The Gut Microbiome in Hypertension

2021 ◽  
Vol 128 (7) ◽  
pp. 934-950
Author(s):  
Ellen G. Avery ◽  
Hendrik Bartolomaeus ◽  
Andras Maifeld ◽  
Lajos Marko ◽  
Helge Wiig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Cells ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
The Body ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Hypertensive Disease ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Diverse Range

The pathogenesis of hypertension is known to involve a diverse range of contributing factors including genetic, environmental, hormonal, hemodynamic and inflammatory forces, to name a few. There is mounting evidence to suggest that the gut microbiome plays an important role in the development and pathogenesis of hypertension. The gastrointestinal tract, which houses the largest compartment of immune cells in the body, represents the intersection of the environment and the host. Accordingly, lifestyle factors shape and are modulated by the microbiome, modifying the risk for hypertensive disease. One well-studied example is the consumption of dietary fibers, which leads to the production of short-chain fatty acids and can contribute to the expansion of anti-inflammatory immune cells, consequently protecting against the progression of hypertension. Dietary interventions such as fasting have also been shown to impact hypertension via the microbiome. Studying the microbiome in hypertensive disease presents a variety of unique challenges to the use of traditional model systems. Integrating microbiome considerations into preclinical research is crucial, and novel strategies to account for reciprocal host-microbiome interactions, such as the wildling mouse model, may provide new opportunities for translation. The intricacies of the role of the microbiome in hypertensive disease is a matter of ongoing research, and there are several technical considerations which should be accounted for moving forward. In this review we provide insights into the host-microbiome interaction and summarize the evidence of its importance in the regulation of blood pressure. Additionally, we provide recommendations for ongoing and future research, such that important insights from the microbiome field at large can be readily integrated in the context of hypertension.

scholarly journals Gut microbiome and its cofactors are linked to lipoprotein distribution profiles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josue Castro Mejia ◽  
Bekzod Khakimov ◽  
Mads Lind ◽  
Eva Garne ◽  
Petronela Paulova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Lipoprotein Subfractions ◽  
Lipoprotein Subclasses ◽  
Metagenome Sequencing ◽  
Lipoprotein Distribution ◽  
Host Characteristics

Increasing evidence indicates that the gut microbiome (GM) plays an important role in the etiology of dyslipidemia. To date, however, no in depth characterization of the associations between GM and its metabolic attributes with deep profiling of lipoproteins distributions (LPD) among healthy individuals has been conducted. To determine associations and contributions of GM composition and its cofactors with distribution profiles of lipoprotein subfractions, we studied blood plasma LPD, fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and GM of 262 healthy Danish subjects aged 19-89 years. Stratification of LPD segregated subjects into three clusters of profiles that reflected differences in the lipoprotein subclasses, corresponded well with limits of recommended levels of main lipoprotein fractions and were largely explained by host characteristics such as age and body mass index. Higher levels of HDL, particularly driven by large subfractions (HDL2a and HDL2b), were associated with a higher relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae and Christensenellaceae. Increasing levels of total cholesterol and LDL, which were primarily associated with large 1 and 2 subclasses, were positively associated with Lachnospiraceae and Coriobacteriaceae, and negatively with Bacteroidaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae. Metagenome sequencing showed a higher abundance of genes involved in the biosynthesis of multiple B-vitamins and SCFA metabolism among subjects with healthier LPD profiles. Metagenomic assembled genomes (MAGs) affiliated mainly to Eggerthellaceae and Clostridiales were identified as the contributors of these genes and whose relative abundance correlated positively with larger subfractions of HDL. The results of this study demonstrate that remarkable differences in composition and metabolic traits of the GM are associated with variations in LPD among healthy subjects. Findings from this study provide evidence for GM considerations in future research aiming to shade light on mechanisms of the GM - dyslipidemia axis.

scholarly journals Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in preclinical research: A scoping review protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Pádraig Carroll ◽  
Adrian Dervan ◽  
Anthony Maher ◽  
Ciarán McCarthy ◽  
Ian Woods ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Patient And Public Involvement ◽  
The Body ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Advisory Panel ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
Scoping Reviews

Introduction: Patient and public involvement (PPI) aims to improve the quality, relevance, and appropriateness of research and ensure that it meets the needs and expectations of those affected by particular conditions to the greatest possible degree. The evidence base for the positive impact of PPI on clinical research continues to grow, but the role of PPI in preclinical research (an umbrella term encompassing ‘basic’, ‘fundamental’, ‘translational’ or ‘lab-based’ research) remains limited. As funding bodies and policymakers continue to increase emphasis on the relevance of PPI to preclinical research, it is timely to map the PPI literature to support preclinical researchers involving the public, patients, or other service users in their research. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review is to explore the literature on patient and public involvement in preclinical research from any discipline. Methods: This scoping review will search the literature in Medline (PubMed), Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and OpenGrey.net to explore the application of PPI in preclinical research. This review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for scoping reviews. It will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Two reviewers will independently review articles for inclusion in the final review. Data extraction will be guided by the research questions. The PPI advisory panel will then collaboratively identify themes in the extracted data. Discussion: This scoping review will provide a map of current evidence surrounding preclinical PPI, and identify the body of literature on this topic, which has not been comprehensively reviewed to date. Findings will inform ongoing work of the research team, support the work of other preclinical researchers aiming to include PPI in their own research, and identify knowledge and practice gaps. Areas for future research will be identified.

scholarly journals Human Skin, Oral, and Gut Microbiomes Predict Chronological Age

mSystems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi Huang ◽  
Niina Haiminen ◽  
Anna-Paola Carrieri ◽  
Rebecca Hu ◽  
Lingjing Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
The Body ◽  
Oral Microbiome ◽  
Chronological Age ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Skin Microbiome ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Relative Value

ABSTRACT Human gut microbiomes are known to change with age, yet the relative value of human microbiomes across the body as predictors of age, and prediction robustness across populations is unknown. In this study, we tested the ability of the oral, gut, and skin (hand and forehead) microbiomes to predict age in adults using random forest regression on data combined from multiple publicly available studies, evaluating the models in each cohort individually. Intriguingly, the skin microbiome provides the best prediction of age (mean ± standard deviation, 3.8 ± 0.45 years, versus 4.5 ± 0.14 years for the oral microbiome and 11.5 ± 0.12 years for the gut microbiome). This also agrees with forensic studies showing that the skin microbiome predicts postmortem interval better than microbiomes from other body sites. Age prediction models constructed from the hand microbiome generalized to the forehead and vice versa, across cohorts, and results from the gut microbiome generalized across multiple cohorts (United States, United Kingdom, and China). Interestingly, taxa enriched in young individuals (18 to 30 years) tend to be more abundant and more prevalent than taxa enriched in elderly individuals (>60 yrs), suggesting a model in which physiological aging occurs concomitantly with the loss of key taxa over a lifetime, enabling potential microbiome-targeted therapeutic strategies to prevent aging. IMPORTANCE Considerable evidence suggests that the gut microbiome changes with age or even accelerates aging in adults. Whether the age-related changes in the gut microbiome are more or less prominent than those for other body sites and whether predictions can be made about a person’s age from a microbiome sample remain unknown. We therefore combined several large studies from different countries to determine which body site’s microbiome could most accurately predict age. We found that the skin was the best, on average yielding predictions within 4 years of chronological age. This study sets the stage for future research on the role of the microbiome in accelerating or decelerating the aging process and in the susceptibility for age-related diseases.

The Biomechanics of Cycling with a Transtibial Amputation: Recommendations for Prosthetic Design and Direction for Future Research

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Lee Childers ◽  
Robert S. Kistenberg ◽  
Robert J. Gregor
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Cycling Performance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Confounding Variable ◽  
Prosthetic Design ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Experience Levels ◽  
Cyclic Movement ◽  
Viable Model

People with amputations may find cycling advantageous for exercise, transportation and rehabilitation. The reciprocal nature of stationary cycling also makes it a viable model for research in motor control because the body is supported by the saddle allowing the researcher to focus on the cyclic movement of the legs without the confounding variable of balance. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the cycling task in intact cyclists and relate this information to understanding the challenges faced by cyclists with transtibial amputations (CTA). Ongoing research into the biomechanics of CTAs will be summarized to expose the differences between intact and CTA cycling mechanics, asymmetries between limbs of CTAs as well as neuromuscular adaptation following amputation. The article will include recommendations for prosthetic design and modification of the bicycle to improve cycling performance for CTA at all experience levels.

scholarly journals Interactions between the Gut Microbiome, Lung Conditions, and Coronary Heart Disease and How Probiotics Affect These

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 9700
Author(s):  
Trudy M. Wassenaar ◽  
Valentina A. Juncos ◽  
Kurt Zimmermann
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Coronary Heart Disease ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
Coronary Heart Diseases

The importance of a healthy microbiome cannot be overemphasized. Disturbances in its composition can lead to a variety of symptoms that can extend to other organs. Likewise, acute or chronic conditions in other organs can affect the composition and physiology of the gut microbiome. Here, we discuss interorgan communication along the gut–lung axis, as well as interactions between lung and coronary heart diseases and between cardiovascular disease and the gut microbiome. This triangle of organs, which also affects the clinical outcome of COVID-19 infections, is connected by means of numerous receptors and effectors, including immune cells and immune-modulating factors such as short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and trimethlamine–N–oxide (TMAO). The gut microbiome plays an important role in each of these, thus affecting the health of the lungs and the heart, and this interplay occurs in both directions. The gut microbiome can be influenced by the oral uptake of probiotics. With an improved understanding of the mechanisms responsible for interorgan communication, we can start to define what requirements an ‘ideal’ probiotic should have and its role in this triangle.

scholarly journals Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in preclinical research: A scoping review protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Pádraig Carroll ◽  
Adrian Dervan ◽  
Anthony Maher ◽  
Ciarán McCarthy ◽  
Ian Woods ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Patient And Public Involvement ◽  
The Body ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Advisory Panel ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
Scoping Reviews

Introduction: Patient and public involvement (PPI) aims to improve the quality, relevance, and appropriateness of research and ensure that it meets the needs and expectations of those affected by particular conditions to the greatest possible degree. The evidence base for the positive impact of PPI on clinical research continues to grow, but the role of PPI in preclinical research (an umbrella term encompassing ‘basic’, ‘fundamental’, ‘translational’ or ‘lab-based’ research) remains limited. As funding bodies and policymakers continue to increase emphasis on the relevance of PPI to preclinical research, it is timely to map the PPI literature to support preclinical researchers involving the public, patients, or other service users in their research. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review is to explore the literature on patient and public involvement in preclinical research from any discipline. Methods: This scoping review will search the literature in Medline (PubMed), Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and OpenGrey.net to explore the application of PPI in preclinical research. This review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for scoping reviews. It will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Two reviewers will independently review articles for inclusion in the final review. Data extraction will be guided by the research questions. The PPI advisory panel will then collaboratively identify themes in the extracted data. Discussion: This scoping review will provide a map of current evidence surrounding preclinical PPI, and identify the body of literature on this topic, which has not been comprehensively reviewed to date. Findings will inform ongoing work of the research team, support the work of other preclinical researchers aiming to include PPI in their own research, and identify knowledge and practice gaps. Areas for future research will be identified.

The Athlete and Gut Microbiome: Short-chain Fatty Acids as Potential Ergogenic Aids for Exercise and Training

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tindaro Bongiovanni ◽  
Marilyn Ong Li Yin ◽  
Liam Heaney
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
Short Chain ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Additional Energy ◽  
Chain Fatty Acids

AbstractShort-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are metabolites produced in the gut via microbial fermentation of dietary fibers referred to as microbiota-accessible carbohydrates (MACs). Acetate, propionate, and butyrate have been observed to regulate host dietary nutrient metabolism, energy balance, and local and systemic immune functions. In vitro and in vivo experiments have shown links between the presence of bacteria-derived SCFAs and host health through the blunting of inflammatory processes, as well as purported protection from the development of illness associated with respiratory infections. This bank of evidence suggests that SCFAs could be beneficial to enhance the athlete’s immunity, as well as act to improve exercise recovery via anti-inflammatory activity and to provide additional energy substrates for exercise performance. However, the mechanistic basis and applied evidence for these relationships in humans have yet to be fully established. In this narrative review, we explore the existing knowledge of SCFA synthesis and the functional importance of the gut microbiome composition to induce SCFA production. Further, changes in gut microbiota associated with exercise and various dietary MACs are described. Finally, we provide suggestions for future research and practical applications, including how these metabolites could be manipulated through dietary fiber intake to optimize immunity and energy metabolism.

scholarly journals Current Explorations of Nutrition and the Gut Microbiome: A Systematic Review (P20-032-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leigh Frame ◽  
Elise Costa ◽  
Scott Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Food Additives ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intestinal Transit Time ◽  
Food Components ◽  
Health And Disease

Abstract Objectives The ability to measure and describe the microbiome has led to a surge in information about the gut microbiome and its role in health and disease. The relationship between nutrition and the gut microbiome is central, as the diet is a source of microbiota, a source of fuel for the microbiota, and an indicator of the composition of the gut microbiome. We aim to assess the current understanding of the interactions between nutrition and the gut microbiome in healthy adults. A solid understanding of the interactions between nutrition and a healthy gut microbiome will form the foundation for understanding the role in disease prevention and treatment. Methods PubMed and Google Scholar searches for review articles relating to nutrition and the gut microbiome in healthy adults led to the inclusion of 38 articles in this systematic review. Results Much of the research has focused on carbohydrates in the form of dietary fiber, which are fuel for the gut microbiota. The beneficial effects of fiber have centered on Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) that are required by colonocytes (barrier function), improve absorption (minerals, water), and reduce intestinal transit time (colon cancer). Contrastingly, a low fiber, high protein diet promotes microbial protein metabolism, leading to potentially dangerous by-products that can stagnate in the gut. The bidirectional relationship between micronutrition and the gut microbiome is emerging. The microbiota utilize and produce micronutrients, leading to confounding relationships between nutritional status and biologic micronutrient concentrations, chiefly the B and K vitamins. While promising, the study of non-nutritive food components (polyphenols) and the gut microbiome is in its infancy. The role of other food components (food additives, contaminants) warrant exploration and are a significant research gap to-date. Conclusions Diet and nutrition have profound effects on the gut microbiome composition. This, in turn, affects a wide array of metabolic, hormonal, and neurological processes that influence our health and disease. Currently, there is no consensus in the scientific community on what defines a “healthy” gut microbiome. Future research must consider individual responses to diet and the role of diet in the response of the gut microbiome to interventions. Funding Sources N/A. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

More than just a gut instinct–the potential interplay between a baby's nutrition, its gut microbiome, and the epigenome

2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (12) ◽  
pp. R1065-R1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Mischke ◽  
Torsten Plösch
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽  
The Body ◽  
Transcriptional Networks ◽  
Adult Obesity ◽  
Active Metabolites ◽  
Early Nutrition ◽  
Major Target

Substantial evidence links early postnatal nutrition to the development of obesity later in life. However, the molecular mechanisms of this connection must be further elucidated. Epigenetic mechanisms have been indicated to be involved in this process, referred to as metabolic programming. Therefore, we propose here that early postnatal nutrition (breast and formula feeding) epigenetically programs the developing organs via modulation of the gut microbiome and influences the body weight phenotype including the predisposition to obesity. Specifically, the early-age food patterns are known to determine the gross composition of the early gut microbiota. In turn, the microbiota produces large quantities of epigenetically active metabolites, such as folate and short chain fatty acids (butyrate and acetate). The spectrum of these produced metabolites depends on the composition of the gut microbiota. Hence, it is likely that changes in gut microbiota that result in altered metabolite composition might influence the epigenome of directly adjacent intestinal cells, as well as other major target cell populations, such as hepatocytes and adipocytes. Nuclear receptors and other transcription factors (the PPARs, LXR, RXR, and others) could be physiologically relevant targets of this metabolite-induced epigenetic regulation. Ultimately, transcriptional networks regulating energy balance could be manipulated. For these reasons, we postulate that early nutrition may influence the baby epigenome via microbial metabolites, which contributes to the observed relationship between early nutrition and adult obesity.

scholarly journals Microbiome–microglia connections via the gut–brain axis

2018 ◽  
Vol 216 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reem Abdel-Haq ◽  
Johannes C.M. Schlachetzki ◽  
Christopher K. Glass ◽  
Sarkis K. Mazmanian
Keyword(s):  
Immune Cells ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Gi Tract ◽  
Synaptic Remodeling ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Microglial Development

Microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain, are essential for modulating neurogenesis, influencing synaptic remodeling, and regulating neuroinflammation by surveying the brain microenvironment. Microglial dysfunction has been implicated in the onset and progression of several neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases; however, the multitude of factors and signals influencing microglial activity have not been fully elucidated. Microglia not only respond to local signals within the brain but also receive input from the periphery, including the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Recent preclinical findings suggest that the gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in regulating microglial maturation and function, and altered microbial community composition has been reported in neurological disorders with known microglial involvement in humans. Collectively, these findings suggest that bidirectional crosstalk between the gut and the brain may influence disease pathogenesis. Herein, we discuss recent studies showing a role for the gut microbiome in modulating microglial development and function in homeostatic and disease conditions and highlight possible future research to develop novel microbial treatments for disorders of the brain.

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