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Published on: September 26, 2018
Brussels Chicory Stabilizes Unstable Atherosclerotic Plaques and Reshapes the Gut Microbiota in Apoe-/- Mice
Qing Li1, Xu Zhang1, Yushi Du1
1Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University (Northern Campus), Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern can protect against atherosclerosis in part by reducing intestinal permeability and gut microbial LPS production. Brussels chicory, a typical Mediterranean vegetable, has been shown to inhibit the formation of early-stage atherosclerosis in mice.
Objectives:
We evaluated whether Brussels chicory affects advanced atherosclerosis progression, intestinal permeability, and gut microbial LPS production.
Methods:
Thirty-week-old male apoE-deficient mice with unstable atherosclerotic plaques in the brachiocephalic artery were fed the AIN-93G diet alone (control) or supplemented with 0.5% freeze-dried Brussels chicory for 20 wk. Plaque volume and features of plaque stability, plaque macrophage polarization, fecal and serum LPS concentrations, serum lipid profiles and inflammation-related cytokines, and gut microbial profiles were measured.
Results:
Compared with the control treatment, Brussels chicory consumption did not significantly change plaque volume and serum lipid profiles. However, it increased plaque stability (P < 0.05), as evidenced by reduced necrotic core size (42.3%), and increased fibrous cap thickness (55.0%) and collagen content (68.4%). Moreover, Brussels chicory consumption reduced intestinal permeability (56.3%), fecal and serum LPS concentrations (52.2% and 39.4%), serum IL1β and TNFα (52.0% and 33.8%), promoted plaque macrophage polarization towards the M2-like phenotype, and altered gut microbial composition, the latter indicated by increased relative abundance of certain members of the Ruminococcaceae family, such as Ruminiclostridium_9, Ruminiclostridium_5, and Intestinimonas (P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analyses further showed that these bacterial genera were significantly correlated with intestinal permeability, fecal and serum LPS, serum proinflammatory cytokines, and several features of plaque stability.
Conclusions:
Brussels chicory might help stabilize atherosclerotic plaques in mice by reducing intestinal permeability and gut microbial LPS production. This study provides a promising approach to slow the progression of atherosclerosis.
