基于超高效液相色谱-质谱分析的代谢组学在小檗碱治疗多囊卵巢综合征研究中的应用

多囊卵巢综合征（polycystic ovary syndrome,PCOS）是妇女最常见的内分泌和代谢紊乱性疾病,合理的药物治疗非常重要。本研究中,超重/肥胖的多囊卵巢综合征患者经过小檗碱治疗3个月,采集治疗前后的血样进行分析,利用超高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术（UHPLC-MS）对治疗前后血清中的内源性物质进行了相对含量测定。正交信号校正的偏最小二乘模式识别分析结果显示治疗前后有明显的区分。多变量分析结合非参数检验找出的与小檗碱治疗相关的差异代谢物均与脂类代谢有关。临床生化数据结合代谢组学数据显示,小檗碱治疗超重/肥胖型的多囊卵巢综合征患者可以增加机体胰岛素敏感性、改善脂类代谢。上述研究结果表明代谢组学是研究中药治疗疾病效果的有效工具之一。     

Participation of the Cholinergic System in the Development of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

In rats with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) induced by injection of estradiol valerate (EV), unilateral or bilateral section of the vagus nerve restores ovulatory function in 75% of animals, suggesting that the vagus nerve participates in the development of PCOS. Since the vagus nerve is a mixed nerve through which mainly cholinergic-type information passes, the objective of the present study was to analyze whether acetylcholine (ACh) is involved in the development of PCOS. Ten-day-old rats were injected with 2.0 mg EV, and at 60 days of age, they were microinjected on the day of diestrus in the bursa of the left or right ovary with 100 or 700 mg/kg of ovarian weight atropine, a blocker of muscarinic receptors, and sacrificed for histopathological examination after the surgery. Animals with PCOS microinjected with 100 mg of atropine showed a lack of ovulation, lower serum concentrations of progesterone and testosterone, and cysts. Histology of the ovaries of animals microinjected with 700 mg of atropine showed corpus luteum and follicles at different stages of development, which was accompanied by a lower concentration of progesterone and testosterone. These results allow us to suggest that in animals with PCOS, ACh, which passes through parasympathetic innervation, is an important component in the persistence and development of the pathophysiology.     

Beneficial Effects of Green Tea Catechins on Female Reproductive Disorders: A Review

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide after water, and green tea accounts for 20% of the total tea consumption. The health benefits of green tea are attributed to its natural antioxidants, namely, catechins, which are phenolic compounds with diverse beneficial effects on human health. The beneficial effects of green tea and its major bioactive component, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), on health include high antioxidative, osteoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-cancer, anti-hyperlipidemia and anti-diabetic effects. However, the review of green tea’s benefits on female reproductive disorders, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis and dysmenorrhea, remains scarce. Thus, this review summarises current knowledge on the beneficial effects of green tea catechins on selected female reproductive disorders. Green tea or its derivative, EGCG, improves endometriosis mainly through anti-angiogenic, anti-fibrotic, anti-proliferative and proapoptotic mechanisms. Moreover, green tea enhances ovulation and reduces cyst formation in PCOS while improving generalised hyperalgesia, and reduces plasma corticosterone levels and uterine contractility in dysmenorrhea. However, information on clinical trials is inadequate for translating excellent findings on green tea benefits in animal endometriosis models. Thus, future clinical intervention studies are needed to provide clear evidence of the green tea benefits with regard to these diseases.     

Pituitary P62 deficiency leads to female infertility by impairing luteinizing hormone production

P62 is a protein adaptor for various metabolic processes. Mice that lack p62 develop adult-onset obesity. However, investigations on p62 in reproductive dysfunction are rare. In the present study, we explored the effect of p62 on the reproductive system. P62 deficiency-induced reproductive dysfunction occurred at a young age (8 week old). Young systemic p62 knockout (p62^-/-) and pituitary-specific p62 knockout (p62^flox/flox αGSU^cre) mice both presented a normal metabolic state, whereas they displayed infertility phenotypes (attenuated breeding success rates, impaired folliculogenesis and ovulation, etc.) with decreased luteinizing hormone (LH) expression and production. Consistently, in an infertility model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pituitary p62 mRNA was positively correlated with LH levels. Mechanistically, p62^-/- pituitary RNA sequencing showed a significant downregulation of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. In vitro experiments using the pituitary gonadotroph cell line LβT2 and siRNA/shRNA/plasmid confirmed that p62 modulated LH synthesis and secretion via mitochondrial OXPHOS function, especially Ndufa2, a component molecule of mitochondrial complex I, as verified by Seahorse and rescue tests. After screening OXPHOS markers, Ndufa2 was found to positively regulate LH production in LβT2 cells. Furthermore, the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-stimulating test in p62^flox/flox αGSU^cre mice and LβT2 cells illustrated that p62 is a modulator of the GnRH-LH axis, which is dependent on intracellular calcium and ATP. These findings demonstrated that p62 deficiency in the pituitary impaired LH production via mitochondrial OXPHOS signaling and led to female infertility, thus providing the GnRH-p62-OXPHOS(Ndufa2)-Ca²⁺/ATP-LH pathway in gonadotropic cells as a new theoretical basis for investigating female reproductive dysfunction.Subject terms: Metabolic diseases, Pituitary gland     

Total syntheses of cyclitol based natural products from myo-inositol: brahol and pinpollitol

Inositol and their derivatives are important class of biologically active natural products. Among the nine theoretically possible inositols, six are known to occur in nature. Interestingly one or more methyl ethers of these inositols have been isolated from plants and these methyl inositols are presumed to have important functions in plant biology. Brahol and pinpollitol are two naturally occurring methylated inositols reported to have allo-inositol and chiro-inositol configurations, respectively. Adopting our sulfonate inversion strategies for synthesizing protected chiro- and allo-inositols from cheaply available myo-inositol in combination with new methods we have achieved the total syntheses of these methylated inositols. The proposed structure of brahol has been synthesized in six steps from myo-inositol. We have not only disproved the proposed structure of brahol but also established its correct structure. Also, we have efficiently synthesized pinpollitol and its positional isomer from myo-inositol. These works involve several selective protection-deprotection strategies of inositol hydroxyl groups.     

Human exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals: assessing the total estrogenic xenobiotic burden

A relationship has been hypothesized between adverse effects on human and wildlife reproductive health and a number of chemical substances capable of altering hormonal homeostasis. A testing system to screen for endocrine activities and the development of appropriate biomarkers of cumulative exposure are required. This article reports the work of our group in the following areas

1. (i) the identification of chemical agents with estrogenic hormonal activity,

2. (ii) existing evidence on forms and sources of human exposure, and

3. (iii) developing a methodology to assess the total estrogenic burden, defined as the estrogenic activity in a bioassay of human samples from which ovarian estrogens have been previously eliminated.

     

Studies of the effects of neonatal exposure to genistein on the developing female reproductive system

Studies have shown that developmental exposure to genistein alters murine reproductive differentiation, resulting in abnormal ovarian development (multioocyte follicles) and uterine neoplasia later in life. Further, reproductive function was altered. Prolonged estrous cyclicity was observed following neonatal genistein treatment (0.5-50 mg/kg) on Days 1-5 with dose- and age-related increase in severity. Fertility, determined at 2, 4, and 6 months, showed decreased numbers of genistein-treated females (0.5 or 5 mg/kg) delivering live pups and reduced numbers of pups. At 6 months, 60% of 0.5 mg/kg and 40% of 5 mg/kg groups delivered live pups compared to 100% of controls. At 2 months, half the mice treated with 25 mg/kg of genistein and none treated with 50 mg/kg delivered live pups, although half of the latter group showed signs of pregnancy with few small implantation sites. Ovarian function was disrupted in the low genistein-dosed mice with increased numbers of corpora lutea (CLs) compared to controls and increased ovulated oocytes following exogenous gonadotropins treatment. In contrast, mice treated with high genistein doses had decreased numbers of CLs; ovulation could be restored with exogenous gonadotropins. Thus, neonatal treatment with genistein at environmentally relevant doses caused adverse consequences on ovarian development and reproductive function.     

Development of a microwave-assisted extraction method for the recovery of bioactive inositols from lettuce (Lactuca sativa) byproducts

A microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method was developed for the extraction of bioactive inositols (D-chiro- and myo-inositols) from lettuce (Lactuca sativa) leaves as a strategy for the revalorization of these agrofood residues. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was selected for the simultaneous determination of inositols and sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) in these samples. A Box–Behnken experimental design was used to maximize the extraction of inositols based on the results of single factor tests. Optimal conditions of the extraction process were as follows: liquid-to-solid ratio of 100:1 v/w, 40°C, 30 min extraction time, 20:80 ethanol:water (v/v), and one extraction cycle. When compared with conventional solid-liquid extraction (SLE), MAE was found to be more effective for the extraction of target bioactive carbohydrates (MAE 5.42 mg/g dry sample versus SLE 4.01 mg/g dry sample). Then, MAE methodology was applied to the extraction of inositols from L. sativa leaves of different varieties (var. longifolia, var. capitata and var. crispa). D-chiro- and myo-inositol contents varied between 0.57–7.15 and 0.83–3.48 mg/g dry sample, respectively. Interfering sugars were removed from the extracts using a biotechnological procedure based on the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for 24 h. The developed methodology was a good alternative to classical procedures to obtain extracts enriched in inositols from lettuce residues, which could be of interest for the agrofood industry.     

INDOMETHACIN INHIBITS hCG AND GnRH AGONIST-INDUCED SECRETION OF PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR BY GRANULOSA AND THECA INTERSTITIAL CELLS OF HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED RATS

Considerable data have shown that plasminogen activator (PA) may play an important role in the mechanism of ovulation. A recent report argued that PA is not a primary proteoIytic enzyme for follicular rupture because a dose of indomethacin that blocked ovulation did not inhibit ovarian PA content. To further clarify the specific role of PA in the ovulation, we have carefully examined the effect of indomethacin on the secretion of PA in granulosa and theca-interstitial (TI) cells following hCG or GnRH agonist administration in PMSG-primed hypophysectomized immature rats. We have also studies in vitro action of this compound on PA secretion in granulosa cells. The results indicate that indomethacin can only suppress hCG- and GnRH agonist-induced PA secretion, but not suppress the ovarian content of these enzymes.     

Synthesis,structure, and biological evaluation of novel N- and O-linked diinositols

Several O-and N-linked inositols and/or aminoinositols have been prepared by iterative opening of epoxides and aziridines derived from homochiral cyclohexadiene cis-diols. The three inositols and their intermediate conduritols (conduramines) were tested against several glycosidases (alpha- and beta-glucosidase, alpha- and beta-galactosidase, alpha- and beta-mannosidase) in an assay that measured the rate of hydrolysis of p-nitrophenolglycosides rather than the concentration of p-nitrophenolate. Somewhat surprisingly, the best inhibition was seen against beta-galactosidase with several of the compounds. The inositols linked through oxygen or nitrogen were subjected to calcium binding studies performed in NMR experiments. Detailed analysis of the title compounds by NMR spectroscopy has been performed, and full assignments were made. One of the attendant benefits of the preparation of these compounds has been expressed in the design and synthesis of new salen catalysts whose effectiveness has been compared with Jacobsen's catalyst in the epoxidation of styrene.     

Novel conformationally locked inositols: from aromatics to annulated cyclitols

A new family of ring-annulated inositols with "locked" conformations has been designed to deliver a range of these biologically important entities in "unnatural conformations" while retaining their "natural configurations". The simple "tool" of trans ring fusion has been used to "lock" the conformation of the annulated inositols. Short, simple syntheses of a range of these novel cyclitols have been achieved from readily available aromatic precursors such as tetralin and indane. Along the way, annulated C(2)-symmetric cyclohexadiene-trans-diol (trans-CHD) derivatives have been prepared for the first time and serve as the pivotal building blocks for generating the oxy-functionalization pattern of inositols. The presence of chemo-differentiated hydroxyl groups in our novel inositols is expected to facilitate the installation of phosphate diversity to harness the biological potential of these entities.     

高效液相色谱-荧光法测定多囊卵巢综合征患者血浆中吲哚类物质

建立了一种同时测定血浆吲哚类物质（吲哚丙酸、吲哚乙酸、吲哚与3-甲基吲哚）的高效液相色谱-荧光法（HPLC-FLD）。以液-液萃取法进行样本预处理,采用Shim-pack VP-ODS色谱柱（150 mm×4.6 mm,4.6 μm）分离,流动相为15 mmol/L磷酸二氢钠溶液-甲醇（42：58,v/v）,柱温为30℃,流速为0.8 mL/min。吲哚丙酸、吲哚乙酸、吲哚与3-甲基吲哚在各自范围内线性关系良好。该方法的日内与日间相对标准偏差均小于6.31%,平均回收率为97.5%~107.0%。利用该方法对多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）患者（n=61）与作为对照的正常育龄期女性（n=25）的血浆样本进行测定,结果发现PCOS患者血浆吲哚类物质显著高于对照组,其中吲哚是PCOS的危险因子和潜在的诊断标志物。该方法操作简便,灵敏度高,适用于临床检测和实验室研究。     

1-(2,6-二氯苯基)-2-吲哚酮及相关物质的HPLC分离分析

 应用高效液相色谱方法研究了以2,6二氯苯酚和苯胺为起始原料合成药物中间体1(2,6二氯苯基)2吲哚酮(DCI)过程中,DCI及相关物质在不同色谱条件下的分离情况。结果表明,以CLCCN(150mm×6.0mmi.d.,7μm)为分离柱,以MeOHH2O(体积比为6∶4)为流动相,在流速为1mLmin的情况下,DCI及相关物质可以达到基线分离。建立了快速准确测定DCI纯度和检验杂质种类的高效液相色谱分析方法,方法准确可靠。对两个精品和两个粗品分别进行测定,结果表明精品中的杂质主要为N(2,6二氯二苯胺基)氯乙酰胺,粗品中的杂质主要为N(2,6二氯二苯胺基)氯乙酰胺和2,6二氯二苯胺。     

Orientin Improves Substrate Utilization and the Expression of Major Genes Involved in Insulin Signaling and Energy Regulation in Cultured Insulin-Resistant Liver Cells

Our group has progressively reported on the impact of bioactive compounds found in rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and their capacity to modulate glucose homeostasis to improve metabolic function in experimental models of type 2 diabetes. In the current study, we investigated how the dietary flavone, orientin, modulates the essential genes involved in energy regulation to enhance substrate metabolism. We used a well-established hepatic insulin resistance model of exposing C3A liver cells to a high concentration of palmitate (0.75 mM) for 16 hrs. These insulin-resistant liver cells were treated with orientin (10 µM) for 3 h to assess the therapeutic effect of orientin. In addition to assessing the rate of metabolic activity, end point measurements assessed include the uptake or utilization of glucose and palmitate, as well as the expression of genes involved in insulin signaling and regulating cellular energy homeostasis. Our results showed that orientin effectively improved metabolic activity, mainly by maintaining substrate utilization which was marked by enhanced glucose and palmitate uptake by liver cells subjected to insulin resistance. Interestingly, these effects can be explained by the improvement in the expression of genes involved in glucose transport (Glut2), insulin signaling (Irs1 and Pi3k), and energy regulation (Ampk and Cpt1). These preliminary findings lay an important foundation for future research to determine the bioactive properties of orientin against dyslipidemia or insulin resistance in reliable and well-established models of type 2 diabetes.     

Serum metabolomics study of polycystic ovary syndrome based on UPLC-QTOF-MS coupled with a pattern recognition approach

Metabolomics has become an important tool in distinguishing changes in metabolic pathways and the diagnosis of human disease. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a relatively complicated, heterogeneous endocrine disorder. The etiology and pathogenesis of PCOS remain uncertain. In this study, based on the platform of ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) and the method of pattern recognition, a comprehensive metabolomics approach has been applied to explore the changes in metabolic profiling between PCOS patients (n?=?20) and controls (n?=?15) as well as insulin-resistance (IR) PCOS patients (n?=?11) and non-IR PCOS subjects (n?=?9) in serum. In total, 36 metabolites were found significantly different between PCOS and controls, and 9 metabolites were discovered significantly different between IR and non-IR PCOS patients. Significant increases in the levels of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (myristic acid, linoleic acid, 9-/13-HODE, etc.), fatty amides (palmitic amide, oleamide), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, l-glutamic acid, azelaic acid, l-glyceric acid, pyroglutamic acid, and decreases in the levels of lysophosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylcholine, uridine, and l-carnitine were found in PCOS patients compared with controls. In IR PCOS patients, linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitoleic acid, and vaccenic acid also increased significantly compared with non-IR PCOS patients. All these changed metabolites showed abnormalities of steroid hormone biosynthesis, amino acids and nucleosides metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and lipids and carbohydrates metabolism in PCOS patients. The subgroup IR PCOS patients exhibited greater metabolic deviations than non-IR PCOS patients. These findings may help yield promising insights into the pathogenesis and advance the diagnosis and prevention of PCOS.

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Graphical Abstract Serum metabolomics signature of polycystic ovary syndrome

     

A comparative study on involvement of tPA activity in ovulation induced by hCG and GnRH agonist in hypophysectomized rats.

A GnRH agonist (5-50 micrograms) is capable of inducing ovulation in PMSG-primed hypophysectomized immature rats, as is the case in hCG-induced ovulation, but 2-4 h earlier than hCG. GnRH-induced ovulation is effectively blocked by the concomitant administration of the GnRH-antagonist which failed to interfere with hCG-induced ovulation, indicating that GnRH and its agonists do not share a receptor with LH/hCG. Like hCG, GnRH is also capable of inducing tissue type (tPA), but not urokinase type (uPA) PA. The plasminogen activator activity in ovarian homogenates and the granulosa and theca-interstitial cells increase in a time-dependent manner, reaching maximum levels just prior to ovulation. Similar to hCG, GnRH also increases tPA activity in cumulus-oocyte complexes in a time-dependent fashion.     

Quest for inosito-inositols: synthesis of novel, annulated and conformationally locked inositols

A new family of annulated inositols (inosito-inositols) has been conceptualized. Naphthalene has been elaborated into novel cyclohexa-annulated neo- and chiro-inositols, with two additional hydroxyl functionalities, through a series of stereoselective oxyfunctionalization protocols. The trans-ring fusion present in these new annulated inositols ensures conformational locking.     

Development of insulin resistance during aging: involvement of central processes and role of adipokines

Aging in mammals associates with the development of peripheral insulin resistance. Additionally, adiposity usually increases with aging and this could play a relevant role in the gradual impairment of insulin action. In fact, fat accretion leads to changes in the expression and circulating concentrations of factors originated in adipose tissue like leptin, resistin and inflammatory cytokines which have been shown to modulate insulin signaling in insulin target tissues acting both, directly or through the central nervous system. Even insulin action on peripheral target tissues has been recently demonstrated to be partially mediated by its central action, suggesting that a decrease in central insulin action could be involved in the development of peripheral insulin resistance. In the present review we analyze the available research data on aging-associated insulin resistance making emphasis in the following aspects: 1) The time-course of development of overall insulin resistance and the evolution of changes in circulating adipokines; 2) The effect of caloric restriction and the decrease of adiposity in insulin action; 3) The influence of changes in the central action of factors like leptin or insulin in the development and maintenance of insulin resistance during aging.     

The biosynthesis of cyclitols

Information has recently been obtained, mainly with the aid of radioactive compounds, about the biosynthesis of various cyclitols. It was found that the most widely occurring cyclitol, meso-inositol, is biosynthesized by a pathway probably common to all organisms, in which the cyclohexane ring is formed by ring closure between the two terminal carbon atoms of D -glucose. Cell-free extracts or enzyme systems that catalyse the conversion of D -glucose into meso-inositol can be prepared from various biological materials. The biosynthesis of the other hexahydroxycyclohexanes (inositols) involves meso-inositol as an intermediate. A few steps in the conversion of meso-inositol into other inositols have been studied.     

Quantification of myo‐inositol, 1,5‐anhydro‐ D‐sorbitol,and D‐chiro‐inositol using high‐performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection in very small volume clinical samples

Inositol is a six‐carbon sugar alcohol and is one of nine biologically significant isomers of hexahydroxycyclohexane. Myo‐inositol is the primary biologically active form and is present in higher concentrations in the fetus and newborn than in adults. It is currently being examined for the prevention of retinopathy of prematurity in newborn preterm infants. A robust method for quantifying myo‐inositol (MI), D ‐chiro‐inositol (DCI) and 1,5‐anhydro‐ D ‐sorbitol (ADS) in very small‐volume (25 μL) urine, blood serum and/or plasma samples was developed. Using a multiple‐column, multiple mobile phase liquid chromatographic system with electrochemical detection, the method was validated with respect to (a) selectivity, (b) accuracy/recovery, (c) precision/reproducibility, (d) sensitivity, (e) stability and (f) ruggedness. The standard curve was linear and ranged from 0.5 to 30 mg/L for each of the three analytes. Above‐mentioned performance measures were within acceptable limits described in the Food and Drug Administration's Guidance for Industry: Bioanalytical Method Validation. The method was validated using blood serum and plasma collected using four common anticoagulants, and also by quantifying the accuracy and sensitivity of MI measured in simulated urine samples recovered from preterm infant diaper systems. The method performs satisfactorily measuring the three most common inositol isomers on 25 μL clinical samples of serum, plasma, milk, and/or urine. Similar performance is seen testing larger volume samples of infant formulas and infant formula ingredients. MI, ADS and DCI may be accurately tested in urine samples collected from five different preterm infant diapers if the urine volume is greater than 2–5 mL. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.