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14 HEALTH AND LABORATORY MAGAZINE

A MOLECULE PRODUCED BY GUT MICROBES

MAY TRIGGER HEART DISEASE

A byproduct left behind after microbes digest a meal
has been linked to early-stage cardiovascular disease.

A small molecule left therapeutic target in the — which lower cholesterol — study participants to “The molecule’s entire
behind by the microbes future. are a mainstay in both the identify those with signs effect is independent
in our gut after a meal prevention and treatment of early cardiovascular of cholesterol,” says Dr.
may open a new door The primary cause of of cardiovascular disease. disease. Such plaques Nemet. The researchers
in the treatment of cardiovascular disease often develop silently and also identified a cellular
cardiovascular disease. is atherosclerosis, the However, high cholesterol are typically detected only receptor that ImP binds
accumulation of fatty and other well-known after symptoms emerge to — and showed that
Some gut microbes plaques on the walls of risk factors don’t explain or a heart attack occurs. blocking this interaction
break down the amino arteries. Dr. Ina Nemet every case. That’s why When the roughly 1,600 halted plaque progression
acid histidine — one of from the Cleveland Clinic scientists have been participants with early in mice.
the building blocks of Lerner Research Institute, searching for additional disease were compared
proteins — and produce who studies the gut causes. According to Dr. to about 600 healthy “If you know the receptor
a small molecule called microbiome and its impact Nemet, “ImP could be individuals — controlling for and the mechanism,”
imidazole propionate on health, says, “When we one of them.” Previous factors like age and family Nemet explains, “you
(ImP). In a new study think of atherosclerosis, the research has linked ImP to history — those with early open up new treatment
published in Nature on first thing that comes to diabetes and advanced disease were found to have pathways.”
July 16, researchers found mind is usually cholesterol cardiovascular disease. higher blood levels of ImP.
that high levels of ImP in — and indeed, cholesterol But the new Nature study Previous studies have
the blood are associated plays a very important not only connects this In mice, the team found also shown that another
with early-stage role.” Cholesterol is one molecule to early-stage that ImP triggered gut microbe byproduct,
cardiovascular disease. of the key components disease in humans, it also inflammation by attracting trimethylamine N-oxide
The international research of these plaques, which, reveals how ImP promotes immune cells to the (TMAO) — which is
team also demonstrated as they grow, narrow the plaque formation in mice — affected areas, which produced after consuming
in mouse models how arteries, reduce blood and how its effects can be then became part of the meat or energy drinks —
ImP contributes to the flow, and cause symptoms blocked. plaques. Remarkably, ImP increases the risk of heart
development of the such as chest pain and did not affect cholesterol disease. ImP may be the
disease, suggesting that it shortness of breath. For The researchers examined levels in the mice. newest link in that chain.
could become a potential this reason, statin drugs vascular imaging from