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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Immunol.
Sec. Immunological Tolerance and Regulation
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1508634
This article is part of the Research Topic Harnessing the Medicinal Potential of Gut Microbiota for Human Health View all articles
Therapeutic Effects of Isaria felina on Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: Modulation of Gut Microbiota, Metabolites, and Immune Responses
Provisionally accepted
Xiaoyan Li 1*
Chenhui Xue 2,3 Yongming Yang 1* Lili Zhao 1* Lixia Chen 1* Jing Wang 1* Lei Yan 1* Zan Meng 4*
Xiaochen Qiao 5* Sujiao Liang 6*
Xihua Yang 1*- 1 Laboratory Animal Center, Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
- 2 Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- 3 Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
- 4 Shanxi Armed Police Corps Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- 5 Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
- 6 Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
Background: The intricate relationship between human health and gut microecology has emerged as a central theme in contemporary medical research. Postmenopausal osteoporosis, primarily driven by estrogen deficiency, remains a major health concern. Traditional Chinese herbal medicines have attracted significant interest for their promising role in osteoporosis treatment. Methods: The effects of Isaria felina, derived from Cordyceps sinensis, on postmenopausal osteoporosis in rats are the focus of this study. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were categorized into control, postmenopausal osteoporosis (OVX), and Isaria felina-treated (IF+OVX) groups. Following a 12-week treatment period, various analyses, including micro-CT, histological assessments, 16S rDNA sequencing, untargeted metabolomics, flow cytometry, and ELISA, were performed. Results: Micro-CT and histological assessments indicated significant improvements in bone loss and obesity control in OVX rats treated with Isaria felina. 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that Isaria felina corrected gut microbiota dysbiosis, particularly in the Bacteroides and Ruminococcus genera. Untargeted metabolomics highlighted alterations in nucleotide and lipid metabolism. Flow cytometry and ELISA analyses demonstrated that Isaria felina modulated the Th17/Treg immune balance, resulting in reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and TNF-α. Conclusions: These findings indicate that Isaria felina mitigates bone loss in postmenopausal osteoporosis through modulation of gut microbiota and immune responses, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic agent for osteoporosis treatment.
Keywords: Isaria felina, Postmenopausal osteoporosis, Gut Microbiota, 16s rDNA sequencing, Metabolomics
Received: 09 Oct 2024; Accepted: 12 Feb 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Li, Xue, Yang, Zhao, Chen, Wang, Yan, Meng, Qiao, Liang and Yang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Xiaoyan Li, Laboratory Animal Center, Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
Yongming Yang, Laboratory Animal Center, Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
Lili Zhao, Laboratory Animal Center, Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
Lixia Chen, Laboratory Animal Center, Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
Jing Wang, Laboratory Animal Center, Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
Lei Yan, Laboratory Animal Center, Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
Zan Meng, Shanxi Armed Police Corps Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
Xiaochen Qiao, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
Sujiao Liang, Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
Xihua Yang, Laboratory Animal Center, Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
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