Ochratoxin A induces abnormal tryptophan metabolism in the intestine and liver to activate AMPK signaling pathway
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Published:2023-09-08
Issue:1
Volume:14
Page:
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ISSN:2049-1891
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Container-title:Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology
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language:en
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Short-container-title:J Animal Sci Biotechnol
Author:
Ma Weiqing,Fu Yang,Zhu Shanshan,Xia Daiyang,Zhai Shuangshuang,Xiao Deqin,Zhu Yongwen,Dione Michel,Ben Lukuyu,Yang Lin,Wang Wence
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin widely present in raw food and feed materials and is mainly produced by Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum. Our previous study showed that OTA principally induces liver inflammation by causing intestinal flora disorder, especially Bacteroides plebeius (B. plebeius) overgrowth. However, whether OTA or B. plebeius alteration leads to abnormal tryptophan-related metabolism in the intestine and liver is largely unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the metabolic changes in the intestine and liver induced by OTA and the tryptophan-related metabolic pathway in the liver.
Materials and methods
A total of 30 healthy 1-day-old male Cherry Valley ducks were randomly divided into 2 groups. The control group was given 0.1 mol/L NaHCO3 solution, and the OTA group was given 235 μg/kg body weight OTA for 14 consecutive days. Tryptophan metabolites were determined by intestinal chyme metabolomics and liver tryptophan-targeted metabolomics. AMPK-related signaling pathway factors were analyzed by Western blotting and mRNA expression.
Results
Metabolomic analysis of the intestinal chyme showed that OTA treatment resulted in a decrease in intestinal nicotinuric acid levels, the downstream product of tryptophan metabolism, which were significantly negatively correlated with B. plebeius abundance. In contrast, OTA induced a significant increase in indole-3-acetamide levels, which were positively correlated with B. plebeius abundance. Simultaneously, OTA decreased the levels of ATP, NAD+ and dipeptidase in the liver. Liver tryptophan metabolomics analysis showed that OTA inhibited the kynurenine metabolic pathway and reduced the levels of kynurenine, anthranilic acid and nicotinic acid. Moreover, OTA increased the phosphorylation of AMPK protein and decreased the phosphorylation of mTOR protein.
Conclusion
OTA decreased the level of nicotinuric acid in the intestinal tract, which was negatively correlated with B. plebeius abundance. The abnormal metabolism of tryptophan led to a deficiency of NAD+ and ATP in the liver, which in turn activated the AMPK signaling pathway. Our results provide new insights into the toxic mechanism of OTA, and tryptophan metabolism might be a target for prevention and treatment.
Graphical Abstract
Funder
Guangdong Province Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar
National Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scholars
National Science Fund Project of China
National Key Research Program
China Agriculture Research System
Modern Agricultural Industrial Technology System Innovation Team of Guangdong Province
Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Animal Science and Zoology,Biochemistry,Food Science,Biotechnology
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