Gut Microbiome-Targeted Modulations Regulate Metabolic Profiles and Alleviate Altitude-Related Cardiac Hypertrophy in...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology and Physiology
• High-Altitude Medicine
• Gut Microbiome Research

Background:

• High altitude exposure causes physiological changes, including gut microbiome alterations.
• The role of gut microbiota in exacerbating high-altitude diseases is not fully understood.
• Cardiac impairment is a known consequence of prolonged hypobaric hypoxia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if modulating the gut microbiota can alleviate high-altitude-related cardiac diseases.
• To assess the impact of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on cardiac function and gut dysbiosis under hypobaric hypoxia.
• To explore the effects of these interventions on metabolic profiles in plasma and feces.

Main Methods:

• A rat model was subjected to hypobaric hypoxia to induce altitude-related cardiac impairment.
• Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics were administered to the rats.
• Cardiac hypertrophy, gut microbial composition, and plasma/fecal metabolites (SCFAs, BAs, amino acids, neurotransmitters) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• All interventions (probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics) alleviated cardiac hypertrophy and gut microbial dysbiosis.
• Specific microbial families, Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae, showed improved balance.
• Interventions partially restored homeostasis of plasma amino acids and neurotransmitters but not other metabolites.

Conclusions:

• Gut microbiome modulation can effectively alleviate pathological cardiac hypertrophy and metabolic disruptions induced by hypobaric hypoxia.
• The gut microbiome may play a causative role in high-altitude-related pathogenesis.
• Targeting the gut microbiome presents a potential therapeutic strategy for high-altitude diseases.