Optimized oxygen therapy improves sleep deprivation-induced cardiac dysfunction through gut microbiota

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Cardiology
• Sleep Science

Background:

• Sleep deprivation (SD) causes adverse physiological responses, but its impact on gut microbiota and cardiac health is debated.
• Understanding the link between sleep, gut microbiota, and heart disease is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on gut microbiota composition and function.
• To determine the impact of sleep deprivation on cardiac health, specifically cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction.
• To explore the therapeutic potential of oxygen therapy in mitigating sleep deprivation-induced cardiac pathology via gut microbiota modulation.

Main Methods:

• Established a mouse model of experimental sleep deprivation.
• Utilized 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze gut microbiota changes.
• Performed fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from sleep-deprived to control mice.
• Investigated the effects of a 30% oxygen environment on cardiac function and fibrosis.
• Analyzed transcriptome data to elucidate the mechanisms of oxygen therapy.

Main Results:

• Sleep deprivation led to weakness, depression-like behaviors, multi-organ dysfunction, cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and reduced ejection fraction.
• 16S rRNA sequencing revealed pathogenic alterations in gut microbiota due to sleep deprivation, which were transferable via FMT.
• A 30% oxygen environment significantly alleviated cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis.
• Transcriptome analysis indicated that oxygen therapy targeted hypoxia-dependent pathways and reduced cardiac collagen production.

Conclusions:

• Sufficient sleep is vital for maintaining a healthy gut microbiota.
• Sleep deprivation induces gut dysbiosis and cardiac pathology, transferable through fecal microbiota.
• Oxygen therapy shows promise as a protective strategy against sleep deprivation-induced cardiac issues by influencing gut microbiota and hypoxia pathways.