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Benson TW, Conrad KA, Li XS, Wang Z, Helsley RN, Schugar RC, Coughlin TM, Wadding-Lee C, Fleifil S, Russell HM, Stone T, Brooks M, Buffa JA, Mani K, Björck M, Wanhainen A, Sangwan N, Biddinger S, Bhandari R, Ademoya A, Pascual C, Tang WW, Tranter M, Cameron SJ, Brown JM, Hazen SL, Owens AP. Gut Microbiota-Derived Trimethylamine N-Oxide Contributes to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Through Inflammatory and Apoptotic Mechanisms. Circulation 2023; 147:1079-1096. [PMID: 37011073 PMCID: PMC10071415 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.122.060573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Large-scale human and mechanistic mouse studies indicate a strong relationship between the microbiome-dependent metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and several cardiometabolic diseases. This study aims to investigate the role of TMAO in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and target its parent microbes as a potential pharmacological intervention. METHODS TMAO and choline metabolites were examined in plasma samples, with associated clinical data, from 2 independent patient cohorts (N=2129 total). Mice were fed a high-choline diet and underwent 2 murine AAA models, angiotensin II infusion in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (Ldlr-/-) mice or topical porcine pancreatic elastase in C57BL/6J mice. Gut microbial production of TMAO was inhibited through broad-spectrum antibiotics, targeted inhibition of the gut microbial choline TMA lyase (CutC/D) with fluoromethylcholine, or the use of mice genetically deficient in flavin monooxygenase 3 (Fmo3-/-). Finally, RNA sequencing of in vitro human vascular smooth muscle cells and in vivo mouse aortas was used to investigate how TMAO affects AAA. RESULTS Elevated TMAO was associated with increased AAA incidence and growth in both patient cohorts studied. Dietary choline supplementation augmented plasma TMAO and aortic diameter in both mouse models of AAA, which was suppressed with poorly absorbed oral broad-spectrum antibiotics. Treatment with fluoromethylcholine ablated TMAO production, attenuated choline-augmented aneurysm initiation, and halted progression of an established aneurysm model. In addition, Fmo3-/- mice had reduced plasma TMAO and aortic diameters and were protected from AAA rupture compared with wild-type mice. RNA sequencing and functional analyses revealed choline supplementation in mice or TMAO treatment of human vascular smooth muscle cells-augmented gene pathways associated with the endoplasmic reticulum stress response, specifically the endoplasmic reticulum stress kinase PERK. CONCLUSIONS These results define a role for gut microbiota-generated TMAO in AAA formation through upregulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related pathways in the aortic wall. In addition, inhibition of microbiome-derived TMAO may serve as a novel therapeutic approach for AAA treatment where none currently exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler W. Benson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Health & Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
| | - Kelsey A. Conrad
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Health & Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
| | - Xinmin S. Li
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Center for Microbiome & Human Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Zeneng Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Center for Microbiome & Human Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Robert N. Helsley
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Rebecca C. Schugar
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Taylor M. Coughlin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Health & Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
| | - Caris Wadding-Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Health & Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
| | - Salma Fleifil
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Health & Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
| | - Hannah M. Russell
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Health & Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
| | - Timothy Stone
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
| | - Michael Brooks
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Health & Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Buffa
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Center for Microbiome & Human Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Kevin Mani
- Section of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Martin Björck
- Section of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Wanhainen
- Section of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Naseer Sangwan
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Center for Microbiome & Human Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Sudha Biddinger
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rohan Bhandari
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hearth, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Akiirayi Ademoya
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Crystal Pascual
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - W.H. Wilson Tang
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Center for Microbiome & Human Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hearth, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Michael Tranter
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Health & Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
| | - Scott J. Cameron
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hearth, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - J. Mark Brown
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Center for Microbiome & Human Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Stanley L. Hazen
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Learner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Center for Microbiome & Human Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hearth, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - A. Phillip Owens
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Health & Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
- Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0542, USA
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