studies in animal models have shown that SGLT1 and intestinal glucose uptake are up-regulated by high carbohydrate diets or noncaloric sweeteners. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of preexercise ingestion of noncaloric sweeteners on CHOexog during exercise in athletes. In a randomized, crossover, double-blind fashion twenty-three healthy male cyclists (age = 29 ± 7 yrs, mass = 73.6 ± 7.4 kg, VO2peak = 68.3 ± 9.3 ml/kg/min) consumed 8 × 50 ml doses of either placebo (CON) or 1mM sucralose (SUCRA) every 15 min starting 120 min before the onset of exercise. This was followed by 2h of cycling at 48.5 ± 8.6% of VO2peak with continual ingestion of a maltodextrin drink (1.2 g/min; 828 ml/ hr). Average CHOexog during the first hour of exercise did not differ between SUCRA and CON conditions (0.226 ± 0.081 g/min vs. 0.212 ± 0.076 g/min, Δ =0.015 g/min, 95% CI -0.008 g/min, 0.038 g/min, p = .178). Blood glucose, plasma insulin and lactate, CHO and fat substrate utilization, heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion, and gastrointestinal symptoms did not differ between conditions. Our data suggest that consumption of noncaloric sweeteners in the immediate period before exercise does not lead to a significant increase in CHOexog during exercise.

The role of energetic value in dynamic brain response adaptation during repeated food image viewing.

The repeated presentation of simple objects as well as biologically salient objects can cause the adaptation of behavioral and neural responses during the visual categorization of these objects. Mechanisms of response adaptation during repeated food viewing are of particular interest for better understanding food intake beyond energetic needs. Here, we measured visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and conducted neural source estimations to initial and repeated presentations of high-energy and low-energy foods as well as non-food images. The results of our study show that the behavioral and neural responses to food and food-related objects are not uniformly affected by repetition. While the repetition of images displaying low-energy foods and non-food modulated VEPs as well as their underlying neural sources and increased behavioral categorization accuracy, the responses to high-energy images remained largely invariant between initial and repeated encounters. Brain mechanisms when viewing images of high-energy foods thus appear less susceptible to repetition effects than responses to low-energy and non-food images. This finding is likely related to the superior reward value of high-energy foods and might be one reason why in particular high-energetic foods are indulged although potentially leading to detrimental health consequences.

Taste preference for fatty acids is mediated by GPR40 and GPR120.

The oral perception of fat has traditionally been considered to rely mainly on texture and olfaction, but recent findings suggest that taste may also play a role in the detection of long chain fatty acids. The two G-protein coupled receptors GPR40 (Ffar1) and GPR120 are activated by medium and long chain fatty acids. Here we show that GPR120 and GPR40 are expressed in the taste buds, mainly in type II and type I cells, respectively. Compared with wild-type mice, male and female GPR120 knock-out and GPR40 knock-out mice show a diminished preference for linoleic acid and oleic acid, and diminished taste nerve responses to several fatty acids. These results show that GPR40 and GPR120 mediate the taste of fatty acids.

Long-term restricted feeding alters circadian expression and reduces the level of inflammatory and disease markers.

The circadian clock in peripheral tissues can be entrained by restricted feeding (RF), a regimen that restricts the duration of food availability with no calorie restriction (CR). However, it is not known whether RF can delay the occurrence of age-associated changes similar to CR. We measured circadian expression of clock genes, disease marker genes, metabolic factors and inflammatory and allergy markers in mouse serum, liver, jejunum and white adipose tissue (WAT) after long-term RF of 4 months. We found that circadian rhythmicity is more robust and is phase advanced in most of the genes and proteins tested under RF. In addition, average daily levels of some disease and inflammatory markers were reduced under RF, including liver Il-6 mRNA, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) protein; jejunum Arginase, Afp, Gadd45ß, Il-1α and Il-1ß mRNA, and interleukin (IL)-6 and TNF-α protein and WAT Il-6, Il-1ß, Tnfα and Nfκb mRNA. In contrast, the anti-inflammatory cytokine Il-10 mRNA increased in the liver and jejunum. Our results suggest that RF may share some benefits with those of CR. As RF is a less harsh regimen to follow than CR, the data suggest it could be proposed for individuals seeking to improve their health.

Nanocellulose from Nata de Coco as a Bioscaffold for Cell-Based Meat.

The three-dimensional formation of bio-engineered tissue for applications such as cell-based meat requires critical interaction between the bioscaffold and cellular biomass. To explore the features underlying this interaction, we have assessed the commercially available bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) product from Cass Materials for its suitability to serve as a bioscaffold for murine myoblast attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. Rigorous application of both scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy reveals cellular details of this interaction. While the retention rate of myoblast cells appears low, BNC is able to provide effective surface parameters for the formation of anchor points to form mature myotubes. Understanding the principles that govern this interaction is important for the successful scaling of these materials into edible, commercially viable, and nutritious biomass.

Sensory attributes of complex tasting divalent salts are mediated by TRPM5 and TRPV1 channels.

Complex tasting divalent salts (CTDS) are present in our daily diet, contributing to multiple poorly understood taste sensations. CTDS evoking metallic, bitter, salty, and astringent sensations include the divalent salts of iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium. To identify pathways involved with the complex perception of the above salts, taste preference tests (two bottles, brief access) were performed in wild-type (WT) mice and in mice lacking (1) the T1R3 receptor, (2) TRPV1, the capsaicin receptor, or (3) the TRPM5 channel, the latter being necessary for the perception of sweet, bitter, and umami tasting stimuli. At low concentrations, FeSO(4) and ZnSO(4) were perceived as pleasant stimuli by WT mice, and this effect was fully reversed in TRPM5 knock-out mice. In contrast, MgSO(4) and CuSO(4) were aversive to WT mice, but for MgSO(4) the aversion was abolished in TRPM5 knock-out animals, and for CuSO(4), aversion decreased in both TRPV1- and TRPM5-deficient animals. Behavioral tests revealed that the T1R3 subunit of the sweet and umami receptors is implicated in the hedonically positive perception of FeSO(4) and ZnSO(4). For high concentrations of CTDS, the omission of TRPV1 reduced aversion. Imaging studies on heterologously expressed TRPM5 and TRPV1 channels are consistent with the behavioral experiments. Together, these results rationalize the complexity of metallic taste by showing that at low concentrations, compounds such as FeSO(4) and ZnSO(4) stimulate the gustatory system through the hedonically positive T1R3-TRPM5 pathway, and at higher concentrations, their aversion is mediated, in part, by the activation of TRPV1.

Goals in Nutrition Science 2020-2025.

Five years ago, with the editorial board of Frontiers in Nutrition, we took a leap of faith to outline the Goals for Nutrition Science - the way we see it (1). Now, in 2020, we can put ourselves to the test and take a look back. Without a doubt we got it right with several of the key directions. To name a few, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Food and Nutrition are part of the global public agenda, and the SDGs contribute to the structuring of international science and research. Nutritional Science has become a critical element in strengthening work on the SDGs, and the development of appropriate methodologies is built on the groundwork of acquiring and analyzing big datasets. Investigation of the Human Microbiome is providing novel insight on the interrelationship between nutrition, the immune system and disease. Finally, with an advanced definition of the gut-brain-axis we are getting a glimpse into the potential for Nutrition and Brain Health. Various milestones have been achieved, and any look into the future will have to consider the lessons learned from Covid-19 and the sobering awareness about the frailty of our food systems in ensuring global food security. With a view into the coming 5 years from 2020 to 2025, the editorial board has taken a slightly different approach as compared to the previous Goals article. A mind map has been created to outline the key topics in nutrition science. Not surprisingly, when looking ahead, the majority of scientific investigation required will be in the areas of health and sustainability. Johannes le Coutre, Field Chief Editor, Frontiers in Nutrition.

The brain tracks the energetic value in food images.

Do our brains implicitly track the energetic content of the foods we see? Using electrical neuroimaging of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) we show that the human brain can rapidly discern food's energetic value, vis à vis its fat content, solely from its visual presentation. Responses to images of high-energy and low-energy food differed over two distinct time periods. The first period, starting at approximately 165 ms post-stimulus onset, followed from modulations in VEP topography and by extension in the configuration of the underlying brain network. Statistical comparison of source estimations identified differences distributed across a wide network including both posterior occipital regions and temporo-parietal cortices typically associated with object processing, and also inferior frontal cortices typically associated with decision-making. During a successive processing stage (starting at approximately 300 ms), responses differed both topographically and in terms of strength, with source estimations differing predominantly within prefrontal cortical regions implicated in reward assessment and decision-making. These effects occur orthogonally to the task that is actually being performed and suggest that reward properties such as a food's energetic content are treated rapidly and in parallel by a distributed network of brain regions involved in object categorization, reward assessment, and decision-making.

The cortical chronometry of electrogustatory event-related potentials.

Electrogustometry (EGM) is the standard tool to assess gustatory functions in clinical environments. The stimulation elicits a percept often described as metallic, sour or salty, also referred to as electric taste. To date, the neuronal mechanisms that underlie electric taste perception are not yet fully understood. Electroencephalographic (EEG) approaches will certainly complement behavioral procedures and, furthermore, extend the understanding of gustatory processing in general and disturbances of gustatory functions in particular. We used anodal pulses applied to the tip of the participants' tongue while EEG was recorded. The major disadvantage of combining EEG and EGM, namely the electrical stimulation artifact, was overcome by means of Independent Component Analysis (ICA), which separated the EGM artifact from the neural portion of the EEG. After artifact correction, we found a largely uncontaminated electrogustatory event-related potential (eGERP) at both individual and group level. Furthermore, source analysis revealed an early involvement of bilateral insular cortices and the adjacent operculi, the areas comprising the primary taste cortex. The procedures, described in detail, pave the way for the eGERP to become an affordable and objective tool for the assessment of taste function, and thus to complement behavioral measures (i.e. EGM detection thresholds). Furthermore, they render the access to different levels of the electrogustatory processing pathway possible and by doing so they may aid the identification and localisation of lesions that cause taste disturbances.

The capsaicin receptor participates in artificial sweetener aversion.

Artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame-K, and cyclamate produce at high concentrations an unpleasant after-taste that is generally attributed to bitter and metallic taste sensations. To identify receptors involved with the complex perception of the above compounds, preference tests were performed in wild-type mice and mice lacking the TRPV1 channel or the T1R3 receptor, the latter being necessary for the perception of sweet taste. The sweeteners, including cyclamate, displayed a biphasic response profile, with the T1R3 mediated component implicated in preference. At high concentrations imparting off-taste, omission of TRPV1 reduced aversion. In a heterologous expression system the Y511A point mutation in the vanilloid pocket of TRPV1 did not affect saccharin and aspartame responses but abolished cyclamate and acesulfame-K activities. The results rationalize artificial sweetener tastes and off-tastes by showing that at low concentrations, these molecules stimulate the gustatory system through the hedonically positive T1R3 pathway, and at higher concentrations, their aversion is partly mediated by TRPV1.

Claudin-based permeability barriers in taste buds.

Tight junctions operate as semipermeable barriers in epithelial tissue, separating the apical from the basolateral sides of the cells. Membrane proteins of the claudin family represent the major tight junction constituents, and some reinforce permeability barriers, whereas others create pores based on solute size and ion selectivity. To outline paracellular permeability pathways in gustatory tissue, all claudins expressed in mouse taste buds and in human fungiform papillae have been characterized. Twelve claudins are expressed in murine taste-papillae-enriched tissue, and five of those are expressed in human fungiform papillae. A subset of the claudins expressed in mouse papillae is uniquely found in taste buds. By immunohistochemistry, claudin 4 has been found in mouse taste epithelium, with high abundance around the taste pore. Claudin 6 is explicitly detected inside the pore, claudin 7 was found at the basolateral side of taste cells, and claudin 8 was found around the pore. With the ion permeability features of the different claudins, a highly specific permeability pattern for paracellular diffusion is apparent, which indicates a peripheral mechanism for taste coding.