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Updated: Aug 5, 2026

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Murine Fecal Isolation and Microbiota Transplantation
Published on: May 26, 2023
Dissecting the Gut Microbiota-MetaboliteCoronary Atherosclerosis Axis: Evidence from Two-Sample Mendelian
Qitian Sun1, Zeyu Zhou2, Yu Gao1,3
1Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China.
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Gut bacteria and metabolites influence coronary atherosclerosis. Specific microbes and metabolic pathways are linked to disease risk and protection, offering potential targets for intervention.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Metabolomics
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
Background:
- Coronary Atherosclerosis (CAS) is a complex disease influenced by host genetics, gut microbiota, and metabolites.
- The precise causal relationships and mediating effects among these factors remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal relationships between gut microbial traits, plasma metabolites, and coronary atherosclerosis.
- To identify specific microbial and metabolic factors involved in CAS development.
Main Methods:
- A two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study utilizing large-scale genome-wide association study data.
- Analysis of 473 genetic instruments for gut microbial traits and 1,400 for plasma metabolites.
- Bidirectional MR, sensitivity analyses, and mediation analysis were employed.
Main Results:
- Identified 18 gut microbial taxa and 36 plasma metabolites associated with CAS.
- Found protective taxa (e.g., Genus Roseibacillus) and risk taxa (e.g., Genus Geobacter C).
- Discovered specific metabolites (e.g., deoxycholic acid 12-sulfate, guanidinoacetate) and identified mediating metabolic pathways.
Conclusions:
- Provides genetic evidence for the gut microbiota's role in CAS development, potentially via metabolic pathways.
- Highlights the gut microbiota-plasma metabolite axis as a key factor in CAS.
- Identifies potential targets for early prevention and intervention of coronary atherosclerosis.
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