Neuroprotective Effects of Sodium Butyrate and Monomethyl Fumarate Treatment through GPR109A Modulation and Intestinal Barrier Restoration on PD Mice.

Research has connected Parkinson's disease (PD) with impaired intestinal barrier. The activation of G-protein-coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A) protects the intestinal barrier by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Sodium butyrate (NaB), which is a GPR109A ligand, may have anti-PD effects. The current study's objective is to demonstrate that NaB or monomethyl fumarate (MMF, an agonist of the GPR109A) can treat PD mice induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) via repairing the intestinal barrier. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups randomly: control, MPTP + vehicle, MPTP + NaB, and MPTP + MMF. Modeling mice received MPTP (20 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for a week, while control mice received sterile PBS. Then, four groups each received two weeks of sterile PBS (10 mL/kg/day, i.g.), sterile PBS (10 mL/kg/day, i.g.), NaB (600 mg/kg/day, i.g.), or MMF (100 mg/kg/day, i.g.). We assessed the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins (occludin and claudin-1), GPR109A, and p65 in the colon, performed microscopic examination via HE staining, quantified markers of intestinal permeability and proinflammatory cytokines in serum, and evaluated motor symptoms and pathological changes in the substantia nigra (SN) or striatum. According to our results, MPTP-induced defected motor function, decreased dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in the striatum, decreased tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons and increased activated microglia in the SN, and systemic inflammation were ameliorated by NaB or MMF treatment. Additionally, the ruined intestinal barrier was also rebuilt and NF-κB was suppressed after the treatment, with higher levels of TJ proteins, GPR109A, and decreased intestinal permeability. These results show that NaB or MMF can remedy motor symptoms and pathological alterations in PD mice by restoring the intestinal barrier with activated GPR109A. We demonstrate the potential for repairing the compromised intestinal barrier and activating GPR109A as promising treatments for PD.

Potential roles of gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complicated neurodegenerative disease attributed to multifactorial changes. However, its pathological mechanism remains undetermined. Accumulating evidence has revealed the emerging functions of gut microbiota and microbial metabolites, which can affect both the enteric nervous system and the central nervous system via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Accordingly, intestinal dysbiosis might be closely associated with PD. This review explores alterations to gut microbiota, correlations with clinical manifestations of PD, and briefly probes the underlying mechanisms. Next, the highly controversial roles of microbial metabolites including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), H2 and H2S are discussed. Finally, the pros and cons of the current treatments for PD, including those targeting microbiota, are assessed. Advancements in research techniques, further studies on levels of specific strains and longitudinal prospective clinical trials are urgently needed for the identification of early diagnostic markers and the development of novel therapeutic approaches for PD.

[Adsorption Behavior of Low Concentration Phosphorus from Water onto Modified Reed Biochar].

In order to remove low concentration of phosphorus in wastewater and realize resource utilization of reed, reed biochar(RB) was prepared using reed and then modified by ferric chloride, and the adsorption behavior of low concentration phosphorus was investigated. The results showed that the iron content of modified reed biochar(MRB) was 11.98 mg·g-1, which was 44.7 times that of RB; pHpzc of the MRB was 7.49, and the adsorption effect was the best when the solution pH was 7.0; at the initial concentration of 4.0 mg·L-1 and temperature of 298K, the adsorption capacity of MRB was 0.658 mg·g-1, which was 34.6 times that of RB. The adsorption isotherms at different temperatures were well fitted to Langmiur equation, which indicated the adsorption was monolayer adsorption, and increasing temperature was favorable for adsorption. ΔGθ<0, ΔHθ>0 and ΔSθ>0 indicated that the adsorption was a spontaneous, entropy increasing and endothermic process. The kinetic experimental data of the adsorption fitted well to the pseudo-second-order equation, the initial adsorption rate increased with the increasing initial concentration of solution, and the adsorption was mainly controlled by intraparticle diffusion. The research will provide basic data for application of MRB in deep removal of low concentration phosphorus from sewage treatment plant and water body.