Cold environment regulates ischemic stroke through modulation of gut microbiota

Area of Science:

• Environmental health
• Microbiome research
• Cardiovascular disease

Background:

• Environmental temperature influences disease risk, with cold exposure linked to increased ischemic stroke (IS) incidence.
• The precise molecular mechanisms connecting cold exposure to IS remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the molecular pathways linking chronic cold exposure to an increased risk of ischemic stroke (IS).
• To explore the role of gut microbiota and its metabolites in cold-induced IS.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of platelet aggregation and inflammatory factors in high-risk stroke patients during cold exposure.
• Gut microbiota profiling (16S rRNA sequencing) before and after a cold wave.
• Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in mice to assess cold-adapted microbiota effects.
• Measurement of intestinal barrier function and microbial metabolite levels (e.g., TMAO).

Main Results:

• Chronic cold exposure increased platelet aggregation and inflammatory factors in high-risk patients.
• Cold waves induced gut dysbiosis, altering the abundance of key bacterial families and genera.
• FMT studies confirmed that cold-adapted microbiota could transfer cold exposure effects.
• Cold exposure impaired intestinal barrier function and promoted microbial production of TMAO.

Conclusions:

• Cold exposure exacerbates IS risk through increased platelet aggregation, inflammation, and gut microbiota dysbiosis.
• Gut microbiota-derived metabolites, such as TMAO, play a critical role in cold-related IS.
• Modulating the gut microbiota presents a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or treating cold-induced IS.