Exposure to persistent organic pollutants alters the serum metabolome in non-obese diabetic mice

Introduction Autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes (T1D) are believed to be caused by the interplay between several genetic and environmental factors. Elucidation of the role of environmental factors in metabolic and immune dysfunction leading to autoimmune disease is not yet well characterized. Objectives Here we investigated the impact of exposure to a mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on the metabolome in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, an experimental model of T1D. The mixture contained organochlorides, organobromides, and per- and polyfuoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Methods Analysis of molecular lipids (lipidomics) and bile acids in serum samples was performed by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, while polar metabolites were analyzed by GC-Q-TOF/MS. Results Experimental exposure to the POP mixture in these mice led to several metabolic changes, which were similar to those previously reported as associated with PFAS exposure, as well as risk of T1D in human studies. This included an increase in the levels of sugar derivatives, triacylglycerols and lithocholic acid, and a decrease in long chain fatty acids and several lipid classes, including phosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins. Conclusion Taken together, our study demonstrates that exposure to POPs results in an altered metabolic signature previously associated with autoimmunitypublishedVersio

Exposure to persistent organic pollutants alters the serum metabolome in non-obese diabetic mice

IntroductionAutoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes (T1D) are believed to be caused by the interplay between several genetic and environmental factors. Elucidation of the role of environmental factors in metabolic and immune dysfunction leading to autoimmune disease is not yet well characterized.ObjectivesHere we investigated the impact of exposure to a mixture of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on the metabolome in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, an experimental model of T1D. The mixture contained organochlorides, organobromides, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).MethodsAnalysis of molecular lipids (lipidomics) and bile acids in serum samples was performed by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, while polar metabolites were analyzed by GC-Q-TOF/MS.ResultsExperimental exposure to the POP mixture in these mice led to several metabolic changes, which were similar to those previously reported as associated with PFAS exposure, as well as risk of T1D in human studies. This included an increase in the levels of sugar derivatives, triacylglycerols and lithocholic acid, and a decrease in long chain fatty acids and several lipid classes, including phosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins.ConclusionTaken together, our study demonstrates that exposure to POPs results in an altered metabolic signature previously associated with autoimmunity.</p

Quantitative modelling of human liver reveals dysregulation of glycosphingolipid pathways in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly prevalent disease that is associated with multiple metabolic disturbances, yet the metabolic pathways underlying its progression are poorly understood. Here, we studied metabolic pathways of the human liver across the full histological spectrum of NAFLD. We analyzed whole liver tissue transcriptomics and serum metabolomics data obtained from a large, prospectively enrolled cohort of 206 histologically characterized patients derived from the European NAFLD Registry and developed genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) of human hepatocytes at different stages of NAFLD. We identified several metabolic signatures in the liver and blood of these patients, specifically highlighting the alteration of vitamins (A, E) and glycosphingolipids, and their link with complex glycosaminoglycans in advanced fibrosis. Furthermore, we derived GEMs and identified metabolic signatures of three common NAFLD-associated gene variants (PNPLA3, TM6SF2, and HSD17B13). The study demonstrates dysregulated liver metabolic pathways which may contribute to the progression of NAFLD.</p

Marked gut microbiota dysbiosis and increased imidazole propionate are associated with a NASH Göttingen Minipig model

Background: Gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with the development of non‑alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) through modulation of gut barrier, inflammation, lipid metabolism, bile acid signaling and short‑chain fatty acid production. The aim of this study was to describe the impact of a choline‑deficient amino acid defined high fat diet (CDAHFD) on the gut microbiota in a male Göttingen Minipig model and on selected pathways implicated in the development of NASH. Results: Eight weeks of CDAHFD resulted in a significantly altered colon microbiota mainly driven by the bacterial families Lachnospiraceae and Enterobacteriaceae, being decreased and increased in relative abundance, respectively. Metabolomics analysis revealed that CDAHFD decreased colon content of short‑chain fatty acid and increased colonic pH. In addition, serum levels of the microbially produced metabolite imidazole propionate were significantly elevated as a consequence of CDAHFD feeding. Hepatic gene expression analysis showed upregulation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Ras Homolog, MTORC1 binding in addition to downregulation of insulin receptor substrate 1, insulin receptor substrate 2 and the glucagon receptor in CDAHFD fed minipigs. Further, the consequences of CDAHFD feeding were associated with increased levels of circulating cholesterol, bile acids, and glucagon but not total amino acids. Conclusions: Our results indicate imidazole propionate as a new potentially relevant factor in relation to NASH and discuss the possible implication of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the development of NASH. In addition, the study emphasizes the need for considering the gut microbiota and its products when developing translational animal models for NASH

Serum metabolome associated with severity of acute traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury is associated with changes to the metabolome. Here the authors show that acute traumatic brain injury has distinctive serum metabolic patterns which may suggest protective changes of systemic lipid metabolism aiming to maintain lipid homeostasis in the brain.Complex metabolic disruption is a crucial aspect of the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Associations between this and systemic metabolism and their potential prognostic value are poorly understood. Here, we aimed to describe the serum metabolome (including lipidome) associated with acute TBI within 24 h post-injury, and its relationship to severity of injury and patient outcome. We performed a comprehensive metabolomics study in a cohort of 716 patients with TBI and non-TBI reference patients (orthopedic, internal medicine, and other neurological patients) from the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) cohort. We identified panels of metabolites specifically associated with TBI severity and patient outcomes. Choline phospholipids (lysophosphatidylcholines, ether phosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins) were inversely associated with TBI severity and were among the strongest predictors of TBI patient outcomes, which was further confirmed in a separate validation dataset of 558 patients. The observed metabolic patterns may reflect different pathophysiological mechanisms, including protective changes of systemic lipid metabolism aiming to maintain lipid homeostasis in the brain.</p

Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances modulates neonatal serum phospholipids, increasing risk of type 1 diabetes

In the last decade, increasing incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) stabilized in Finland, a phenomenon that coincides with tighter regulation of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Here, we quantified PFAS to examine their effects, during pregnancy, on lipid and immune-related markers of T1D risk in children. In a mother-infant cohort (264 dyads), high PFAS exposure during pregnancy associated with decreased cord serum phospholipids and progression to T1D-associated islet autoantibodies in the offspring. This PFAS-lipid association appears exacerbated by increased human leukocyte antigen-conferred risk of T1D in infants. Exposure to a single PFAS compound or a mixture of organic pollutants in non-obese diabetic mice resulted in a lipid profile characterized by a similar decrease in phospholipids, a marked increase of lithocholic acid, and accelerated insulitis. Our findings suggest that PFAS exposure during pregnancy contributes to risk and pathogenesis of T1D in offspring.</p

"Source characterization of soils contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PACs) by use of Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA)"

Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) are organic compounds that include several sub-groups of toxic, persistent and carcinogenic environmental pollutants consisting of two or more non-substituted or substituted aromatic rings. Due to the complexity of PAC-mixtures found in the environment it can be challenging and time-consuming to track the sources of contamination. In the present study, multivariate data analysis (MVDA) models, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were applied to track sources of PACs at contaminated sites. Based on the chemical profile of 78 PACs obtained in GC-MS analysis of soils, 26 observations were classified according to their petrogenic, pyrogenic or urban background soil origin. Two soil samples of unknown origin collected at a contaminated site in Mjölby, Sweden, were successfully fitted to the validated PLS-DA model and their origins were determined as petrogenic. The study shows that validated PLS-DA models can be applied to predict the petrogenic, pyrogenic and urban background soil origins of samples collected at PAC contaminated sites, thus to track the sources of contamination. It is also concluded that 16 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are not sufficient to predict the origin of contamination with PCA or PLS-DA

Development of a Liquid Chromatography Method to Separate and Fractionate EPA’s 16 Priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent, toxic and carcinogenic environmental pollutants consisting of two or more aromatic rings. The estimation of the toxicity of PAHs can be challenging and time-consuming due to the complexity of PAH-mixtures found in the environment, for example at contaminated sites. To solve the problem of a high complexity, PAH-mixtures can be divided into fractions. In the present study, Normal Phase (NP) and Reverse Phase (RP) Liquid Chromatography (LC) methods were evaluated and developed to separate and fractionate 16 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) priority PAHs. Two stationary and six mobile phases, different column temperatures, flow rates, injection volumes, gradient and isocratic elutions were evaluated in order to achieve the best separation and fractionation. Best separation of PAHs was achieved with the RP-LC method using a phenyl stationary phase and gradient elution with mixture of methanol, acetonitrile and water. Fractionation was performed based on PAHs’ retention time windows, as well as peaks’ threshold and slope values. The elution order of fractions was verified by identification and quantification of the PAHs by GC-MS. Fractionation of a soil extract with the developed RP-LC method resulted in successful separation and fractionation of five EPA’s priority PAHs naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene and chrysene, as well as two non-priority PAHs carbazole and 4H-Cyclopenta[d,e,f]phenanthrene. The study shows that developed RP-LC method can be further optimized to fractionate complex mixtures of alkyl substituted, oxygenated and other polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs)

"Source characterization of soils contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PACs) by use of Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA)"

Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) are organic compounds that include several sub-groups of toxic, persistent and carcinogenic environmental pollutants consisting of two or more non-substituted or substituted aromatic rings. Due to the complexity of PAC-mixtures found in the environment it can be challenging and time-consuming to track the sources of contamination. In the present study, multivariate data analysis (MVDA) models, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were applied to track sources of PACs at contaminated sites. Based on the chemical profile of 78 PACs obtained in GC-MS analysis of soils, 26 observations were classified according to their petrogenic, pyrogenic or urban background soil origin. Two soil samples of unknown origin collected at a contaminated site in Mjölby, Sweden, were successfully fitted to the validated PLS-DA model and their origins were determined as petrogenic. The study shows that validated PLS-DA models can be applied to predict the petrogenic, pyrogenic and urban background soil origins of samples collected at PAC contaminated sites, thus to track the sources of contamination. It is also concluded that 16 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are not sufficient to predict the origin of contamination with PCA or PLS-DA

Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances modulates neonatal serum phospholipids, increasing risk of type 1 diabetes

In the last decade, increasing incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) stabilized in Finland, a phenomenon that coincides with tighter regulation of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Here, we quantified PFAS to examine their effects, during pregnancy, on lipid and immune-related markers of T1D risk in children. In a mother-infant cohort (264 dyads), high PFAS exposure during pregnancy associated with decreased cord serum phospholipids and progression to T1D-associated islet autoantibodies in the offspring. This PFAS-lipid association appears exacerbated by increased human leukocyte antigen-conferred risk of T1D in infants. Exposure to a single PFAS compound or a mixture of organic pollutants in non-obese diabetic mice resulted in a lipid profile characterized by a similar decrease in phospholipids, a marked increase of lithocholic acid, and accelerated insulitis. Our findings suggest that PFAS exposure during pregnancy contributes to risk and pathogenesis of T1D in offspring.Peer reviewe