Dysbiotic 1-carbon metabolism in cardiac muscle remodeling

Unless there is a genetic defect/mutation/deletion in a gene, the causation of a given disease is chronic dysregulation of gut metabolism. Most of the time, if not always, starts within the gut; that is what we eat. Recent research shows that the imbalance between good versus bad microbial population, especially in the gut, causes systemic diseases. Thus, an appropriate balance of the gut microbiota (eubiosis over dysbiosis) needs to be maintained for normal health (Veeranki and Tyagi, 2017, Journal of Cellular Physiology, 232, 2929-2930). However, during various diseases such as metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension the dysbiotic gut environment tends to prevail. Our research focuses on homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism that occupies a center-stage in many biochemically relevant epigenetic mechanisms. For example, dysbiotic bacteria methylate promoters to inhibit gene activities. Interestingly, the product of the 1-carbon metabolism is Hcy, unequivocally. Emerging studies show that host resistance to various antibiotics occurs due to inverton promoter inhibition, presumably because of promoter methylation. This results from modification of host promoters by bacterial products leading to loss of host's ability to drug compatibility and system sensitivity. In this study, we focus on the role of high methionine diet (HMD), an ingredient rich in red meat and measure the effects of a probiotic on cardiac muscle remodeling and its functions. We employed wild type (WT) and cystathionine beta-synthase heterozygote knockout (CBS^+/- ) mice with and without HMD and with and without a probiotic; PB (Lactobacillus) in drinking water for 16 weeks. Results indicate that matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity was robust in CBS^+/- fed with HMD and that it was successfully attenuated by the PB treatment. Cardiomyocyte contractility and ECHO data revealed mitigation of the cardiac dysfunction in CBS^+/-  + HMD mice treated with PB. In conclusion, our data suggest that probiotics can potentially reverse the Hcy-meditated cardiac dysfunction.