Retracted: Role of the immune system in vascular function and blood pressure control induced by faecal microbiota transplantation in rats

Abstract

Aim: High blood pressure (BP) is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes in gut microbiota induced by exchanging the gut microbiota between spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) alter the gut-immune system interaction inducing changes in vascular function and BP. Methods: Twenty-week-old recipient WKY and SHR were orally gavaged with donor faecal contents from WKY or SHR. In additional experiments, we used a design to determine whether blockade of B7-dependent costimulation with CTLA4-Ig or blockade of IL-17 with IL-17-neutralizing antibody could prevent hypertension caused by faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from SHR to WKY. Results: Correlation analyses identified the bacterial abundance of Turicibacter and S24-7_g that, respectively, positively and negatively correlated with systolic BP. FMT from WKY rats to SHR rats reduced basal systolic BP, restored the imbalance between Th17/Treg in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and aorta, and improved endothelial dysfunction and vascular oxidative status found in SHR transplanted with SHR faeces. FMT from SHR to WKY increased CD80 and CD86 mRNA levels and T cells activation in MLNs, circulating T cells, aortic T cell infiltration, impaired endothelial function and increased basal SBP. These effects were abolished by blockade of B7-dependent costimulation with CTLA4-Ig. IL-17a neutralizing antibody reduced SBP and improved endothelial dysfunction induced by FMT from SHR to WKY. Conclusion: Gut microbiota is an important factor involved in the control of BP, as a consequence of its effect in T-cell activation in gut immune system and vascular T-cells accumulation. K E Y W O R D S endothelial dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, hypertension, immune cells See Editorial Commentary: Durgan, D. J. 2019. Evidence for a gut-immune-vascular axis in the development of hypertension.

Probiotics Prevent Dysbiosis and the Rise in Blood Pressure in Genetic Hypertension: Role of Short‐Chain Fatty Acids

“…In order to determine NADPH oxidase activity, the lucigenin‐enhanced chemiluminescence assay was performed in intact aortic rings, as previously described . We used a colorimetric Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) Activity Assay Kit (abcam, Abingdon, UK) to determine NO production in aortic segments from all groups.…”

Changes to the gut microbiota induced by losartan contributes to its antihypertensive effects

“…Recently, it has been demonstrated that the normal gut microbiota may influence BP. A direct association between gut microbiota and hypertension in both animal models and humans has been described (Yang et al, ; Kim et al, , Toral et al, , , Sun et al, ). In contrast, Karbach et al () showed that BP was not different between germ‐free and conventionally raised mice, which is consistent with previous observations describing no effect on BP after dramatic reduction in faecal microbial biomass induced by antibiotic treatment (Pluznick et al, ).…”

“…Moreover, systolic BP (SBP) positively correlated with six bacterial species ( Parabacteroides johnsonii , Klebsiella unclassified , Anaerotruncus unclassified , Eubacterium siraeum , Prevotella bivia , and Rumminococcus torques ) and negatively correlated with three ( Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron , Paraprevotella clara , and Paraprevotella unclassified ) species (Kim et al, ). In SHR, a strong positive correlation between SBP and the lactate‐producing genus Lactobacillus (Adnan et al, ), or Streptococcus and Turicibacter (Toral et al, ; Yang et al, ), and a negative correlation between butyrate‐producing bacteria genus Odoribacter and acetate‐producing bacteria genus Bautia with SBP (Toral et al, ) have been described. However, the absence of gut microbiota protects mice from angiotensin II‐induced hypertension, vascular dysfunction, and hypertension‐induced end‐organ damage, showing for the first time that commensal microbiota, an ecosystem acquired after birth, could represent an environmental factor promoting angiotensin II‐induced high BP (Karbach et al, ).…”

“…Normal microbiota regulates immune homeostasis, such as the balance between T helper 17 (Th17) and regulatory T cells (Treg) in gut lymph organs and in the vascular wall, which is involved in BP regulation (Karbach et al, ; Toral et al, ). Furthermore, a critical role of the interaction between the gut microbiota and the sympathetic nervous system in the regulation of BP has been recently described (Toral et al, , ). We hypothesised that BP reduction in established hypertension might contribute to correct gut dysbiosis in SHR, and might also contribute to maintain low BP through changed T cell populations in the vascular wall.…”

The Gut Microbiota in Cardiovascular Disease and Arterial Thrombosis

“…In addition, the hypertensive phenotype was transferred via fecal transplantation into GF mice repeatedly, proving an influence of the gut microbiota on blood pressure [44]. Various approaches suggest that microbiota metabolites interact with receptors in the brain and vascular walls, as well as affecting immune cells and changing blood pressure [45,46].…”