UHPLC-HRMS-based Multiomics to Explore the Potential Mechanisms and Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the metabolic changes in colorectal cancer (CRC) and exploring potential diagnostic biomarkers is crucial for elucidating its pathogenesis and reducing mortality. Cancer cells are typically derived from cancer tissues and can be easily obtained and cultured. Systematic studies on CRC cells at different stages are still lacking. Additionally, there is a need to validate our previous findings from human serum. METHODS: Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS)-based metabolomics and lipidomics were employed to comprehensively measure metabolites and lipids in CRC cells at four different stages and serum samples from normal control (NR) and CRC subjects. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were applied to select the differential metabolites and lipids between groups. Biomarkers with good diagnostic efficacy for CRC that existed in both cells and serum were screened by the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. Furthermore, potential biomarkers were validated using metabolite standards. RESULTS: Metabolite and lipid profiles differed significantly among CRC cells at stages A, B, C, and D. Dysregulation of glycerophospholipid (GPL), fatty acid (FA), and amino acid (AA) metabolism played a crucial role in the CRC progression, particularly GPL metabolism dominated by phosphatidylcholine (PC). A total of 46 differential metabolites and 29 differential lipids common to the four stages of CRC cells were discovered. Eight metabolites showed the same trends in CRC cells and serum from CRC patients compared to the control groups. Among them, palmitoylcarnitine and sphingosine could serve as potential biomarkers with the values of area under the curve (AUC) more than 0.80 in the serum and cells. Their panel exhibited excellent performance in discriminating CRC cells at different stages from normal cells (AUC = 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first research to attempt to validate the results of metabolism studies of serum from CRC patients using cell models. The metabolic disorders of PC, FA, and AA were closely related to the tumorigenesis of CRC, with PC being the more critical factor. The panel composed of palmitoylcarnitine and sphingosine may act as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of CRC, aiding in its prevention.

Combining bioinformatics and multiomics strategies to investigate the key microbiota and active components of Liupao tea ameliorating hyperlipidemia.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hyperlipidemia as a major health issue has attracted much public attention. As a geographical indication product of China, Liupao tea (LPT) is a typical representative of traditional Chinese dark tea that has shown good potential in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. LPT has important medicinal value in hyperlipidemia prevention. However, the active ingredients and metabolic mechanisms by which LPT alleviates hyperlipidemia remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to systematically investigate the metabolic mechanisms and active ingredients of LPT extract in alleviating hyperlipidemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Firstly, we developed a mouse model of hyperlipidemia to study the pharmacodynamics of LPT. Subsequently, network pharmacology and molecular docking were performed to predict the potential key active ingredients and core targets of LPT against hyperlipidemia. LC-MS/MS was used to validate the identity of key active ingredients in LPT with chemical standards. Finally, the effect and metabolic mechanisms of LPT extract in alleviating hyperlipidemia were investigated by integrating metabolomic, lipidomic, and gut microbiome analyses. RESULTS: Results showed that LPT extract effectively improved hyperlipidemia by suppressing weight gain, remedying dysregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, and reducing hepatic damage. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking suggested that four potential active ingredients and seven potential core targets were closely associated with roles for hyperlipidemia treatment. Ellagic acid, catechin, and naringenin were considered to be the key active ingredients of LPT alleviating hyperlipidemia. Additionally, LPT extract modulated the mRNA expression levels of Fxr, Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1, and Cyp27a1 associated with bile acid (BA) metabolism, mitigated the disturbances of BA and glycerophospholipid (GP) metabolism in hyperlipidemia mice. Combining fecal microbiota transplantation and correlation analysis, LPT extract effectively improved species diversity and abundance of gut microbiota, particularly the BA and GP metabolism-related gut microbiota, in the hyperlipidemia mice. CONCLUSIONS: LPT extract ameliorated hyperlipidemia by modulating GP and BA metabolism by regulating Lactobacillus and Dubosiella, thereby alleviating hyperlipidemia. Three active ingredients of LPT served as the key factors in exerting an improvement on hyperlipidemia. These findings provide new insights into the active ingredients and metabolic mechanisms of LPT in improving hyperlipidemia, suggesting that LPT can be used to prevent and therapeutic hyperlipidemia.

Integrated bioinformatics and multiomics reveal Liupao tea extract alleviating NAFLD via regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) poses a significant global public health concern. Liupao tea (LPT) is a Chinese national geographical indication product renowned for its lipid-lowering properties. However, the precise mechanisms and active constituents contributing to the efficacy of LPT against NAFLD remain unclear. PURPOSE: This study aims to comprehensively explore the therapeutic potential of Liupao tea extract (LPTE) in alleviating NAFLD through an integrated strategy. METHODS: Initially, network pharmacology analysis was conducted based on LPTE chemical ingredient analysis, identifying core targets and key components. Potential active ingredients were validated through chemical standards based on LC-MS/MS. To confirm the pharmacological efficacy of LPTE in NAFLD, NAFLD mice models were employed. Alterations in hepatic lipid metabolism were comprehensively elucidated through integration of metabolomics, lipidomics, network pharmacology analysis, and real-time PCR analysis. To further explore the binding interactions between key components and core targets, molecular docking and microscale thermophoresis (MST) analysis were employed. Furthermore, to investigate LPTE administration effectiveness on gut microbiota in NAFLD mice, a comprehensive approach was employed. This included Metorigin analysis, 16S rRNA sequencing, molecular docking, and fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT). RESULTS: Study identified naringenin, quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol as the potential active ingredients of LPTE. These compounds exhibited therapeutic potential for NAFLD by targeting key proteins such as PTGS2, CYP3A4, and ACHE, which are involved in the metabolic pathways of hepatic linoleic acid (LA) and glycerophospholipid (GP) metabolism. The therapeutic effectiveness of LPTE was observed to be comparable to that of simvastatin. Furthermore, LPTE exhibited notable efficacy in alleviating NAFLD by influencing alterations in gut microbiota composition (Proteobacteria phylum, Lactobacillus and Dubosiella genus) that perhaps impact LA and GP metabolic pathways. CONCLUSION: LPTE could be effective in preventing high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD by modulating hepatic lipid metabolism and gut microbiota. This study firstly integrated bioinformatics and multi-omics technologies to identify the potential active components and key microbiota associated with LPTE's effects, while also primally elucidating the action mechanisms of LPTE in alleviating NAFLD. The findings offer a conceptual basis for LPTE's potential transformation into an innovative pharmaceutical agent for NAFLD prevention.

UHPLC-HRMS-based serum untargeted lipidomics: Phosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins are the main disturbed lipid markers to distinguish colorectal advanced adenoma from cancer.

Colorectal advanced adenoma (CAA) is a key precancerous lesion of colorectal cancer (CRC), and early diagnosis can lessen CRC morbidity and mortality. Although abnormal lipid metabolism is associated with the development of CRC, there are no studies on the biomarkers and mechanism of lipid metabolism linked to CAA carcinogenesis. Hence, we performed a lipidomics study of serum samples from 46 CAA, and 50 CRC patients by the ultra high-performance liquid chromatography tandem high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) in both electrospray ionization (ESI) modes. Differential lipids were selected by univariate and multivariate statistics analysis, and their diagnostic performance was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. Combining P < 0.05 and variable importance in projection (VIP) > 1, 59 differential lipids were obtained totally. Ten of them showed good discriminant ability for CAA and CRC (AUC > 0.900). Especially, the lipid panel consisting of PC 44:5, PC 35:6e, and SM d40:3 showed the highest selection frequency and outperformed (AUC = 0.952). Additionally, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) were the main differential and high-performance lipids. In short, this is the first study to explore the biomarkers and mechanism for CAA-CRC sequence with large-scale serum lipidomics. The findings should provide valuable reference and new clues for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of CRC.

Low-cost batteries based on industrial waste Al-Si microparticles and LiFePO4 for stationary energy storage.

Owing to their high capacity and low working potential, Si-based anodes are regarded as potential alternatives to graphite anodes to meet the higher requirements of Li-ion batteries (LIBs). However, high volume change causes the fracturing and pulverization of the bulk anode and continuous side reactions, which are more severe in large-particle Si anodes, limiting its practical application. Herein, to build a low-cost battery system, we chose a common industrial waste product, Al-Si microparticles (Al-SiMPs, ∼30 µm), as the anode for LIBs and coupled it with a 2.0 M LiFP6 2-MeTHF electrolyte to support its operation. The Al-SiMP anode showed a high specific capacity and a significantly improved electronic conductivity, ensuring high energy and power densities. An ultra-high initial coulombic efficiency (iCE) of 91.6% and a cycling CE of ∼99.9% were obtained in the half-cells, which delivered a capacity of 1300 mA h g-1 and maintained 95.3% after 100 cycles. Paired with low-cost and high-safety LiFePO4 as the cathode, the LFP||Al-SiMP full cells showed decent cycling stability and exhibited a considerable cost advantage, demonstrating a competitive solution for stationary energy storage.