Nature metabolismPub Date : 2025-02-18DOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01220-1
Christian Diener, Hannah D. Holscher, Klara Filek, Karen D. Corbin, Christine Moissl-Eichinger, Sean M. Gibbons
{"title":"Metagenomic estimation of dietary intake from human stool","authors":"Christian Diener, Hannah D. Holscher, Klara Filek, Karen D. Corbin, Christine Moissl-Eichinger, Sean M. Gibbons","doi":"10.1038/s42255-025-01220-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s42255-025-01220-1","url":null,"abstract":"Dietary intake is tightly coupled to gut microbiota composition, human metabolism and the incidence of virtually all major chronic diseases. Dietary and nutrient intake are usually assessed using self-reporting methods, including dietary questionnaires and food records, which suffer from reporting biases and require strong compliance from study participants. Here, we present Metagenomic Estimation of Dietary Intake (MEDI): a method for quantifying food-derived DNA in human faecal metagenomes. We show that DNA-containing food components can be reliably detected in stool-derived metagenomic data, even when present at low abundances (more than ten reads). We show how MEDI dietary intake profiles can be converted into detailed metabolic representations of nutrient intake. MEDI identifies the onset of solid food consumption in infants, shows significant agreement with food frequency questionnaire responses in an adult population and shows agreement with food and nutrient intake in two controlled-feeding studies. Finally, we identify specific dietary features associated with metabolic syndrome in a large clinical cohort without dietary records, providing a proof-of-concept for detailed tracking of individual-specific, health-relevant dietary patterns without the need for questionnaires. Diener et al. present a method that allows the estimation of dietary intake from human stool by detecting food-derived DNA in faecal metagenomes.","PeriodicalId":19038,"journal":{"name":"Nature metabolism","volume":"7 3","pages":"617-630"},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-025-01220-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143435495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature metabolismPub Date : 2025-02-07DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01214-5
Theresa V. Rohm, Karina Cunha e Rocha, Jerrold M. Olefsky
{"title":"Metabolic Messengers: small extracellular vesicles","authors":"Theresa V. Rohm, Karina Cunha e Rocha, Jerrold M. Olefsky","doi":"10.1038/s42255-024-01214-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s42255-024-01214-5","url":null,"abstract":"Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are signalling molecules and biomarkers of cell status that govern a complex intraorgan and interorgan communication system through their cargo. Initially recognized as a waste disposal mechanism, they have emerged as important metabolic regulators. They transfer biological signals to recipient cells through their cargo content, and microRNAs (miRNAs) often mediate their metabolic effects. This review provides a concise overview of sEVs, specifically in the context of obesity-associated chronic inflammation and related metabolic disorders, describing their role as metabolic messengers, identifying their key sites of action and elucidating their mechanisms. We highlight studies that have shaped our understanding of sEV metabolism, address critical questions for future exploration, discuss the use of miRNAs as disease biomarkers and provide insights into the therapeutic potential of sEVs or specific miRNAs for treating metabolic diseases and related disorders in the future. Olefsky, Rohm and Cunha e Rocha provide a concise overview of the role of small extracellular vesicles in metabolic health and discuss their history, role as biomarkers, mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential.","PeriodicalId":19038,"journal":{"name":"Nature metabolism","volume":"7 2","pages":"253-262"},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143258569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature metabolismPub Date : 2025-02-06DOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01216-x
Xingxiu Pan, Valentin Cracan
{"title":"Translocation renal cell carcinoma says no to the Warburg effect","authors":"Xingxiu Pan, Valentin Cracan","doi":"10.1038/s42255-025-01216-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s42255-025-01216-x","url":null,"abstract":"A new study reveals that in drastic contrast to other cancer types, translocation renal cell carcinoma (tRCC) is transcriptionally rewired towards an oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) state, which renders tRCC vulnerable to interventions that promote NADH reductive stress, highlighting how the maintenance of the optimal redox state in cancer can be therapeutically exploited.","PeriodicalId":19038,"journal":{"name":"Nature metabolism","volume":"7 3","pages":"438-440"},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143191858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature metabolismPub Date : 2025-02-06DOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01218-9
Jiao Li, Kaimeng Huang, Meha Thakur, Fiona McBride, Ananthan Sadagopan, Daniel S. Gallant, Prateek Khanna, Yasmin Nabil Laimon, Bingchen Li, Razan Mohanna, Maolin Ge, Cary N. Weiss, Mingkee Achom, Qingru Xu, Sayed Matar, Gwo-Shu Mary Lee, Kun Huang, Miao Gui, Chin-Lee Wu, Kristine M. Cornejo, Toni K. Choueiri, Birgitta A. Ryback, Sabina Signoretti, Liron Bar-Peled, Srinivas R. Viswanathan
{"title":"Oncogenic TFE3 fusions drive OXPHOS and confer metabolic vulnerabilities in translocation renal cell carcinoma","authors":"Jiao Li, Kaimeng Huang, Meha Thakur, Fiona McBride, Ananthan Sadagopan, Daniel S. Gallant, Prateek Khanna, Yasmin Nabil Laimon, Bingchen Li, Razan Mohanna, Maolin Ge, Cary N. Weiss, Mingkee Achom, Qingru Xu, Sayed Matar, Gwo-Shu Mary Lee, Kun Huang, Miao Gui, Chin-Lee Wu, Kristine M. Cornejo, Toni K. Choueiri, Birgitta A. Ryback, Sabina Signoretti, Liron Bar-Peled, Srinivas R. Viswanathan","doi":"10.1038/s42255-025-01218-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s42255-025-01218-9","url":null,"abstract":"Translocation renal cell carcinoma (tRCC) is an aggressive subtype of kidney cancer driven by TFE3 gene fusions, which act via poorly characterized downstream mechanisms. Here we report that TFE3 fusions transcriptionally rewire tRCCs toward oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), contrasting with the highly glycolytic nature of most other renal cancers. Reliance on this TFE3 fusion-driven OXPHOS programme renders tRCCs vulnerable to NADH reductive stress, a metabolic stress induced by an imbalance of reducing equivalents. Genome-scale CRISPR screening identifies tRCC-selective vulnerabilities linked to this metabolic state, including EGLN1, which hydroxylates HIF-1α and targets it for proteolysis. Inhibition of EGLN1 compromises tRCC cell growth by stabilizing HIF-1α and promoting metabolic reprogramming away from OXPHOS, thus representing a vulnerability for OXPHOS-dependent tRCC cells. Our study defines tRCC as being dependent on a mitochondria-centred metabolic programme driven by TFE3 fusions and nominates EGLN1 inhibition as a therapeutic strategy in this cancer. Li et al. show that the TFE3 driver fusion transcriptionally upregulates an OXPHOS programme in translocation renal cell carcinoma that renders this cancer vulnerable to reductive stress, induced by imbalance of reducing equivalents.","PeriodicalId":19038,"journal":{"name":"Nature metabolism","volume":"7 3","pages":"478-492"},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143191859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature metabolismPub Date : 2025-02-05DOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01221-0
Andreas L. Birkenfeld, Vasilis Ntziachristos
{"title":"A future without needles: non-invasive glucose measurements in patients with diabetes","authors":"Andreas L. Birkenfeld, Vasilis Ntziachristos","doi":"10.1038/s42255-025-01221-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s42255-025-01221-0","url":null,"abstract":"Optical measurements through the skin are challenging because they usually represent averages across the various layers of skin that are illuminated. A study in Nature Metabolism uses a depth-selective variant of Raman spectroscopy to probe glucose levels specifically in the skin vasculature, and thereby achieves improved glucose sensing in humans.","PeriodicalId":19038,"journal":{"name":"Nature metabolism","volume":"7 2","pages":"247-248"},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143125162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature metabolismPub Date : 2025-02-05DOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01217-w
Yifei Zhang, Lili Zhang, Long Wang, Shuai Shao, Bei Tao, Chunrui Hu, Yufei Chen, Yue Shen, Xianbiao Zhang, Shijia Pan, Hua Cao, Ming Sun, Jia Shi, Chunhong Jiang, Minghui Chen, Lin Zhou, Guang Ning, Chang Chen, Weiqing Wang
{"title":"Subcutaneous depth-selective spectral imaging with mμSORS enables noninvasive glucose monitoring","authors":"Yifei Zhang, Lili Zhang, Long Wang, Shuai Shao, Bei Tao, Chunrui Hu, Yufei Chen, Yue Shen, Xianbiao Zhang, Shijia Pan, Hua Cao, Ming Sun, Jia Shi, Chunhong Jiang, Minghui Chen, Lin Zhou, Guang Ning, Chang Chen, Weiqing Wang","doi":"10.1038/s42255-025-01217-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s42255-025-01217-w","url":null,"abstract":"Noninvasive blood glucose monitoring offers substantial advantages for patients, but current technologies are often not sufficiently accurate for clinical applications or require personalized calibration. Here we report multiple μ-spatially offset Raman spectroscopy, which captures Raman signals at varying skin depths, and show that it accurately detects blood glucose levels in humans. In 35 individuals with or without type 2 diabetes, we first determine the optimal depth for glucose detection to be at or below the capillary-rich dermal–epidermal junction, where we observe a strong correlation between specific Raman bands and venous plasma glucose concentrations. In a second study, comprising 230 participants, we then improve accuracy of our regression model to reach a mean absolute relative difference of 14.6%, without personalized calibration, whereby 99.4% of calculated glucose values fall into clinically acceptable zones of the consensus error grid (zones A and B). These findings highlight the ability and robustness of multiple μ-spatially offset Raman spectroscopy for noninvasive blood glucose measurement in a clinical setting. In this study, multiple μ-spatially offset Raman spectroscopy is used to determine blood glucose levels noninvasively in humans, achieving comparatively high accuracy in a clinical setting.","PeriodicalId":19038,"journal":{"name":"Nature metabolism","volume":"7 2","pages":"421-433"},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143125107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Maternal exercise prevents metabolic disorders in offspring mice through SERPINA3C","authors":"Yang Li, Ruo-Ying Li, Jie-Ying Zhu, Min Chen, Wang-Jing Mu, Hong-Yang Luo, Shan Li, Lin-Jing Yan, Meng-Ting Yin, Xin Li, Hu-Min Chen, Liang Guo","doi":"10.1038/s42255-024-01213-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s42255-024-01213-6","url":null,"abstract":"Maternal exercise can improve the metabolic health of the offspring. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of maternal exercise on the offspring remain unclear. Here, we show that maternal exercise during pregnancy alleviates high-fat diet (HFD)-induced adipose inflammation and glucose intolerance in offspring mice, accompanied by upregulation of the adipokine serine protease inhibitor A3C (SERPINA3C) both in maternal adipose tissues and the fetal circulation. Adipose SERPINA3C knockdown impairs, but its overexpression in dams mimics, maternal exercise-mediated metabolic benefits in HFD-fed offspring. Maternal SERPINA3C is transported into the fetal circulation and promotes Krüppel-like factor 4 (Klf4) gene promoter demethylation in fetal preadipocytes to increase KLF4 expression, which inhibits adipose inflammation in HFD-fed offspring mice. The SERPINA3C–cathepsin G–integrin β1 axis activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signalling in preadipocytes. This promotes nuclear translocation of the p110β subunit to generate phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) in the nucleus. O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase then binds to PIP3 to promote ten–eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase 1 (TET1) O-GlcNAcylation, thereby enhancing TET1 activity to facilitate Klf4 gene promoter demethylation. These results provide mechanistic insights into maternal exercise-mediated improvement of offspring metabolism. Adipose-secreted SERPINA3C in exercised dams protects their offspring from high-fat diet-induced metabolic disorders by promoting KLF4-mediated anti-inflammatory effects in adipose tissue.","PeriodicalId":19038,"journal":{"name":"Nature metabolism","volume":"7 2","pages":"401-420"},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143071533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature metabolismPub Date : 2025-01-31DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01209-2
Bianca E. Suur, Emma Börgeson
{"title":"SERPINA3C as a mediator of metabolic health in offspring","authors":"Bianca E. Suur, Emma Börgeson","doi":"10.1038/s42255-024-01209-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s42255-024-01209-2","url":null,"abstract":"Exercise during pregnancy benefits both mother and child. A Nature Metabolism study identifies the adipokine SERPINA3C as crucial for enhancing metabolic health in offspring, and provides insights into the mechanisms behind maternal exercise benefits.","PeriodicalId":19038,"journal":{"name":"Nature metabolism","volume":"7 2","pages":"245-246"},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143071535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}