Whey protein peptides PEW and LLW synergistically ameliorate hyperuricemia and modulate gut microbiota in potassium oxonate- and hypoxanthine-induced hyperuricemic rats

The purpose of the present study was to examine the anti-hyperuricemic effects of PEW and LLW in HUA rats. The underlying mechanisms were explored from the perspectives of UA synthesis and excretion and the gut microbiota. First, we examined the changes of physiological indicators in rats (Figure S1). The body weight, liver index and spleen index of the rats did not change between groups, but the kidney index altered. The effect of the peptide on uric acid excretion in rats was further investigated and we examined the gene expression of the uric acid transporter (Table S1, Figure S2). PEW and LLW were found to promote uric acid excretion in hyperuricemic rats by modulating the uric acid transporter. In addition, PEW and LLW were found to modulate the flora species in hyperuricemic rats by intestinal flora analysis (Figure S3).本研究旨在探讨PEW与LLW对高尿酸血症（Hyperuricemia, HUA）大鼠的抗高尿酸血症功效，并从尿酸合成、排泄及肠道菌群层面探究其潜在作用机制。首先，我们检测了大鼠的各项生理指标变化（补充图S1）。结果显示，各组大鼠的体重、肝脏指数与脾脏指数均无明显变化，但肾脏指数存在显著差异。随后，我们进一步探究了PEW与LLW对大鼠尿酸排泄的影响，并检测了尿酸转运蛋白的基因表达水平（补充表S1、补充图S2）。研究发现，PEW与LLW可通过调控尿酸转运蛋白，促进高尿酸血症大鼠的尿酸排泄。此外，通过肠道菌群分析，我们发现PEW与LLW可调节高尿酸血症大鼠的肠道菌群物种组成（补充图S3）