Researchers from the University of California, Irvine have discovered the molecular reasons behind the harmful effects of heat stress on the gut, liver, and brain in elderly individuals. This discovery suggests the possibility of developing accurate predictions and treatments for these issues. These organs have intricate and multidirectional communication pathways that can be negatively affected by heat stress, leading to significant damage.The communication system that links our gastrointestinal tract to the nervous system is crucial for overall health. Understanding the connection between the gut, liver, and brain is important for protecting human health. The study, conducted on mouse models and published in the journal Scientific Reports, is one of the first to explore the effects of heat stress on the molecular level of this important biological communication. Inflammation in the brain and spine can lead to cognitive decline and compromise overall health.The ability to create new neurons and worsen age-related diseases is exacerbated by heat stress, according to Saurabh Chatterjee, a professor of environmental & occupational health at the UC Irvine Program in Public Health. Investigating the effects of heat stress on the gut-liver-brain communication can help protect the increasingly vulnerable aging population.
Chatterjee and his team used RNA analysis and bioinformatics to study elderly, heat-stressed mice. They found evidence of heat stress-affected genes in the brain and liver. The heat-stressed mice showed a significant increase in the production of ORM2, a liver-produced protein.The group of mice that were not stressed did not show any changes, which provides evidence that the heat-stressed mice experienced organ dysfunction. The researchers think that the increased release of ORM2 might be a way for the body to cope with gut inflammation and imbalance. They also believe that ORM2 could affect the brain by crossing a compromised blood-brain barrier, highlighting the complex communication between multiple organs. Furthermore, the study suggests that ORM2 could be used as a targeted biomarker intervention to prevent liver disease caused by heat exposure. This finding enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the negative effects of heat events and will form the basis for further research.ture research.
Chatterjee stated, “Our discoveries could potentially be utilized in creating predictive and therapeutic indicators for precise treatments. In a world that is constantly changing, the looming threat of climate change is evident in the increasing temperatures, causing concerns about periodic heat waves. The warming planet is unquestionably leading to both acute and chronic heat stress that negatively impacts the health of our aging population.”
Other contributors from UCI Public Health are members of the Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory: Subhajit Roy (the primary author), along with doctoral students Punnag Saha and Dipro Bose.Ayushi Trivedi and Madhura More; and Christina Lin, Jie Wu and Melanie Oakes from the UCI genomics high-throughput facility conducted the study. Funding was provided by a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and a Veterans Affairs Merit award.
