title: Metabolomics reveals positive acceleration(+Gz)-induced metabolic perturbations and the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba extract in a rat model based on ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
abstract: Positive acceleration (+Gz) in the head-to-foot direction generated by modern high-performance fighter jets during flight maneuvers is characterized by high G values and a rapid rate of acceleration, and is often long in duration and a repeated occurrence. The acceleration overload far exceeds the pilot's physiological tolerance limits and causes considerable strain on several organ systems. Despite the importance of monitoring pathophysiological alterations related to +Gz exposure, we lack a complete explanation of the pathophysiology of +Gz exposure. Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that might exert a protective effect against +Gz exposure. However, its mechanism remains unclear. Here, a metabolomics approach based on ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOFMS) was used to characterize +Gz-induced metabolic fluctuations in a rat model and to evaluate the protective effect of GBE. Using partial least-squares discriminant analysis for the classification and selection of biomarkers, eighteen serum metabolites related to +Gz exposure were identified, and were found to primarily involve the fatty acid β-oxidation pathway, glycerophospholipid metabolism, phospholipid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, purine metabolism and lysine metabolism. Taking these potential biomarkers as screening indexes, we found that GBE could reverse the pathological process of +Gz exposure by partially regulating the perturbed fatty acid β-oxidation pathway, glycerophospholipid metabolism, purine metabolism and lysine metabolism. This indicates that UHPLC-Q-TOFMS-based metabolomics provides a powerful tool to reveal serum metabolic fluctuations in response to +Gz exposure and to study the mechanism underlying TCM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 Shanxi, China; Department of Pharmacology, General Hospital of Air Force, PLA, Beijing 100142, China.
authors.forename: Zhihui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 Shanxi, China; Institute of Aviation Medicine, Air Force, Beijing 100142, China.
authors.forename: Andong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, General Hospital of Air Force, PLA, Beijing 100142, China.
authors.forename: Zhongdong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aviation Medicine, Air Force, Beijing 100142, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Tonghua
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, General Hospital of Air Force, PLA, Beijing 100142, China.
authors.forename: Fucheng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Aviation Medicine, Air Force, Beijing 100142, China. Electronic address: zhanhaohy@sohu.com.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: Center of Clinical Aviation Medicine, General Hospital of Air Force, PLA, Beijing 100142, China. Electronic address: kzdw66@126.com.
authors.forename: Jianchang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D055432:Metabolomics; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Ginkgo biloba extract; Metabolomics; Positive acceleration; Serum biochemistry; Ultra high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry