Tanshinone regulated gut microbiota and TMAO to improve high-fat diet induced atherosclerosis in APOE-/- mice
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Aiming Zhou1, Nian Peng1, Lin Yang1
1School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China.
Background:
Atherosclerosis is the main pathogenic factor of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, but the current effective treatment drugs are limited. The search for an effective treatment is urgent. The objective of this research was to examine the potential role of tanshinone in the treatment of atherosclerosis through the modulation of gut microbiota and Trimethylamino-n-oxide (TMAO), which is expected to provide a new therapeutic strategy and target for clinical treatment.
Results:
In APOE-/- mice disease models, tanshinone alleviates atherosclerosis. Analysis through 16 S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a significant increase in lactobacillus within the tanshinone-treated group, while a notable decrease in lachnospiraceae was observed. Conversely, in the model group, lactobacillus levels diminished, whereas proteobacteria and lachnospiraceae levels increased. The primary functional enrichment of species in both groups was closely associated with lipid metabolism, with a more pronounced enhancement of lipid metabolism noted in the tanshinone group. The concentration of TMAO in the high-fat diet treated group was significantly greater than that observed in both the control group and the tanshinone group. Furthermore, the expression of NF-κB, IL-1β,TNF-α in the tanshinone group indicated a reduction by WB or RT-qPCR analyses relative to the high-fat diet treated group.
Conclusion:
Tanshinone has the potential to ameliorate atherosclerosis induced by a high-fat diet by promoting the proliferation of lactobacillus, reducing the abundance of lachnospiraceae, enhancing lipid metabolism, and diminishing the production of TMAO.
Insights
Tanshinone treatment alleviates atherosclerosis in mice by modulating gut bacteria, increasing beneficial lactobacillus, and reducing harmful Trimethylamino-N-oxide (TMAO) levels. This suggests a novel therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Microbiome Science
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a primary cause of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
- Current treatments for atherosclerosis are limited, necessitating urgent development of new therapeutic strategies.
- Gut microbiota dysbiosis and elevated Trimethylamino-N-oxide (TMAO) are implicated in atherosclerosis pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic potential of tanshinone in treating atherosclerosis.
- To examine the effect of tanshinone on gut microbiota composition and Trimethylamino-N-oxide (TMAO) levels.
- To explore tanshinone's role in modulating inflammatory pathways associated with atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Atherosclerosis was induced in APOE-/- mice fed a high-fat diet.
- Gut microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- Trimethylamino-N-oxide (TMAO) levels were measured.
- Inflammatory markers (NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α) were assessed via Western blot (WB) and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR).
Main Results:
- Tanshinone treatment significantly alleviated atherosclerosis in APOE-/- mice.
- Tanshinone administration increased Lactobacillus abundance and decreased Lachnospiraceae and Proteobacteria levels in the gut microbiota.
- Tanshinone treatment reduced serum TMAO concentrations and suppressed the expression of key inflammatory markers (NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α).
Conclusions:
- Tanshinone ameliorates high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis by reshaping the gut microbiota.
- The therapeutic effects of tanshinone are associated with increased beneficial bacteria, reduced TMAO production, and suppressed inflammation.
- Tanshinone presents a promising therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis, targeting both the disease pathology and its microbial contributors.
