Project description:Adequate sleep is essential for relieving stress and rejuvenating the mind; however, undesirable physiological and pathological responses resulting from sleep insufficiency or sleep deprivation (SD) are becoming increasingly common. However, the influence of sleep deficiency on gut microbiota and microbiota-associated human diseases, especially on cardiac diseases remain controversial. Here, we constructed the experimental SD model in mice and found it significantly resulted in weakness, depression-like behaviors, and multiple organs dysfunction. Intriguingly, SD mice developed pathogenic cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis with poor ejection fraction as well as fractional shortening. 16s rRNA sequencing demonstrated that SD-induced the pathogenic effects of gut microbiota, which was also observed in mice received by fecal microbe from SD mice in fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) assays. Next, we investigated the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of oxygen therapy in gut microbiota-associated cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction. The environment of 30% oxygen concentration effectively ameliorated the pathological effects on cardiac function. Transcriptome data also found oxygen therapy targeted several hypoxia-dependent pathways and suppressed cardiac collagen production. In conclusion, these results indicated the importance of sufficient sleep in gut microbiota and may represent a potential therapeutic strategy of oxygen environment exerts protective effects in sleepless sufferings through gut microbiota.
Project description:Fecal samples collected on day 5 from randomly selected colitic SD rats were analyzed for gut microbiota by sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The orally administered Dex-P-laden NPA2 coacervate (Dex-P/NPA2) significantly restores the diversity of gut microbiota compared with colitic SD rats in the Dex-P/PBS group and the untreated colitic rats (Control).
Project description:Sleep deprivation (SD) disrupts systemic homeostasis, yet its impact on lacrimal gland integrity through neuroendocrine–microbial pathways remains unclear. Using a male mice SD model, we show that chronic SD activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, elevates corticosterone, alters gut microbiota, and depletes short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These alterations coincide with lacrimal gland atrophy, reduced tear secretion, and increased CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cell infiltration, accompanied by activation of IL-17-associated inflammatory pathways. Pharmacological inhibition of glucocorticoid synthesis with metyrapone preserves lacrimal gland structure and function while attenuating immune activation. Microbiome-directed interventions, including SCFA supplementation and fecal microbiota transplantation, rebalance gut communities, suppress proinflammatory T cell responses, and maintain lacrimal gland homeostasis. Transcriptomic and immunohistochemical analyses further reveal that all three interventions converge on downregulation of IL-17 signaling. Collectively, these findings establish an HPA-gut microbiome-lacrimal gland axis links neuroendocrine stress to microbial dysbiosis and ocular inflammation, and they suggest therapeutic strategies for SD-associated lacrimal gland dysfunction.
Project description:Intestinal microbiota dysbiosis is related to many metabolic diseases in human health. Meanwhile, as an irregular environmental light-dark cycle, short-day (SD) may induce host circadian rhythms disturbances and worsen the risks of gut dysbiosis. Herein, we investigated how LD cycles regulate intestinal metabolism upon the destruction of gut microbes with antibiotic treatments. The transcriptome data indicated that SD have some negative effects on hepatic metabolism, endocrine, digestive, and diseases processes compared with normal light-dark cycle (NLD).The SD induced epithelial and hepatic purine metabolism pathway imbalance in ABX mice, the gut microbes, and their metabolites, all of which could contribute to host metabolism and digestion, endocrine system disorders, and may even cause diseases in the host.
Project description:Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that has been associated with changes in gut microbiota and intestinal function. However, the molecular mechanisms driving these changes are not fully understood, and there is a need for an appropriate animal model to study the gut-brain axis in PTSD. The rat PTSD model, induced by footshock stress, is commonly used to simulate PTSD-like behaviors and physiological responses. This study aims to assess whether this model accurately reflects the alterations in gut gene expression and microbiota composition that are observed in PTSD.
Project description:We have previously demonstrated that the gut microbiota can play a role in the pathogenesis of conditions associated with exposure to environmental pollutants. It is well accepted that diets high in fermentable fibers such as inulin can beneficially modulate the gut microbiota and lessen the severity of pro-inflammatory diseases. Therefore, we aimed to test the hypothesis that hyperlipidemic mice fed a diet enriched with inulin would be protected from the pro-inflammatory toxic effects of PCB 126.
Project description:Analysis of breast cancer survivors' gut microbiota after lifestyle intervention, during the COVID-19 lockdown, by 16S sequencing of fecal samples.