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An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota
Published on: July 31, 2019
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The intestinal microbiota regulates host cholesterol homeostasis
Tiphaine Le Roy1,2, Emelyne Lécuyer1, Benoit Chassaing3,4,5
1INSERM, UMRS 1166, team "Integrative Biology of Atherosclerosis", Sorbonne Universités, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
BMC Biology
|November 29, 2019
Summary
The gut microbiota significantly influences host cholesterol levels, impacting cardiovascular disease risk. Specific bacteria in the gut microbiome may be targeted for managing high cholesterol and dyslipidemia.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Metabolic diseases
- Cardiovascular science
Background:
- Management of blood cholesterol is crucial for preventing cardiovascular diseases.
- The gut microbiota's role in host cholesterol homeostasis requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of gut microbiota on host cholesterol homeostasis at the organism scale.
- To identify specific microbial taxa associated with altered cholesterol metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Depletion of intestinal microbiota in hypercholesterolemic female Apoe-/- mice using broad-spectrum antibiotics.
- Measurement of plasma cholesterol, hepatic cholesterol synthesis, and enterohepatic circulation.
- Fecal microbiota transplantation from humans with high cholesterol to recipient mice.
Main Results:
- The intestinal microbiota strongly regulates plasma cholesterol levels, hepatic cholesterol synthesis, and enterohepatic circulation.
- Microbiota transplantation induced high plasma cholesterol levels, low hepatic cholesterol synthesis, and high intestinal absorption in recipient mice.
- Specific bacterial phylotypes (Betaproteobacteria, Alistipes, Bacteroides, Barnesiella) correlated with altered cholesterol phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- The intestinal microbiota plays a critical role in determining circulating cholesterol levels.
- Gut microbiota represents a potential novel therapeutic target for managing dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases.
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