Sequence meets function—Microbiota and cardiovascular disease

Authors: KIM, MYUNGSUK - University Of California, Davis; HUDA, NAZMUL - University Of California, Davis; Bennett, Brian

Submitted to: Cardiovascular Research
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/29/2021
Publication Date: 1/29/2021
Citation: Kim, M., Huda, N., Bennett, B.J. 2021. Sequence meets function—Microbiota and cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvab030.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvab030

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Historically, there is an appreciation of the role of microbes and infection in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The discovery that the gut microbiota plays a profound role in human health has opened a new avenues of basic and clinical research. Modulating the gut microbiota or microbial metabolites could be a new strategy to alleviate CVD, which is increasingly challenging human society. We examine the associations between the gut microbiota and a variety of CVD including atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and blood pressure. Beyond the identification of specific bacterial taxa associated with CVD and its risk factors, researchers are actively pursuing mechanistic studies to determine the mode of action by which the gut microbiota may affect disease susceptibility and severity. Importantly, the gut microbiota appears to have a significant effect on host metabolism and CVD by producing metabolites entering the host circulatory system such as short chain fatty acid (SCFA) and trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO). Therefore the intersection of metabolomics and microbiota research may yield novel targets to reduce disease susceptibility. A number of therapeutic approaches that target the microbiota such as fecal microbiota transplantation and specific inhibitors are beginning to be developed with the hope of reducing CVD incidence.