Characterizing the impact of podophyllotoxin on pulmonary toxicity and gut-lung microbiota interactions in SD rats based on TEC concept
ABSTRACT Podophyllotoxin (PPT), an extract from the traditional medicinal plant Dysosma, offers anti-viral and anti-cancer benefits, though its use is limited by toxicity. The mechanisms of PPT’s inherent pulmonary toxicity remain elusive. This study leverages the novel “Toxicological Evidence Chain...
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| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Spectrum |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01653-24 |
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| author | Min Wang Xiao Ma Junjie He Jiaxing Sun Feng Cai Chuanxin Liu Jiajia Duan |
| author_facet | Min Wang Xiao Ma Junjie He Jiaxing Sun Feng Cai Chuanxin Liu Jiajia Duan |
| author_sort | Min Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Podophyllotoxin (PPT), an extract from the traditional medicinal plant Dysosma, offers anti-viral and anti-cancer benefits, though its use is limited by toxicity. The mechanisms of PPT’s inherent pulmonary toxicity remain elusive. This study leverages the novel “Toxicological Evidence Chain” theory to explore the potential involvement of the “gut-lung axis” in PPT-induced pulmonary toxicity. In this study, we examined injury phenotypes in rats, evaluated pulmonary pathological changes, measured pro-inflammatory factors, and conducted comprehensive analyses of both pulmonary and gut microbiomes and metabolomics. Our findings indicate that exposure to PPT leads to significant pulmonary damage in these animals. The PPT group exhibited significantly elevated levels of total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, accompanied by marked upregulation of interleukin (IL)-18, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1β expression in lung tissue. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis revealed significant increases of Akkermansia, Escherichia-Shigella, and Bacteroides in both intestinal contents and lung tissue of PPT-treated animals, concomitant with notable elevations in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid, and reductions in acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid. The increased abundance of Akkermansia and Escherichia-Shigella may enhance pulmonary inflammatory factors through effects on intestinal barrier integrity and direct immune stimulation, while elevated Bacteroides may alter SCFA production, exacerbating pulmonary inflammation under PPT treatment, suggesting a potential role in the manifestation of PPT-induced pulmonary toxicity. This study offers new insights into the mechanisms of PPT-induced pulmonary toxicity, highlights the role of the gut-lung axis, and provides avenues for therapeutic intervention.IMPORTANCEPPT, derived from the medicinal plant Dysosma, is known for its anti-cancer and anti-viral properties but limited by severe pulmonary toxicity. This study illuminates the gut-lung microbiota axis’s role in mediating this toxicity, revealing how specific microbial and metabolic alterations contribute to lung damage. By uncovering these mechanisms, our research opens avenues for interventions that could mitigate PPT’s side effects, potentially enhancing its safety and widening its therapeutic use. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c32b7c4a4a1941d88a83c1e32476f873 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2165-0497 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj-art-c32b7c4a4a1941d88a83c1e32476f8732025-08-20T02:24:22ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972025-06-0113610.1128/spectrum.01653-24Characterizing the impact of podophyllotoxin on pulmonary toxicity and gut-lung microbiota interactions in SD rats based on TEC conceptMin Wang0Xiao Ma1Junjie He2Jiaxing Sun3Feng Cai4Chuanxin Liu5Jiajia Duan6Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, , Luoyang, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, , Luoyang, ChinaSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, , Luoyang, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, ChinaHenan Key Laboratory of Rare Diseases, Endocrinology and Metabolism Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, , Luoyang, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, , Luoyang, ChinaABSTRACT Podophyllotoxin (PPT), an extract from the traditional medicinal plant Dysosma, offers anti-viral and anti-cancer benefits, though its use is limited by toxicity. The mechanisms of PPT’s inherent pulmonary toxicity remain elusive. This study leverages the novel “Toxicological Evidence Chain” theory to explore the potential involvement of the “gut-lung axis” in PPT-induced pulmonary toxicity. In this study, we examined injury phenotypes in rats, evaluated pulmonary pathological changes, measured pro-inflammatory factors, and conducted comprehensive analyses of both pulmonary and gut microbiomes and metabolomics. Our findings indicate that exposure to PPT leads to significant pulmonary damage in these animals. The PPT group exhibited significantly elevated levels of total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, accompanied by marked upregulation of interleukin (IL)-18, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1β expression in lung tissue. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis revealed significant increases of Akkermansia, Escherichia-Shigella, and Bacteroides in both intestinal contents and lung tissue of PPT-treated animals, concomitant with notable elevations in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid, and reductions in acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid. The increased abundance of Akkermansia and Escherichia-Shigella may enhance pulmonary inflammatory factors through effects on intestinal barrier integrity and direct immune stimulation, while elevated Bacteroides may alter SCFA production, exacerbating pulmonary inflammation under PPT treatment, suggesting a potential role in the manifestation of PPT-induced pulmonary toxicity. This study offers new insights into the mechanisms of PPT-induced pulmonary toxicity, highlights the role of the gut-lung axis, and provides avenues for therapeutic intervention.IMPORTANCEPPT, derived from the medicinal plant Dysosma, is known for its anti-cancer and anti-viral properties but limited by severe pulmonary toxicity. This study illuminates the gut-lung microbiota axis’s role in mediating this toxicity, revealing how specific microbial and metabolic alterations contribute to lung damage. By uncovering these mechanisms, our research opens avenues for interventions that could mitigate PPT’s side effects, potentially enhancing its safety and widening its therapeutic use.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01653-24podophyllotoxinpulmonary toxicitygut microbiotametabolomemicrobiota-gut-lung axis |
| spellingShingle | Min Wang Xiao Ma Junjie He Jiaxing Sun Feng Cai Chuanxin Liu Jiajia Duan Characterizing the impact of podophyllotoxin on pulmonary toxicity and gut-lung microbiota interactions in SD rats based on TEC concept Microbiology Spectrum podophyllotoxin pulmonary toxicity gut microbiota metabolome microbiota-gut-lung axis |
| title | Characterizing the impact of podophyllotoxin on pulmonary toxicity and gut-lung microbiota interactions in SD rats based on TEC concept |
| title_full | Characterizing the impact of podophyllotoxin on pulmonary toxicity and gut-lung microbiota interactions in SD rats based on TEC concept |
| title_fullStr | Characterizing the impact of podophyllotoxin on pulmonary toxicity and gut-lung microbiota interactions in SD rats based on TEC concept |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterizing the impact of podophyllotoxin on pulmonary toxicity and gut-lung microbiota interactions in SD rats based on TEC concept |
| title_short | Characterizing the impact of podophyllotoxin on pulmonary toxicity and gut-lung microbiota interactions in SD rats based on TEC concept |
| title_sort | characterizing the impact of podophyllotoxin on pulmonary toxicity and gut lung microbiota interactions in sd rats based on tec concept |
| topic | podophyllotoxin pulmonary toxicity gut microbiota metabolome microbiota-gut-lung axis |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01653-24 |
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