Inulin Supplementation Modulates the Hepatic Transcriptome, Metabolome, and Ferritin Content in Ovariectomized Rats

Area of Science:

• Metabolomics and Transcriptomics
• Gut Microbiome and Host Metabolism
• Hepatic Physiology

Background:

• The liver is a critical metabolic organ for maintaining whole-body homeostasis.
• Gut microbiome (GM) activity influences host metabolism.
• Dietary components, such as prebiotics and calcium, can modulate GM activity and host physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how prebiotic-induced changes in gut microbiome metabolic activity modulate the hepatic metabolome and transcriptome.
• To determine the effects of dietary calcium depletion on the hepatic metabolome and transcriptome.
• To explore the interplay between gut microbiome, diet, and liver function.

Main Methods:

• Ovariectomized (OVX) rats were fed one of three diets: control, inulin-supplemented, or calcium-deficient.
• Serum and liver metabolomes were analyzed using metabolomics.
• Hepatic transcriptomes were analyzed to assess gene expression patterns.

Main Results:

• Inulin supplementation increased serum acetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate, reflecting GM metabolic changes.
• Inulin-fortified diets led to lower hepatic glutamate, serine, and hypoxanthine concentrations.
• Transcriptomics revealed inulin-induced changes in hepatic genes related to ferric iron binding and olfactory transduction.

Conclusions:

• Inulin ingestion significantly impacts hepatic gene expression.
• Inulin is associated with an upregulation of ferritin synthesis-related genes and increased liver ferritin content.
• Prebiotics may regulate liver function via mechanisms involving olfactory receptors.