Gut Microbiota Composition Affects Procyanidin A2-Attenuated Atherosclerosis in ApoE^–/– Mice by Modulating the Bioavailability of Its Microbial Metabolites

Abstract

Procyanidin A2 (PCA2) has been shown to improve lipid metabolism. However, it remains to know whether it can play a role in preventing atherosclerosis (AS) through gut microbiota. This study examined the effect of PCA2 on high fat diet (HFD)-induced AS in ApoE −/− mice with an intact and antibiotic-depleted microbiota. PCA2 administration for 12 weeks attenuated HFD-induced AS in ApoE −/− mice, evidenced by obviously alleviating the histological abnormalities of the aorta, lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which were accompanied by downregulating the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and upregulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1. Moreover, PCA2 treatment reshaped the gut microbiota imbalance caused by HFD, especially reducing the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes and increasing the abundance of Verrucomicrobia. However, antibiotic intervention almost offset the alleviation of AS by PCA2 and prevented the biotransformation of PCA2 by gut microbiota, thus resulting in a 2327.21−6.27-fold decrease in its microbial metabolites of plasma. There was a marked correlation among the microbiota composition, the bioavailability of PCA2-derived microbial metabolites, and AS indicators. The findings indicate that the gut microbiota robustly influences the bioavailability of microbial metabolites that may partially drive the AS resilience property of PCA2.

Distribution of Urolithins Metabotypes in Healthy Chinese Youth: Difference in Gut Microbiota and Predicted Metabolic Pathways

“…Total bacteria DNA isolation, 16S rDNA sequencing, and sequence analysis were conducted using the method from our previous study. 25 Statistical Analysis. All data were shown as mean ± standard deviation (SD).…”

“…To observe the differences in gut microbiota among the different UMs populations, and to find gut microbiota related to the metabolism of ellagitannin and ellagic acid into different urolithins, the feces of all volunteers participating in this experiment were sent to Majorbio Bio-Pharm Technology Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China) for 16S rDNA sequencing by the standard Illumina Miseq technology. Total bacteria DNA isolation, 16S rDNA sequencing, and sequence analysis were conducted using the method from our previous study …”

Potential of Establishing the Corresponding Human Microbial Community in Pseudo Germ-Free Mice through Fecal Microbe Transfer from Three Urolithin Metabotypes

“…Total bacteria DNA isolation, sequencing, and sequence analysis were conducted using the method from our previous study. 29 Briefly, microbial DNA of fecal samples was extracted using a commercial DNA extraction kit (Omega Biotek, Norcross, GA, US). The V3−V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified, and amplicons were sequenced using the standard Illumina MiSeq technology (Illumina, San Diego, USA) followed by data analysis with QIIME 1.8.0 software.…”

Correlation between the regulation of intestinal bacteriophages by green tea polyphenols and the flora diversity in SPF mice

“…17,18 It plays an important role in countering diabetes, cholesterol, atherosclerosis, and blood pressure. 19–21 It was reported that the main components of GTP have fierce antiviral activity against many viruses, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), influenza virus (FLU), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). 22 Green tea polyphenols may also assist the gut microbial composition and structure in maintaining gut homeostasis.…”