A tailored series of engineered yeasts for the cell-dependent treatment of inflammatory bowel disease by rational butyrate supplementation.

Intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic disruption are considered essential characteristics in inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD). Reasonable butyrate supplementation can help patients regulate intestinal flora structure and promote mucosal repair. Here, to restore microbiota homeostasis and butyrate levels in the patient's intestines, we modified the genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce butyrate. We precisely regulated the relevant metabolic pathways to enable the yeast to produce sufficient butyrate in the intestine with uneven oxygen distribution. A series of engineered strains with different butyrate synthesis abilities was constructed to meet the needs of different patients, and the strongest can reach 1.8 g/L title of butyrate. Next, this series of strains was used to co-cultivate with gut microbiota collected from patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. After receiving treatment with engineered strains, the gut microbiota and the butyrate content have been regulated to varying degrees depending on the synthetic ability of the strain. The abundance of probiotics such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus increased, while the abundance of harmful bacteria like Candidatus Bacilloplasma decreased. Meanwhile, the series of butyrate-producing yeast significantly improved trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice by restoring butyrate content. Among the series of engineered yeasts, the strain with the second-highest butyrate synthesis ability showed the most significant regulatory and the best therapeutic effect on the gut microbiota from IBD patients and the colitis mouse model. This study confirmed the existence of a therapeutic window for IBD treatment by supplementing butyrate, and it is necessary to restore butyrate levels according to the actual situation of patients to restore intestinal flora.

Correlation of Macrophages with Inflammatory Reaction in Ulcerative Colitis and Influence of Curcumin on Macrophage Chemotaxis.

Objective: Our study aimed to elucidate the correlation of macrophage (mø) with the inflammatory reaction in ulcerative colitis (UC) and the influence of curcumin (Cur) on mø chemotaxis in mice with UC. Methods: A total of 49 patients with UC (research group; RG) admitted between June 2020 and October 2021 and 56 healthy individuals (control group; CG) who visited concurrently were selected as the study participants. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed, and M1-type/M2-type mø and inflammatory factors (IFs) interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) were detected. In addition, 15 BALB/c mice were purchased and divided into the normal group fed normally, the UC model group established with sodium dextran sulfate (DSS) and the Cur group induced by DSS + Cur feeding. Colon tissue mø was collected from mice to measure mø activity via CCK-8 and to quantify levels of IFs and chemokine CCL2 by polymer chain reaction (PCR)c and Western blotting. Results: The RG had a higher percentage of peripheral blood M1-type mø and a lower percentage of M2-type mø and M1/M2 mø ratio than the CG (P < .05). In the RG, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α all increased and were inversely correlated with the ratio of M1/M2 mø, while IL-10 and TGF-ß decreased, with a positive connection with the M1/M2 mø ratio. In the UC model mice, mø activity increased, but the apoptosis rate decreased. mø activity was lower in the Cur group than in the model and normal groups; mø apoptosis in the Cur group was higher than in the model group but lower than in the normal group. In addition, proIFs increased and anti-IFs decreased in the model group, and Cur also ameliorated this process. Finally, CCL2 and MCP-1 levels in the model group were also increased, while those in the Cur group were lower compared with the model group. Conclusion: In UC, the M1/M2 mø ratio is severely misadjusted, activation of M1-type mø is enhanced and pro-IFs are released in large quantities. Cur can ameliorate the abnormal activation of mø in mice with UC, inhibit mø chemotaxis and alleviate the inflammatory reaction, which may make it a new option for UC treatment in the future.

Therapeutic potential of bicyclol in liver diseases: Lessons from a synthetic drug based on herbal derivative in traditional Chinese medicine.

Bicyclol, an innovative chemical drug with proprietary intellectual property rights in China, is based on derivative of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Schisandra chinensis (Wuweizi) of North. Mounting data has proved that bicyclol has therapeutic potential in various pathological conditions in liver. In this narrative review, we provide the first summary of pharmacological activities, pharmacokinetic characteristics and toxicity of bicyclol, and discuss future research perspectives. Our results imply that bicyclol has a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties, including anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, immuno-regulatory, anti-oxidative, antisteatotic, anti-fibrotic, antitumor, cell death regulatory effects and modulation of heat shock proteins. Pharmacokinetic studies have indicated that bicyclol is the main substrate of CYP3A/2E1. Additionally, no obvious drug interactions have been found when bicyclol is administered simultaneously with other prescriptions. Furthermore, the results of chronic toxicity have strongly addressed that bicyclol has no noticeable toxic effects on all biochemical indices and pathological examinations of the main organs. In view of good pharmacological actions and safety, bicyclol is anticipated to be a potential candidate for various liver diseases, including acute liver injury, fulminant hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Further studies are therefore required to delineate its molecular mechanisms and targets to confer this well-designed drug a far greater potency. We hope that bicyclol-based therapeutics for liver diseases might be broadly used in clinical practice worldwide.

Therapeutic potential of genipin in various acute liver injury, fulminant hepatitis, NAFLD and other non-cancer liver diseases: More friend than foe.

Genipin is an aglycone derived from the geniposide, the most abundant iridoid glucoside constituent of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. For decades, genipin is the focus of studies as a versatile compound in the treatment of various pathogenic conditions. In particularly, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention and treatment of liver disease. Mounting experimental data has proved genipin possesses therapeutic potential for cholestatic, septic, ischemia/reperfusion-triggered acute liver injury, fulminant hepatitis and NAFLD. This critical review is a reflection on the valuable lessons from decades of research regarding pharmacological activities of genipin. Of note, genipin represents choleretic effect by potentiating bilirubin disposal and enhancement of genes in charge of the efflux of a number of organic anions. The anti-inflammatory capability of genipin is mediated by suppression of the production and function of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammasome. Moreover, genipin modulates various transcription factor and signal transduction pathway. Genipin appears to trigger the upregulation of several key genes encoding antioxidant and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. Furthermore, the medicinal impact of genipin extends to modulation of regulated cell death, including autophagic cell death, apoptosis, necroptosis and pyroptosis, and modulation of quality of cellular organelle. Another crucial effect of genipin appears to be linked to dual role in targeting uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2). As a typical UCP2-inhibiting compound, genipin could inhibit AMP-activated protein kinase or NF-κB in circumstance. On the contrary, reactive oxygen species production and cellular lipid deposits mediated by genipin through the upregulation of UCP2 is observed in liver steatosis, suggesting the precise role of genipin is disease-specific. Collectively, we comprehensively summarize the mechanisms and pathways associated with the hepatoprotective activity of genipin and discuss potential toxic impact. Notably, our focus is the direct medicinal effect of genipin itself, whereas its utility as a crosslinking agent in tissue engineering is out of scope for the current review. Further studies are therefore required to disentangle these complicated pharmacological properties to confer this natural agent a far greater potency.

Nobiletin Attenuates DSS-Induced Intestinal Barrier Damage through the HNF4α-Claudin-7 Signaling Pathway.

The intestinal epithelium barrier functions to protect human bodies from damages such as harmful microorganisms, antigens, and toxins. In this study, we evaluated the protective effect and molecular mechanism of a dominant polymethoxyflavone nobiletin (NOB) from tangerine peels on intestinal epithelial integrity. The results from transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) suggested that NOB pretreatment counteracts epithelial injury induced by inflammatory cytokines (TEER value in 48 h: vehicle, 135.6 ± 3.9 Ω/cm2; TNF-α + IL-1ß, 90.7 ± 0.5 Ω/cm2; 10 µM NOB + TNF-α + IL-1ß, 126.1 ± 0.8 Ω/cm2; 100 µM NOB + TNF-α + IL-1ß, 125.3 ± 0.5 Ω/cm2. P < 0.001). Clinical and pathological test results suggested that administration of NOB effectively alleviates intestinal barrier injury induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) as evidenced by the length of colon villi on day 7 (control, 253.7 ± 4.8 µm, DSS 131.6 ± 4.6 µm, NOB + DSS, 234.5 ± 5.1 µm. P < 0.001). Interestingly, when screening tight junction molecules for intestinal barrier integrity, we observed that independent treatment with NOB sharply increased claudin-7 levels (ratio of claudin-7 over GAPDH: control, 1.0 ± 0.06; DSS, 0.02 ± 0.001; NOB + DSS, 0.3 ± 0.07. P < 0.001), which was previously suppressed upon DSS stimulation. Furthermore, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF-4α) transcriptional regulation of claudin-7 contributed to intestinal barrier homeostasis. Therefore, our study suggests potential intestinal protective strategies based on polymethoxyflavones of aged tangerine peels.

Fecal microbiota transplantation broadening its application beyond intestinal disorders.

Intestinal dysbiosis is now known to be a complication in a myriad of diseases. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), as a microbiota-target therapy, is arguably very effective for curing Clostridium difficile infection and has good outcomes in other intestinal diseases. New insights have raised an interest in FMT for the management of extra-intestinal disorders associated with gut microbiota. This review shows that it is an exciting time in the burgeoning science of FMT application in previously unexpected areas, including metabolic diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders, autoimmune diseases, allergic disorders, and tumors. A randomized controlled trial was conducted on FMT in metabolic syndrome by infusing microbiota from lean donors or from self-collected feces, with the resultant findings showing that the lean donor feces group displayed increased insulin sensitivity, along with increased levels of butyrate-producing intestinal microbiota. Case reports of FMT have also shown favorable outcomes in Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, myoclonus dystonia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. FMT is a promising approach in the manipulation of the intestinal microbiota and has potential applications in a variety of extra-intestinal conditions associated with intestinal dysbiosis.