Inulin Diet Alleviates Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm by Increasing Akkermansia and Improving Intestinal Barrier
Shuang Guo,
Fen Yang,
Jiyu Zhang,
Yuhan Liao,
Ni Xia,
Tingting Tang,
Chaolong Wang,
Qing K. Wang,
Chen Chen,
Desheng Hu,
Zhilei Shan,
Xiang Cheng
Affiliations
Shuang Guo
Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Fen Yang
Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Jiyu Zhang
Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Yuhan Liao
Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Ni Xia
Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Tingting Tang
Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Chaolong Wang
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Qing K. Wang
Center for Human Genome Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Chen Chen
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Desheng Hu
Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Zhilei Shan
Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Xiang Cheng
Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Background/Objectives: Previous studies have shown varying efficacy of high-fiber diets containing different ingredients in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). This study aimed to identify which high-fiber diet protects against AAA in mice and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: This study compared inulin, cellulose, and chow diets in terms of their impact on aneurysm enlargement, elastin degradation, matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 expressions, CD3+ T cell and CD68+ macrophage infiltration, and macrophage differentiation. It also examined gut microbiota composition, focusing on Akkermansia, and evaluated intestinal barrier function and systemic inflammatory response. Results: The inulin diet, but not the cellulose diet, compared with the chow diet, reduced aneurysm enlargement, elastin degradation, matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 expressions, CD3+ T cell and CD68+ macrophage infiltration, and skewed macrophage towards M2 differentiation. The inulin diet enriched Akkermansia in both the small and large intestine. The inulin diet also enhanced the intestinal barrier by augmenting goblet cells, upregulating the gene related to the epithelial barrier and antibacterial peptides in the small intestine, and reducing circulating lipopolysaccharide and interleukin-1β levels. The inulin diet lowered the proportion of Ly6Chi monocytes and C-C chemokine receptor 2 expression on these cells in the bone marrow, reducing aneurysm infiltration. Administering Akkermansia to AAA mice decreased intestinal permeability and mitigated AAA. Conclusions: A diet rich in fermentable fiber inulin, as opposed to cellulose, alleviates AAA in mice. This beneficial effect is attributed to the enhanced presence of Akkermansia bacteria and improvement of the intestinal barrier.
