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Bile acids and oxo-metabolites as markers of human faecal input in the ancient Pompeii ruins.

ABSTRACT: Small organic molecules, lipids, proteins, and DNA fragments can remain stable over centuries. Powerful and sensitive chemical analysis can therefore be used to characterize ancient remains for classical archaeological studies. This bio-ecological dimension of archaeology can contribute knowledge about several aspects of ancient life, including social organization, daily habits, nutrition, and food storage. Faecal remains (i.e. coprolites) are particularly interesting in this regard, with scientists seeking to identify new faecal markers. Here, we report the analysis of faecal samples from modern-day humans and faecal samples from a discharge pit on the site of the ruins of ancient Pompeii. We propose that bile acids and their gut microbiota oxo-metabolites are the most specific steroid markers for detecting faecal inputs. This is due to their extreme chemical stability and their exclusive occurrence in vertebrate faeces, compared to other ubiquitous sterols and steroids.

SUBMITTER: Porru E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7878498 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Bile acids and oxo-metabolites as markers of human faecal input in the ancient Pompeii ruins.

Porru Emanuele E Giorgi Enrico E Turroni Silvia S Helg Riccardo R Silani Michele M Candela Marco M Fiori Jessica J Roda Aldo A

Scientific reports 20210211 1

Small organic molecules, lipids, proteins, and DNA fragments can remain stable over centuries. Powerful and sensitive chemical analysis can therefore be used to characterize ancient remains for classical archaeological studies. This bio-ecological dimension of archaeology can contribute knowledge about several aspects of ancient life, including social organization, daily habits, nutrition, and food storage. Faecal remains (i.e. coprolites) are particularly interesting in this regard, with scient ...[more]

PMID: 33574393

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Project description:Bile acids are important cholesterol-derived nutrient signaling hormones, synthesized in the liver, that act as detergents to solubilize dietary lipids. Bile acid 7?-dehydroxylating gut bacteria generate the toxic bile acids deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid from host bile acids. The ability of these bacteria to remove the 7-hydroxyl group is partially dependent on 7?-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSDH) activity, which reduces 7-oxo-bile acids generated by other gut bacteria. 3?-HSDH has an important enzymatic activity in the bile acid 7?-dehydroxylation pathway. 12?-HSDH activity has been reported for the low-activity bile acid 7?-dehydroxylating bacterium Clostridium leptum; however, this activity has not been reported for high-activity bile acid 7?-dehydroxylating bacteria, such as Clostridium scindens, Clostridium hylemonae, and Clostridium hiranonis Here, we demonstrate that these strains express bile acid 12?-HSDH. The recombinant enzymes were characterized from each species and shown to preferentially reduce 12-oxolithocholic acid to deoxycholic acid, with low activity against 12-oxochenodeoxycholic acid and reduced activity when bile acids were conjugated to taurine or glycine. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that 12?-HSDH is widespread among Firmicutes, Actinobacteria in the Coriobacteriaceae family, and human gut ArchaeaIMPORTANCE 12?-HSDH activity has been established in the medically important bile acid 7?-dehydroxylating bacteria C. scindens, C. hiranonis, and C. hylemonae Experiments with recombinant 12?-HSDHs from these strains are consistent with culture-based experiments that show a robust preference for 12-oxolithocholic acid over 12-oxochenodeoxycholic acid. Phylogenetic analysis identified novel members of the gut microbiome encoding 12?-HSDH. Future reengineering of 12?-HSDH enzymes to preferentially oxidize cholic acid may provide a means to industrially produce the therapeutic bile acid ursodeoxycholic acid. In addition, a cholic acid-specific 12?-HSDH expressed in the gut may be useful for the reduction in deoxycholic acid concentration, a bile acid implicated in cancers of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Project description:ObjectiveThe transition from psoriasis to psoriatic arthritis (PsA) occurs in 20-30% of patients; however, the mechanisms underlying the emergence of musculoskeletal disease are not well understood. Metabolic disease is prevalent in psoriasis patients, but whether metabolic factors, other than obesity, increase arthritis risk in psoriasis patients is not known. This study was undertaken to investigate the link between metabolic changes and disease progression in psoriasis patients.MethodsTo characterize the metabolic alterations during the progression of arthritis in psoriasis patients, we analyzed cross-sectional healthy controls and PsA samples and longitudinal psoriasis serum samples, before and after PsA onset. Nontargeted metabolomic profiling was performed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.ResultsWe identified several serum metabolites that differed between PsA patients, psoriasis patients, and healthy controls. Differentially abundant bile acids, purines, pyrimidines, glutathione, lipids, and amino acid metabolites were noted in these 3 groups. We also noted differences between psoriasis patients who progressed and those who did not progress to PsA. Bile acid and butyrate levels were depressed in those who progressed to PsA compared to those who did not, and the level of inflammatory lipid mediators increased following PsA diagnosis. In particular, the combination of leukotriene B4 and glycoursodeoxycholic acid sulfate were sensitive and specific predictors of PsA progression.ConclusionWe observed notable differences in bile acid, purine, lipid, and amino acid-derived metabolites, among the healthy controls, psoriasis patients, and PsA patients and identified changes during the transition from psoriasis to PsA. The decreased bile acid and butyrate levels and elevated guanine levels in psoriasis patients at risk for PsA were particularly striking and may reflect gut microbial dysbiosis and dysregulated hepatic metabolism, leading to altered proliferation of immune cells and enhanced cytokine expression.

Dataset Information

Bile acids and oxo-metabolites as markers of human faecal input in the ancient Pompeii ruins.

Publications

Bile acids and oxo-metabolites as markers of human faecal input in the ancient Pompeii ruins.

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