A Urinary Metabolomics Analysis Based on UPLC-MS and Effects of Moxibustion on APP/PS1 Mice.

BACKGROUND Metabolomics can reflect the related functional status and physiological and pathological changes in the process of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Moxibustion is a unique method in traditional Chinese medicine used in the treatment and prevention of diseases. OBJECTIVE To observe metabolites changes in APP/PS1 double transgenic mice. METHODS 32 APP/PS1 mice were randomly divided into the model group, moxibustion group, moxa smoke group and smoke-free moxibustion group (n=8/group), while eight C57BL/6 mice were used as the control group. After 4 weeks' experiment, all the mice were placed in metabolic cages to collect urine continuously for 24 hours, for UPLC-MS analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify the different metabolites among the five groups, and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was performed to reveal the effects on the metabolic variance. RESULTS 16 potential biomarkers were identified among the five groups, primarily related to amino acid metabolism, starch metabolism, sucrose metabolism, interconversion of the pentose and glucuronate, and aminoacyl biosynthesis. There were 17 differences in the potential metabolites between the control and model groups, involving the metabolism of amino acid, purine, pyrimidine, nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, and biosynthesis of pantothenate and coenzyme A. 15 potential biomarkers were identified between the model and moxibustion groups, related to starch metabolism, sucrose metabolism, interconversion of pentose and glucuronate, glyoxylate, dicarboxylate anions and some amino acid metabolism. CONCLUSION Moxibustion can regulate the metabolism of substance and energy by improving the synthesis and decomposition of carbohydrates and amino acids in APP/PS1 transgenic AD model mice.