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Gut Permeability and Immune-Mediated Inflammation in Heart Failure
Maria Perticone1, Simona Gigliotti2, Ermal Shehaj3
1Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Biomedicines
|June 27, 2024
Summary
Heart failure (HF) involves immune-mediated inflammation linked to gut barrier issues. This study found lower gut permeability markers in HF patients, suggesting a complex relationship between gut health and heart function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is associated with low-grade immune-mediated inflammation.
- This inflammation may stem from increased Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression and gut barrier dysfunction.
- Gut dysbiosis and altered permeability are implicated in HF pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression in heart failure (HF) patients.
- To assess gut dysbiosis and barrier permeability in HF patients compared to controls.
- To explore the relationship between gut health, inflammation, and HF severity.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled 80 HF patients and 20 controls.
- Evaluated immune-mediated inflammation via TLR expression.
- Assessed gut dysbiosis using zonulin levels and bacterial endotoxin activity (EAA and LAL tests).
Main Results:
- HF patients exhibited higher inflammatory biomarkers and TLR expression compared to controls.
- HF patients showed lower levels of zonulin and endotoxin activity.
- Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF-rEF) patients had higher inflammation and TLR expression than HF with preserved ejection fraction (HF-pEF) patients.
- Gut permeability markers inversely correlated with HF severity and positively with renal function.
Conclusions:
- HF patients present with altered gut permeability markers and increased inflammation.
- Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression is elevated in HF, particularly in HF-rEF.
- Gut microbiota and barrier function play a significant role in the immune-mediated inflammation observed in heart failure.
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