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Review
. 2024 Apr 1;3(2):167-175.
doi: 10.1002/mlf2.12110. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Impact of the gut microbiome on atherosclerosis

Yuqin Mao  1   2   3 , Chao Kong  3 , Tongtong Zang  1   2 , Lingsen You  1   2 , Li-Shun Wang  3 , Li Shen  1   2 , Jun-Bo Ge  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Impact of the gut microbiome on atherosclerosis

Yuqin Mao et al. mLife. .

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory metabolic disease with a complex pathogenesis. However, the exact details of its pathogenesis are still unclear, which limits effective clinical treatment of atherosclerosis. Recently, multiple studies have demonstrated that the gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis. This review discusses possible treatments for atherosclerosis using the gut microbiome as an intervention target and summarizes the role of the gut microbiome and its metabolites in the development of atherosclerosis. New strategies for the treatment of atherosclerosis are needed. This review provides clues for further research on the mechanisms of the relationship between the gut microbiota and atherosclerosis.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; coronary heart disease; gut microbiome; metabolites; treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The gut microbiota in atherosclerosis. BSH, bile salt hydrolase; CutC, choline TMA‐lyase; DCA, deoxycholic acid; FMOs, flavin‐containing monooxygenases; FXR, bile acid receptor; L. saccharolyticum, Lachnoclostridium saccharolyticum; LDL, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol; SCFAs, short‐chain fatty acids; TGR5, G protein‐coupled receptor 5; TMA, trimethylamine; TMAO, trimethylamine N‐oxide; TNF‐α, tumor necrosis factor‐α. This figure was drawn by Figdraw (ID:IIYUP00090).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Manipulating the structure of the gut microbiota to ameliorate atherosclerosis. Therapeutic strategies (i.e., supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation) for treating atherosclerosis are mainly dependent on reshaping the structure, composition of gut microbiota, and finally regulating metabolites produced by gut microbiota to promote anti‐atherosclerosis process. This figure was drawn by Figdraw (ID:SPSUI88d68).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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