A targeted identification method combining 'standard substance comparison + MRM ion pair verification' was adopted. The reference databases included HMDB (Human Metabolome Database) and Metlin, and the software used was SCIEX Analyst Work Station Software (Version 1.6.3).
"],"repository":["MetaboLights"],"study_status":["Public"],"ptm_modification":[""],"instrument_platform":["Liquid Chromatography MS - alternating - reverse-phase"],"chromatography_protocol":["Chromatography Instrument: Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatograph, Brand: Waters, Model:ACQUITY Premier Column Model: Analytical column: Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column, Specification: 100 × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm Autosampler Model: Integrated into the Waters ACQUITY Premier Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatograph, no independent model indicated Mobile Phase: Phase A: Ultra-pure water containing 0.1% formic acid (LC-MS grade), Phase B: Acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid (LC-MS grade)
"],"publication":["Gut microbiota-derived 3-indoleacrylic acid mediates ferulic acid protection against aflatoxin B1 hepatotoxicity via AhR-ferroptosis inhibition."],"submitter_name":["Qianqian Wang"],"submitter_affiliation":["China Agricultural University"],"organism_part":["cecum"],"technology_type":["mass spectrometry assay"],"disease":[""],"extraction_protocol":["A 50 mg aliquot of solid sample (cecal chyme from meat ducks) was precisely weighed into an Eppendorf tube, and 500 μL of pre-cooled (-40 °C) extraction solution (methanol: acetonitrile: H2O = 2:2:1, containing 0.1% formic acid and isotopically-labelled internal standard mixture) was added, followed by vortexing for 30 s. After homogenizing at 35 Hz for 4 min, the sample was sonicated in an ice-water bath for 5 min, and this homogenization-sonication cycle was repeated twice. The sample was allowed to stand at -40 °C for 1 h, then centrifuged at 12000 rpm and 4 °C for 15 min. A 400 μL aliquot of the supernatant was evaporated to dryness under nitrogen, reconstituted with 100 μL of water containing 0.1% formic acid, and centrifuged again at 12000 rpm and 4 °C for 15 min. The clear supernatant was used for UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. All pretreatment steps were performed on ice to avoid metabolite degradation. The control samples set in the experiment included: Quality Control (QC) samples, prepared by mixing equal volumes of supernatants from all experimental samples; solvent blank controls, containing only extraction solution without samples, used to eliminate interference from reagent contamination.
"],"organism":["Pekin (Duck (domestic))"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ebi.ac.uk/metabolights/MTBLS13667"],"author":["LIhong Zhao. China Agricultural University. No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road.Beijing.China. zhaolihongcau@cau.edu.cn.","Qianqian Wang. China Agricultural University. Dingzheng Dadu City, Weiyang District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China. 1285156197@qq.com."],"data_transformation_protocol":["The software used for data transformation was SCIEX Analyst Work Station Software (Version 1.6.3) and DATA DRIVEN FLOW (Version 1.0.1)
"],"study_factor":["Aflatoxin B1","Ferulic acid"],"submitter_email":["1285156197@qq.com"],"sample_collection_protocol":["After anesthetizing the ducks, the thoracic cavity was quickly dissected, the cecum was cut short, the cecum contents were removed, snap frozen in liquid nitrogen, and transferred to -80 for storage
"],"omics_type":["Metabolomics"],"study_design":["ferulic acid","Tryptophan","AFB1","targeted metabolites"],"curator_keywords":["ferulic acid","Tryptophan","AFB1","targeted metabolites"],"mass_spectrometry_protocol":["Instrument: Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer, Brand: SCIEX, Model: SCIEX Triple Quad™ 6500+ Mass Analyzer: Triple Quadrupole (QQQ) Scan Polarity: Alternating Polarity (Positive/Negative) Ion Source: IonDrive Turbo V Electrospray Ionization (ESI) Scan M/Z Range: Covering the parent ion mass range of all target metabolites, typically 50-800 Da
"],"metabolite_name":["5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid","Melatonin","Tryptamine","Indolelactic acid","Indole","Nicotinic acid","Indican","Indoxylsulfate","Xanthurenic acid","indole ethanol/tryptophol","Indole-3-acetamide","3-Hydroxykynurenine","Kynurenine","L-Tryptophan","Indole-3-carboxaldehyde","Kynurenic acid","5-Methoxy-3-indoleacetic acid","Indole-3-acetonitrile","Indole-3-acetic acid","Serotonin","Indole-3-acetyl-alanine","5-Hydroxytryptophol","skatole","3-Indoleglyoxylic acid","indole acrylic acid","3-Indolepropionic acid","N-Acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine","3-Hydroxyanthranilic acid","Indole-3-acetyl-aspartate","L-5-Hydroxytryptophan","Anthranilic acid"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"Gut microbiota-derived 3-indoleacrylic acid mediates ferulic acid protection against aflatoxin B1 hepatotoxicity via AhR-ferroptosis inhibition","description":"Given that Aflatoxin B1 exposure drives 5% to 28% of global hepatocellular carcinoma cases, the critical paucity of effective interventions for Aflatoxin B1-induced liver injury represents an urgent need. Here, we discover that a cereal-derived polyphenol, ferulic acid, alleviates Aflatoxin B1-induced hepatotoxicity by remodeling gut microbiota and activating microbial tryptophan metabolism. Specifically, dietary ferulic acid enriches Peptostreptococcus anaerobius , enhancing microbial conversion of tryptophan to 3-indoleacrylic acid both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, by combining single-cell RNA sequencing and surface plasmon resonance, we demonstrate that 3-indoleacrylic acid functionally antagonizes Aflatoxin B1-induced hyperactivation of the AhR pathway, thereby suppressing AhR-driven ferroptosis. This functional mechanism was validated through genetic knockdown and pharmacological interventions. Crucially, we reveal that 3-indoleacrylic acid ameliorates Aflatoxin B1-induced liver inflammation by reprogramming the subset composition and function of macrophages, which was confirmed by macrophage-depletion models. Collectively, our findings unveil a precise molecular mechanism of host-microbe crosstalk, identifying the Peptostreptococcus anaerobius-derived tryptophan metabolite 3-indoleacrylic acid as a critical signaling mediator that inhibits Aflatoxin B1-induced hepatic AhR hyperactivation, ferroptosis, and macrophage reprogramming. This study not only proposes a viable dietary strategy to combat global aflatoxicosis but also provides insights into how specific microbial metabolites can be harnessed to therapeutically modulate hepatic injury and immune homeostasis.
","dates":{"publication":"2026-08-13","submission":"2026-01-13"},"accession":"MTBLS13667","cross_references":{"HMDB":["HMDB0001476","HMDB0000732","HMDB0000763","HMDB0000259","HMDB0001855","HMDB0000472","HMDB0004096","HMDB0001123","HMDB0000734","HMDB0000197","HMDB0029739","HMDB0029737","HMDB0003447","HMDB0000671","HMDB0061755","HMDB0000738","HMDB0002302","HMDB0000682","HMDB0000684","HMDB0000715","HMDB0001389","HMDB0001488","HMDB0001238","HMDB0000466","HMDB0000929","HMDB0000303","HMDB0000881","HMDB0006524","HMDB0038666"]}}