High-Seas Marine Microorganism Delivers an Extract That Dampens LPS-Driven Pro-Inflammatory Signaling: Galbibacter...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• Metabolomics

Background:

• Inflammation is a complex biological response implicated in numerous diseases.
• Novel anti-inflammatory agents are sought from diverse natural sources, including marine microorganisms.
• Deep-sea bacteria represent an underexplored reservoir of potentially bioactive compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of an ethyl acetate extract from the deep-sea bacterium *Galbibacter orientalis* (GOEE).
• To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of GOEE's anti-inflammatory effects using metabolomics.

Main Methods:

• GOEE was tested in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophages and zebrafish embryos.
• Key inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were quantified.
• Untargeted metabolomics, pathway enrichment, and network analysis were performed on LPS-driven macrophages.

Main Results:

• GOEE significantly reduced NO production (72-87%) and COX-2 abundance in macrophages without cytotoxicity.
• In zebrafish, GOEE maintained survival, attenuated LPS-induced signals, and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NO.
• Metabolomic analysis revealed significant alterations in purine/pyrimidine metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, and the one-carbon pool via folate.

Conclusions:

• GOEE exhibits potent, multi-level anti-inflammatory activity with a favorable safety profile.
• Metabolomic profiling provides a mechanistic basis for GOEE's action, highlighting key metabolic pathways.
• This deep-sea microbial extract is a promising lead for developing new anti-inflammatory therapeutics.