3.1 Composition of S. reiliana polysaccharides and P. dactylifera monosaccharides
Among the monosaccharide components of the extracted S. reiliana polysaccharides, the glucose content was the highest, reaching 55.52%. The levels of mannose and galactose were 2% and 0.67%, respectively (Table S2). In the extracted P. dactylifera monosaccharides, the glucose content was as high as 49.25%, the galacturonic acid content was 0.58%, the proportion of rhamnose monohydrate was 0.52%, and the content of mannose was 0.45% (Table S3).
3.2 Physiological and biochemical indices of hyperuricaemic mice
As shown in Fig. S2a, the effects of polysaccharides and monosaccharides on glucose homeostasis in high-fructose diet-fed mice were evaluated by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests. After the mice were injected with glucose in the abdominal cavity, the blood glucose level of each group reached the highest at 30 min and returned to the initial level at 60 min. The CT group had the lowest fasting blood glucose level and the largest change in blood glucose level, and the HF group had the highest blood glucose level. The blood glucose levels of the HF+AL, HF+UL and HF+UH groups had a little change, while those of the HF+DL group and HF+DH group did not change significantly. During the experiment, the mice in the CT group gained the most weight, with weight gain reaching 4.68 g; the mice in the HF+DH monosaccharide group gained the least weight at approximately 3.98 g (Fig. S2b). Through statistical analysis of the organ indices of the liver and kidneys, it was found that the liver index and kidney index values were reduced in the HF+UL group. The liver index and kidney index of the HF+AL group were the highest, but there were no significant differences (P>0.05) (Fig. S2c).
The levels of serum uric acid (174.39±20.63 µmol/L, p<0.001), liver uric acid (829.76±101.09 µmol/L, p<0.05), urine uric acid (172.96±13.33 µmol/L, p<0.01), and faecal uric acid (1247.69±146.80 µmol/L, p<0.01) in the HF group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Compared to the HF group, the HF+AL group exhibited significantly lower serum uric acid (99.70±18.98 µmol/L, p<0.001), liver uric acid (584.40±87.36 µmol/L, p<0.01), urine uric acid (113.58±8.41 µmol/L, p<0.001) and faecal uric acid (420.70±34.14 µmol)/L, p<0.001) levels. Serum uric acid (125.71±14.65 µmol/L, p<0.001), liver uric acid (604.07±8.81 µmol/L, p<0.01) and urine uric acid (118.57±13.11 µmol/L, p<0.001) levels were decreased significantly in the HF+UL group. Serum uric acid (125.71±14.65 µmol/L, p<0.001), liver uric acid (604.07±82.81 µmol/L, p<0.01) and urine uric acid (118.57±13.11 µmol/L, p<0.001) levels were decreased significantly in the HF+UL group. Faecal uric acid (1735.83±266.44 µmol/L, p<0.01) levels were increased significantly in the HF+UH group, but there were no significant differences in uric acid in the other groups. In the HF+DL group, serum uric acid (129.87±20.72 µmol/L, p<0.01), liver uric acid (683.91±73.11 µmol/L, p<0.05), and urine uric acid (129.87±20.72 µmol/L, p<0.01) were decreased significantly, and faecal uric acid (1643.63±237.70 µmol/L, p<0.01) was increased significantly. The faecal uric acid content (1902.22±224.06 µmol/L, p<0.01) in the HF+DL group was significantly increased (Fig. 1a-b).
Compared with those in the CT group, the mice in the HF group had significantly higher serum creatinine (56.30±6.79 µmol/L, p<0.001), blood urea nitrogen (24.84±3.45 mmol/L, p<0.001) and urine urea nitrogen content (330.90±67.83 mmol/L), p<0.01). Compared with those in the HF group, the mice in the HF+AL group had significantly lower serum creatinine (38.68±2.71 µmol/L, p<0.001) and blood urea nitrogen (16.99±1.92 mmol/L, p<0.001) levels but significantly higher urine urea nitrogen content (566.57±140.19 mmol/L, p<0.01). Serum creatinine (43.47±3.31 µmol/L, p<0.001), blood urea nitrogen (18.02±3.36 mmol/L, p<0.01) and urine urea nitrogen were significantly increased (489.11±28.75 mmol/L, p<0.001) in the HF+UL group. Urinary urea nitrogen was significantly increased in the HF+UH group (549.18±90.05 µmol/L, p<0.001). Serum creatinine (41.91±3.10 µmol/L, p<0.001) and blood urea nitrogen (20.37±3.61 mmol/L, p<0.05) in the HF+DL group were increased significantly. There were no significant differences in several indices in the HF+DH group (Fig. 1c-d).
3.3 Expression of uric acid metabolism-related genes in hyperuricaemic mice
As shown in Fig. 2, the qPCR test results showed that compared to those in the CT group, the transcription levels of ADA and XOD in the liver in the HF group were significantly upregulated (p<0.01). In mice that received low doses of S. reiliana supplementation, the transcription levels of the XOD gene were restored to normal (p<0.5). GLUT9, URAT1 and UMOD were significantly upregulated in the HF group (p<0.001), whereas the expression of ABCG2 and MRP4 was significantly downregulated. Compared with those of mice in the HF group, the XOD gene transcription levels were significantly higher in the HF+DH group. GLUT9, URAT1 and UMOD were significantly upregulated in the HF+DL group and HF+DH group. ABCG2 and MRP4 were significantly upregulated in the HF+UL, HF+UH, HF+DL and HF+DH groups (p<0.001).
3.4 Expression of inflammatory factors in hyperuricaemic mice
As shown in Fig. 3a-d, compared with those in the CT group, the transcription levels of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6) and the anti-inflammatory factor TGF-β in the HF group were significantly increased in both the liver and kidneys (p<0.05). Compared with those in the HF group, the transcription levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TGF-β in the HF+UL and HF+UH groups were significantly decreased (p<0.05). However, there were opposite trends in the HF+DL group and the HF+DH group. Similarly, compared with those in the CT group, the transcription levels of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in the HF group were significantly increased (p<0.05). Compared with those in the HF group, the transcription levels of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in the HF+UL, HF+DL and HF+DH groups were significantly increased (p<0.05) (Fig. 3e). Similarly, the transcription levels of MyD88, TRAF6 and NF-κB were significantly upregulated in the HF group compared with the CT group (p<0.01), whereas both HF+UL and HF+UH treatment significantly downregulated the transcription of all these genes (Fig. 3f).
3.5 Changes in the structure of the gut microbiota in hyperuricaemic mice
Metagenomic sequencing results showed that a high-fructose diet can increase the diversity and abundance of the gut microbiota of mice, and the observed species index and Shannon index were highest in the HF+DL group (Table S4). Through weighted principal coordinate analysis (UniFrac PCoA) (Fig. S3), it was found that the structure of the gut microbiota of the mice in the HF+DH group was closest to that of the mice in the HF group, and the structure of the gut microbiota of the mice in the HF+AL group was closest to that of the mice in the CT group. At the phylum level (Fig. 4a), compared with that in the HF group, the relative abundance of Bacteroides in the CT group was decreased from 67.17–58.66%. The HF+UL group, HF+UH group, HF+DL group and HF+AL group all showed downward trends. Among them, the HF+UH group had the largest decrease; the abundance dropped from 67.17–34.81%. The relative abundance of Bacteroides in the HF+DH group increased from 67.17–72.93%. Compared with that in the HF group, the relative abundance of Firmicutes in the HF+DH group was decreased, and the relative abundance of Firmicutes in the other groups was increased. The abundance in the HF+UH group rose from 20.71–24.62%. Compared with that in the HF group, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in each group except for the HF+DL group was reduced.
As shown in Fig. 4b, at the genus level, the relative abundance of Muribaculum increased from 17.80% in the HF group to 21.08% in the HF+DH group and decreased from 17.80% in the HF group to 7.10% in the HF+UH group. The relative abundance of Prevotella was highest in the HF+DH group (17.19% and 17.36%, respectively) and lowest in the HF+UH group (7.10%). Compared with that in the model group, the maximum relative abundance of Clostridium in the HF+DL group was 9.74%, while the relative abundance in the HF+UL group decreased from 13.91–6.98%.
The data showed that at the species level, the relative abundance of Muribaculum intestinale was downregulated compared with that in the HF group, while it was the least downregulated in the HF+DH group, decreasing from 24.85–21.60%. The Bacteroides acidifaciens (BA) abundance increased from 13.16% in the HF group to 18.15% in the HF+DH group, while the relative abundance in the other groups was lower than that in the HF group. Between the CT group and the HF group, Lactobacillus murinus increased from 0.78–4.02%, and the relative abundance dropped to 0.52% in the HF+UL group (Fig. 4c).
3.6 Functional analysis of the gut microbiota
As shown in Fig. 5a, the primary metabolic pathways of unigenes in each group of mice mainly included metabolism, human diseases, genetic information processing, environmental information processing, cellular processes and organic systems. The secondary metabolic pathways were enriched for 25 modules, including carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism. The most abundant unigenes were related to carbohydrate metabolism (254085) and amino acid metabolism (163653).
As Fig. 5b shows, compared with that in the CT group, the abundance of unigenes related to purine metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, fructose and mannose metabolism was increased in the HF group, but the abundance of unigenes related to the two-component system and quorum sensing was decreased in the HF group. Compared with those for the HF group, the results for the HF+AL group and the HF+UL group were exactly the opposite. The abundance of unigenes related to purine metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, fructose and mannose metabolism, and nucleotide excision repair was decreased, while the abundance of unigenes related to the two-component system and quorum sensing were increased. These changes were more obvious in the HF+UH group than in the other groups; unigenes related to the two-component system, the abundance of flagellar assembly, fructose and mannose metabolism, bacterial chemotaxis, mannose metabolism and ABC transporters were the most drastically altered. The abundance of unigenes related to purine metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation and pyruvate metabolism was lower in the HF+DL group than in the other groups. However, in the HF+DH group, unigenes related to the two-component system, ABC transporters, flagellar assembly, and cyanoamino acid metabolism were the least abundant.
The metabolic pathways associated with 82 differentially expressed genes and the corresponding species were screened, as shown in Fig. 5c. The species corresponding to Unigene582 was Muribaculum intestinale, and the corresponding metabolic pathway was purine metabolism. The highest abundance (in the HF group) was 16154.22, and the lowest abundance (in the HF+UH group) was 5560.64. Unigene1382 corresponded to Odoribacter splanchnicus, and the corresponding metabolic pathway was glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. The highest abundance (in the HF group) was 2392.98, while the abundance was relatively low in the HF+UL, HF+UH and HF+DL groups. The corresponding species of Unigene98 was Hungatella hathewayi, and the corresponding metabolic pathway was amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. The abundance was relatively low in the HF+UH group and was highest in the HF+DH group. The corresponding species of Unigene660 and Unigene9163 were Bacteroides vulgaris and Prevotella copri, and the corresponding metabolic pathways were phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis and cysteine and methionine metabolism. The abundance was highest in the HF group and the HF+DH group, while the content was lowest in the HF+UH group.
3.7 Serum metabolites in hyperuricaemic mice
The statistics showed that 8051 and 8502 metabolites were obtained by the POS (positive) and NEG (negative) models, respectively, 4579 and 4555 of which were annotated (Table S5). PCA showed that the distribution of sample metabolites between different groups had a discrete trend, indicating that there were differences in serum metabolites after S. reiliana polysaccharide and P. dactylifera monosaccharide intervention (Fig. 6). The results indicated that there was a difference between the HF+DH group and the HF group in the pos mode or neg mode The difference between the HF+UL group and the CT group was the smallest. The difference between the HF+DH group and the HF+AL group was the largest.
As shown in Fig. 7 (Table S6-11), 30 differential metabolites were screened out in the CT group compared with the HF group, and acylcarnitine was upregulated. The abundance of sulfanilamide, trans-aconitic acid and linoleic acid was downregulated. The abundance of isonicotinic acid, propionic acid, trans-aconitic acid and phenyllactic acid was upregulated in the HF+AL group, while the abundance of uridine, uracil, and hippuric acid was downregulated. The secondary serum metabolites unique to the HF+AL group were phenyllactic acid, acylcarnitine, propionic acid, uracil, L-histidine and D-ornithine. In the HF+UL group, the abundance of taurodeoxycholic acid and propionic acid was upregulated, and the abundance of taurocholic acid, uridine, and kynurenic acid was downregulated. In the HF+UH group, the abundance of trans-aconitic acid, trans-caffeic acid, propionic acid, and 2-arachidonic glycerol was upregulated, while the abundance of uridine and aniline was downregulated. The abundance of isonicotinic acid, trans-aconitic acid, and niacin in the HF+DL group was upregulated, and the serum metabolites that were downregulated included uridine, acylcarnitine, taurocholate and glycocholic acid. Unique secondary serum metabolites in the HF+DL group included glycolic acid and niacin. In the HF+DH group, the abundance of trans-aconitic acid was upregulated, while the abundance of uridine, acylcarnitine, taurocholate and phenyllactic acid was downregulated.
3.8 KEGG pathways enriched for the different serum metabolites and the related pathways of the differential metabolites between groups
The metabolites identified above in the positive and negative ion modes were assigned to primary metabolic pathways (Fig. 8a-b) in the KEGG database. The top priority was global and overview maps, followed by maps of lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and metabolism of cofactors and vitamins. The top 20 KEGG pathways of the determined serum metabolites under the positive and negative ion modes are shown in Fig. 8c-d. The serum metabolites were most enriched in metabolic pathways, followed by protein digestion and absorption, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and biosynthesis of amino acids.
Pathway analysis of patient biomarkers was performed using metaX, and the results and pathways are shown in Fig. 9. The enriched pathways of the differential metabolites in the HF group compared with the CT group (Fig. 9a) mainly included linoleic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. The differential metabolites in the HF+AL group compared with the HF group (Fig. 9b) were enriched in phenylalanine metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, etc. In the HF+UL group (Fig. 9c), the differential metabolites were enriched in biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids, phenylalanine metabolism and pyrimidine metabolism. The serum metabolites in the HF+UH group were mainly enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and pyrimidine metabolism (Fig. 9d). In the HF+DL group (Fig. 9e), the main enriched pathways were bile acid biosynthesis, biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids and secondary bile acid biosynthesis. Serum metabolites in the HF+DH group were enriched in the secondary bile acid biosynthesis, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism pathways (Fig. 9f).