Comprehensive characterization of multi-omics landscapes between gut microbial metabolites and the druggable genome in sepsis

BackgroundSepsis is a life-threatening condition with limited therapeutic options. Emerging evidence implicates gut microbial metabolites in modulating host immunity, but the specific interactions between these metabolites and host druggable targets remain poorly understood.MethodsWe utilized a syst...

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Main Authors: Jun Liu, Tong Li, Li Xin, Xingyu Li, Jianbo Zhang, Peng Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1597676/full
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author Jun Liu
Tong Li
Li Xin
Xingyu Li
Jianbo Zhang
Peng Zhu
author_facet Jun Liu
Tong Li
Li Xin
Xingyu Li
Jianbo Zhang
Peng Zhu
author_sort Jun Liu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundSepsis is a life-threatening condition with limited therapeutic options. Emerging evidence implicates gut microbial metabolites in modulating host immunity, but the specific interactions between these metabolites and host druggable targets remain poorly understood.MethodsWe utilized a systems biology framework integrating genetic analyses, multi-omics profiling, and structure-based virtual screening to systematically map the interaction landscape between human gut microbial metabolites and druggable G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), ion channels (ICs), and kinases (termed the “GIKome”) in sepsis. Key findings were validated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, microscale thermophoresis (MST), and functional assays in a murine cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of sepsis.ResultsWe evaluated 190,950 metabolite-protein interactions, linking 114 sepsis-related GIK targets to 335 gut microbial metabolites, and prioritized indole-3-lactic acid (ILA), a metabolite enriched in Akkermansia muciniphila, as a promising therapeutic candidate. MD simulation and MST further revealed that ILA binds stably to PFKFB2, a pivotal kinase in regulating glycolytic flux and immune activation during sepsis. In vivo, ILA administration improved survival, attenuated cytokine storm, and mitigated multi-organ injury in CLP-induced septic mice.ConclusionsThis systems-level investigation unveils previously unrecognized therapeutic targets, offering a blueprint for microbiota-based precision interventions in critical care medicine.
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spelling doaj-art-d6574639100445c8b86c79ab2ff76b212025-08-20T02:41:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-07-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15976761597676Comprehensive characterization of multi-omics landscapes between gut microbial metabolites and the druggable genome in sepsisJun Liu0Tong Li1Li Xin2Xingyu Li3Jianbo Zhang4Peng Zhu5Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaBackgroundSepsis is a life-threatening condition with limited therapeutic options. Emerging evidence implicates gut microbial metabolites in modulating host immunity, but the specific interactions between these metabolites and host druggable targets remain poorly understood.MethodsWe utilized a systems biology framework integrating genetic analyses, multi-omics profiling, and structure-based virtual screening to systematically map the interaction landscape between human gut microbial metabolites and druggable G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), ion channels (ICs), and kinases (termed the “GIKome”) in sepsis. Key findings were validated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, microscale thermophoresis (MST), and functional assays in a murine cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of sepsis.ResultsWe evaluated 190,950 metabolite-protein interactions, linking 114 sepsis-related GIK targets to 335 gut microbial metabolites, and prioritized indole-3-lactic acid (ILA), a metabolite enriched in Akkermansia muciniphila, as a promising therapeutic candidate. MD simulation and MST further revealed that ILA binds stably to PFKFB2, a pivotal kinase in regulating glycolytic flux and immune activation during sepsis. In vivo, ILA administration improved survival, attenuated cytokine storm, and mitigated multi-organ injury in CLP-induced septic mice.ConclusionsThis systems-level investigation unveils previously unrecognized therapeutic targets, offering a blueprint for microbiota-based precision interventions in critical care medicine.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1597676/fullGPCRsion channelskinasesMendelian randomizationmicrobial metabolitessepsis
spellingShingle Jun Liu
Tong Li
Li Xin
Xingyu Li
Jianbo Zhang
Peng Zhu
Comprehensive characterization of multi-omics landscapes between gut microbial metabolites and the druggable genome in sepsis
Frontiers in Immunology
GPCRs
ion channels
kinases
Mendelian randomization
microbial metabolites
sepsis
title Comprehensive characterization of multi-omics landscapes between gut microbial metabolites and the druggable genome in sepsis
title_full Comprehensive characterization of multi-omics landscapes between gut microbial metabolites and the druggable genome in sepsis
title_fullStr Comprehensive characterization of multi-omics landscapes between gut microbial metabolites and the druggable genome in sepsis
title_full_unstemmed Comprehensive characterization of multi-omics landscapes between gut microbial metabolites and the druggable genome in sepsis
title_short Comprehensive characterization of multi-omics landscapes between gut microbial metabolites and the druggable genome in sepsis
title_sort comprehensive characterization of multi omics landscapes between gut microbial metabolites and the druggable genome in sepsis
topic GPCRs
ion channels
kinases
Mendelian randomization
microbial metabolites
sepsis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1597676/full
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