Integrating metagenomics, lipidomics and proteomics to explore the effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rb1 on atherosclerosis co-depression disease

Phytomedicine. 2025 Sep 22;148:157301. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2025.157301. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The comorbidity of atherosclerosis (AS) and depression presents a significant clinical challenge. Its pathogenesis entails complex abnormalities in inflammatory responses, lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota homeostasis. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1)-a bioactive compound derived from the dried roots of Panax ginseng (Araliaceae)-demonstrates anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, lipid-lowering, and neuroprotective properties. However, GRb1’s therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms in AS co-depression remain inadequately characterized.

PURPOSE: This study aims to elucidate the mechanism of GRb1 in AS co-depression disease, identify potential therapeutic targets, and thereby develop novel therapeutic strategies for this condition.

METHODS: An AS co-depression comorbidity model was established using ApoE^⁻/⁻ mice fed a high-fat diet and subjected to chronic restraint stress. To evaluate GRb1’s therapeutic efficacy, we assessed serum lipid profiles, performed aortic Oil Red O staining, and conducted behavioral tests for depressive-like phenotypes. Furthermore, we employed an integrated multi-omics approach-combining metagenomics, targeted lipid metabolomics, and proteomics-to identify key alterations in gut microbiota, lipid metabolites, and proteins, with subsequent correlation analysis. Key differential proteins and associated pathways identified through multi-omics were validated using both in vivo (AS co-depression mouse model) and in vitro (HT22 cells) experiments. Finally, GRb1’s effects on ferroptosis and specific signaling pathways (CD44/Gls2, ACSL4/LPCAT3/ALOX15, SLC7A11/GPX4) were examined via Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy in both mouse tissues and HT22 cells.

RESULTS: Proteobacteria, Helicobacter, and Helicobacter_typhlonius represent significant intestinal microbiota components. Their primary differential lipids include phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), while key differential proteins encompass CD44, Gls2, and Snrpf. Notably, a strong correlation exists among Helicobacter_typhlonius, PE, and CD44. GRb1 modulates PE metabolic dysregulation by reducing the relative abundance of Helicobacter_typhlonius, thereby inhibiting lipid peroxidation and ameliorating oxidative stress. Furthermore, GRb1 suppresses the CD44/Gls2 axis, ACSL4/LPCAT3/ALOX15 pathway, and activates the SLC7A11/GPX4-mediated ferroptosis pathway, thereby exerting its anti-AS co-depression effects through these multi-target mechanisms.

CONCLUSION: GRb1 regulates the intestinal microbiota, abnormal lipid metabolism, modulates protein function, inhibits lipid peroxidation, improves oxidative stress, inhibits ferroptosis, regulates the CD44/Gls2, ACSL4/LPCAT3/ALOX15, SLC7A11/ GPX4 signaling pathways, and prevents the progression of AS co-depression disease.

PMID:41014671 | DOI:10.1016/j.phymed.2025.157301