Gut microbiota and cardiovascular diseases axis.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Human Health
• Cardiovascular Diseases

Background:

• The gut microbiota, comprising microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, functions as a virtual endocrine organ.
• It produces bioactive metabolites crucial for human health and disease.
• Gut dysbiosis is increasingly implicated in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the intricate pathways linking gut microbiota to cardiovascular diseases.
• To highlight the role of gut dysbiosis in pathologies like hypertension and heart failure.
• To identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets within these pathways.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on the association between gut microbiota and CVDs.
• Analysis of key molecular and metabolic pathways involved.
• Synthesis of current understanding on gut microbiota's role in cardiovascular health.

Main Results:

• Gut dysbiosis is associated with hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and heart failure.
• Key pathways include metabolic endotoxemia, altered short-chain fatty acids, uremic toxins, bile acids, and trimethylamine-N-oxide.
• These pathways demonstrate the gut microbiota's significant impact on cardiovascular health.

Conclusions:

• The gut microbiota plays a critical role in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases.
• Understanding the gut microbiota-host interactions offers novel avenues for CVD prediction and treatment.
• Metabolites generated by the gut microbiota may serve as early diagnostic markers for CVDs.