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Updated: Aug 30, 2025
In Vivo Augmentation of Gut-Homing Regulatory T Cell Induction
Published on: January 22, 2020
Gut immune cells-A novel therapeutical target for cardiovascular disease?
Naresh Ganesh1, Emiel P C van der Vorst2,3,4, Jens Spiesshöfer5
1Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
Insights
Gut immune cells play a critical role in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Targeting these cells may offer new therapeutic strategies for conditions like diabetes and atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death globally, with a significantly higher risk in diabetic patients.
- Inflammation is a key driver of cardiometabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
- The gastrointestinal tract harbors a large population of immune cells, but their role in cardiovascular disease is largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relevance of gut immune cells in the development of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
- To explore potential therapeutic targets within the gut immune system for cardiometabolic disorders.
Main Methods:
- Experimental models in mice were used to study the impact of gut immune cells.
- Mice lacking gut immune cells were analyzed for metabolic and cardiovascular disease phenotypes.
- Antibody-mediated inhibition of leukocyte homing to the gut was employed.
Main Results:
- Mice lacking gut immune cells were protected against obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis.
- Inhibiting leukocyte homing to the gut conferred similar protective effects on metabolic and cardiovascular health.
- These findings highlight the significant role of gut-associated immune cells.
Conclusions:
- Gut immune cells are crucial in the pathogenesis of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
- Targeting gut immune cells presents a promising novel therapeutic avenue for cardiometabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
Abstract:
Despite scientific and clinical advances during the last 50 years cardiovascular disease continues to be the main cause of death worldwide. Especially patients with diabetes display a massive increased cardiovascular risk compared to patients without diabetes. Over the last two decades we have learned that cardiometabolic and cardiovascular diseases are driven by inflammation. Despite the fact that the gastrointestinal tract is one of the largest leukocyte reservoirs of our bodies, the relevance of gut immune cells for cardiovascular disease is largely unknown. First experimental evidence suggests an important relevance of immune cells in the intestinal tract for the development of metabolic and cardiovascular disease in mice. Mice specifically lacking gut immune cells are protected against obesity, diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Importantly antibody mediated inhibition of leukocyte homing into the gut showed similar protective metabolic and cardiovascular effects. Targeting gut immune cells might open novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cardiometabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
