The Association between Gut Microbiome and Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension: A Nested Case–Control Study

2', 3', 5'-tri-O-acetyl-N6-(3-hydroxyphenyl) adenosine alleviates diet-induced hyperlipidemia by modulating intestinal gene expression profiles and metabolic pathway

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the composition of intestinal flora plays a significant role in regulating lipid metabolism. 2', 3', 5'-tri-O-acetyl-N6-(3-hydroxyphenyl) adenosine (IMMH007) is a new candidate compound for regulating blood cholesterol and other lipids. In this study, we conducted metagenomic and metabolomic analyses on samples from high-fat diet-fed (HFD) hamsters treated with IMMH007. Our findings revealed that IMM-H007 reversed the imbalance of gut microbiota caused by a high-fat diet. Additionally, it activated adiponectin receptor and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis pathway-related genes, which are known to regulate lipid and glucose metabolism. Furthermore, IMM-H007 promotes cholesterol metabolism by reducing the abundance of genes and species associated with 7α-dehydroxylation and bile salt hydrolase (BSH). Metabolomics and pharmacological studies have shown that IMM-H007 effectively improved glucose and lipid metabolism disorders caused by HFD, reduced the aggregation of secondary bile acids (SBAs), significantly increased the content of hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA), and also activated the expression of VDR in the small intestine. As a result, there was a reduction in the leakage of diamine oxidase (DAO) into the bloodstream in hamsters, accompanied by an upregulation of ZO-1 expression in the small intestine. The results suggested that IMM-H007 regulated glucose and lipid metabolism, promoted cholesterol metabolism through activating the expression of VDR, inhibiting inflammatory and improving the permeability of the intestinal barrier. Thus, our study provides new understanding of how IMM-H007 interacts with intestinal function, microbiota, and relevant targets, shedding light on its mechanism of action.

Intestinal flora and pregnancy complications: Current insights and future prospects

Numerous studies have demonstrated the pivotal roles of intestinal microbiota in many physiopathological processes through complex interactions with the host. As a unique period in a woman's lifespan, pregnancy is characterized by changes in hormones, immunity, and metabolism. The gut microbiota also changes during this period and plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Consequently, anomalies in the composition and function of the gut microbiota, namely, gut microbiota dysbiosis, can predispose individuals to various pregnancy complications, posing substantial risks to both maternal and neonatal health. However, there are still many controversies in this field, such as "sterile womb" versus "in utero colonization." Therefore, a thorough understanding of the roles and mechanisms of gut microbiota in pregnancy and its complications is essential to safeguard the health of both mother and child. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the changes in gut microbiota during pregnancy, its abnormalities in common pregnancy complications, and potential etiological implications. It also explores the potential of gut microbiota in diagnosing and treating pregnancy complications and examines the possibility of gut-derived bacteria residing in the uterus/placenta. Our aim is to expand knowledge in maternal and infant health from the gut microbiota perspective, aiding in developing new preventive and therapeutic strategies for pregnancy complications based on intestinal microecology.

Composition and interaction of maternal microbiota with immune mediators during pregnancy and their outcome: A narrative review

The connection between maternal microbiota and infant health has been greatly garnered interest for therapeutic purposes. The early resident microbiota perpetually exhibits much more flexibility as compared to that of the adults, and therefore, constant need of understanding the infant as well as maternal microbiota and their implications however has increased. In this review, we focus mainly on the diversity of overall maternal microbiota including the gut, vaginal, colostrum microbiota and how inflammatory markers fluctuate throughout the normal pregnancy as well in pregnancy with complications. The maternal body undergoes a cascade of physiological changes including hormonal, immunological and metabolic events to support the fetal development. These changes at the time of pregnancy have been correlated with alteration in the composition and diversity of maternal microbiota. Along with alteration in microbiome, the levels of circulatory cytokines fluctuate by complex network of inflammation, in order to prevent the fetal allograft throughout the pregnancy. The dynamic relationship of gut microbiota with the host and its immune system allows one to have greater insights of their role in pregnancy and newborn's health. Emerging evidence suggests that the vertical transmission of bacterial community from mother to newborn may begin in-utero which contributes in developing the immune system and infant gut microbiota.

Research progress on the correlation between gut microbiota and preeclampsia: microbiome changes, mechanisms and treatments

Preeclampsia is a specific disease during pregnancy and is a significant factor in the increased mortality in perinatal women. Gut microbiota, an intricate and abundant microbial community in the digestive tract, is crucial for host metabolism, immunity, and nutrient absorption. The onset and progression of preeclampsia are closely correlated with the changes in maternal gut microbiota. Research purpose was to compile the existing bits of present scientific data and to close the gap in the knowledge of changes in gut microbiota in preeclampsia and their association with preeclampsia. We searched studies from two electronic databases (PubMed and Web of Science) included from 2014 to 2023. This review is divided into three parts. In the first part, the author elaborates longitudinal differences of maternal gut microbiota during different gestation periods. In the second part, we discuss that gut microbiota can lead to the occurrence of preeclampsia by systemic immune response, influencing the release of active peptides, short-chain fatty acids, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and other metabolites, vascular factors and Microorganism-immune axis. In the third part, we proposed that a high-fiber diet combined with drugs and microecological regulators may be therapeutic in enhancing or preventing the emergence and evolution of preeclampsia, which needs further exploration. Although the pathogenesis of preeclampsia is still nebulous and there is no clear and valid clinical treatment, our study provides new ideas for the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of preeclampsia.

Causal relationship association of cheese intake with gestational hypertension and diabetes result from a Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

The evidence from observational studies has been inconclusive on the causal relationship between cheese intake and gestational hypertension or diabetes.

AIM

To determine whether cheese consumption was causally related to hypertension and diabetes during pregnancy.

METHODS

This was a two-sample Mendelian randomized (MR) study. Summary-level genetic data for cheese intake was exposure and corresponding outcome data for gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes were extracted from the IEU OpenGWAS database. MR analysis was conducted using inverse variance weighting. For sensitivity analyses, MR-Egger regression, weighted median, weighted mode, and leave-one-out methods were conducted. A fixed-effect model was used to meta-analyze two sample MR estimates. The traits of gestational hypertension were pregnancy hypertension (123579 individuals) and oedema, proteinuria and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (123579 individuals), and traits of gestational diabetes were gestational diabetes (123579 individuals) and diabetes mellitus in pregnancy (116363 individuals), respectively.

RESULTS

Cheese intake per standard deviation increase has causally reduced the risks of gestational hypertension [odds ratio (OR) = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.47-0.76, P < 0.001] and gestational diabetes (OR = 0.41, 95%CI: 0.30-0.55, P < 0.001) in inverse variance weighted analysis. Sensitivity analysis showed no heterogeneity (all P > 0.05) nor horizontal pleiotropy (all P > 0.05) in the relationship between cheese intake and gestational hypertension, but heterogeneity presented (all P < 0.05) in relation to gestational diabetes in the two-sample MR analysis.

CONCLUSION

Cheese intake was inversely associated with gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes in MR analysis, suggesting that cheese consumption may be beneficial in preventing hypertension and diabetes during pregnancy.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis: The Role of Hypoxia, Gut Microbiome, and Microbial Metabolites

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening disease that predominantly affects very low birth weight preterm infants. Development of NEC in preterm infants is accompanied by high mortality. Surgical treatment of NEC can be complicated by short bowel syndrome, intestinal failure, parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease, and neurodevelopmental delay. Issues surrounding pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of NEC remain unclear. This review summarizes data on prenatal risk factors for NEC, the role of pre-eclampsia, and intrauterine growth retardation in the pathogenesis of NEC. The role of hypoxia in NEC is discussed. Recent data on the role of the intestinal microbiome in the development of NEC, and features of the metabolome that can serve as potential biomarkers, are presented. The Pseudomonadota phylum is known to be associated with NEC in preterm neonates, and the role of other bacteria and their metabolites in NEC pathogenesis is also discussed. The most promising approaches for preventing and treating NEC are summarized.