Leech protein extract ameliorated hyperuricemia by restoring gut microbiota dysregulation and affecting serum metabolites
Preclinical pharmacology study published in World Journal of Gastroenterology (2024)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a public health concern that needs to be solved urgently. The lyophilized powder of Poecilobdella manillensis has been shown to significantly alleviate HUA; however, its underlying metabolic regulation remains unclear. AIM: To explore the underlying mechanisms of Poecilobdella manillensis in HUA based on modulation of the gut microbiota and host metabolism. METHODS: A mouse model of rapid HUA was established using a high-purine diet and potassium oxonate injections. The mice received oral drugs or saline. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics were performed to identify changes in the microbiome and host metabolome, respectively. The levels of uric acid transporters and epithelial tight junction proteins in the renal and intestinal tissues were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The protein extract of Poecilobdella manillensis lyophilized powder (49 mg/kg) showed an enhanced anti-trioxypurine ability than that of allopurinol (5 mg/kg) (P < 0.05). A total of nine bacterial genera were identified to be closely related to the anti-trioxypurine activity of Poecilobdella manillensis powder, which included the genera of Prevotella, Delftia, Dialister, Akkermansia, Lactococcus, Escherichia_Shigella, Enterococcus, and Bacteroides. Furthermore, 22 metabolites in the serum were found to be closely related to the anti-trioxypurine activity of Poecilobdella manillensis powder, which correlated to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways of cysteine and methionine metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, galactose metabolism, and phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis. Correlation analysis found that changes in the gut microbiota were significantly related to these metabolites. CONCLUSION: The proteins in Poecilobdella manillensis powder were effective for HUA. Mechanistically, they are associated with improvements in gut microbiota dysbiosis and the regulation of sphingolipid and galactose metabolism.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Protein extract from Poecilobdella manillensis lyophilized powder (49 mg/kg) outperformed allopurinol (5 mg/kg) for hyperuricemia in a mouse model via restoration of gut microbiota and modulation of sphingolipid and galactose metabolism.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This study examined whether a protein extract of Poecilobdella manillensis lyophilized powder alleviates hyperuricemia in a mouse model (high-purine diet plus potassium oxonate) via gut microbiota and serum metabolite modulation, using 16S rRNA sequencing, untargeted metabolomics, and ELISA of uric acid transporters and tight junction proteins. The extract (49 mg/kg) showed greater anti-trioxypurine activity than allopurinol (5 mg/kg), with effects linked to specific bacterial genera and metabolic pathways including sphingolipid and galactose metabolism. This suggests the leech protein extract may have systemic metabolic activity of interest to ASH. The clear caveat is that this is an animal (mouse) study using oral leech protein extract, not live hirudotherapy, with no human data.
Citation
Leech protein extract ameliorated hyperuricemia by restoring gut microbiota dysregulation and affecting serum metabolites.
Liu X, Liang XQ, Lu TC et al. · World journal of gastroenterology, 2024
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