Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolites in Atherosclerosis Development

Abstract

Gut microbiota metabolites have a great influence on host digestive function and body health itself. The effects of intestinal microbes on the host metabolism and nutrients absorption are mainly due to regulatory mechanisms related to serotonin, cytokines, and metabolites. Multiple studies have repeatedly reported that the gut microbiota plays a fundamental role in the absorption of bioactive compounds by converting dietary polyphenols into absorbable bioactive substances. Moreover, some intestinal metabolites derived from natural polyphenol products have more biological activities than their own fundamental biological functions. Bioactive like polyphenolic compounds, prebiotics and probiotics are the best known dietary strategies for regulating the composition of gut microbial populations or metabolic/immunological activities, which are called “three “p” for gut health”. Intestinal microbial metabolites have an indirect effect on atherosclerosis, by regulating lipid metabolism and inflammation. It has been found that the diversity of intestinal microbiota negatively correlates with the development of atherosclerosis. The fewer the variation and number of microbial species in the gut, the higher the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Therefore, the atherosclerosis can be prevented and treated from the perspective of improving the number and variability of gut microbiota. In here, we summarize the effects of gut metabolites of natural products on the pathological process of the atherosclerosis, since gut intestinal metabolites not only have an indirect effect on macrophage foaming in the vessel wall, but also have a direct effect on vascular endothelial cells.

The influence of gut microbiota in cardiovascular diseases—a brief review

“…Recent studies suggest that the gut microbiota leads to the development of atherosclerosis and the pre-atherogenic power of TMAO has already been demonstrated in studies that have come to prove that this compound is able to modify the metabolism of cholesterol and sterol, suppressing the reverse transport of cholesterol. 24 This leads to an accumulation of cholesterol in the macrophages, promoting the activation of the endothelial cells and the migration of foam cells to the walls of the arteries, triggering the platelet activation. 9 , 25 …”

Microbiota-Mediated Immune Regulation in Atherosclerosis

“…The microbiota is recognized for its role in the production of beneficial SCFAs and their functions in the regulation of complex chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. A link between the microbiota and atherosclerosis emerged from studies of TMAO [ 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

The Neuroimmune Role of Intestinal Microbiota in the Pathogenesis of Cardiovascular Disease

“…Thus, mediators from the intestine reach suprasegmentals centers of the ANS and activate the work of sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions, thereby closing the pathological circle of the intestinal microbiota participation in the CVD pathogenesis. Numerous publications demonstrate that an increase in microbiota-mediated inflammatory mediators aggravates the course and prognosis of disease in CVD [ 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 ]. It is also found that the correction of the intestinal microbiota in patients with CVD improves the prognosis of the disease.…”