Work

A multi-omics approach reveals that lotus root polysaccharide iron ameliorates iron deficiency-induced testicular damage by activating PPARγ to promote steroid hormone synthesis

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: • LRPF enhances spermatogenesis through regulates the homeostasis of intestinal flora, and synergistically improves serum steroid and fatty acid-related metabolites. • LRPF increases the expression of PPARγ protein to promote steroid hormone synthesis. • Iron deficiency mainly increases Ethyl chrysanthemumate content and inhibits PPARγ protein expression in the testis, thereby inhibiting STAR and CYP17A1 protein expression. Iron deficiency is a common nutritional issue that seriously affects male reproductive health. Lotus root polysaccharide iron (LRPF), a novel nutritional supplement, may ameliorate the damage caused by iron deficiency, however, the mechanism is unclear. In this study, we comprehensively determined the benefits of LRPF on reproduction in iron-deficient mice by integrating transcriptomics, microbiomics and serum metabolomics. Microbiomics showed that LRPF could restore changes to the intestinal microbiota caused by iron deficiency. Metabolomics results showed that LRPF stabilised steroid hormone and fatty acid metabolism in iron-deficient mice, reduced the content of ethyl chrysanthemumate (EC) and ameliorated the reproductive impairment. The transcriptomic analysis showed that LRPF regulated steroid hormone synthesis and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signalling pathway in iron-deficient mice. In vitro experiments showed that LRPF could promote steroid hormone synthesis in Leydig cells by activating PPARγ. In conclusion, this study highlights the advantage of LRPF to improve testicular development.

Source: Journal of Advanced Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.09.022