New research has been published in the journal “Cell Host & Microbe” which highlights a strong connection between gut microbes and atherosclerosis, while identifying a cluster of genes responsible for breaking down uric acid in the gut. This work, led by Federico Rey, a professor of bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, marks a significant step forward in understanding how bacterial metabolism influences host biology, as well as providing new insights into how gut microbes impact heart health.
Uric acid is produced in the body as a result of the breakdown of purines, which include molecules essential to life such as DNA, as well as indulgences like caffeine and theobromine found in chocolate and tea leaves. The renal system regulates uric acid levels in the body, but around 30% of it spills into the gut. The work by Rey and his colleagues found that a cluster of genes present in many types of bacteria is necessary to break down the purines and uric acid in the gut. Using faecal transplants in mice, the researchers found that the mice who received microbes from donors with plaque-heavy arteries and higher levels of uric acid in their blood developed the same conditions. Meanwhile, mice that received microbes from donors with less uric acid and clearer blood vessels showed improvements in both measures. As Rey explains: “That led us to a cluster of genes, found across many different types of bacteria, necessary to break down purines and uric acid in the intestine. When these purine-degrading microbes were using uric acid in the gut for their own needs, there was less uric acid present in the blood of mice.”
The research has significantly advanced our understanding of how gut microbes affect heart health, as too much uric acid is correlated with atherosclerosis – a condition where plaque builds up in the arteries. Rey believes that introducing the purine-eating bacteria found through this study could potentially help to correct cardiovascular disease and gout, although this is not yet certain. “It’s very premature to say introducing them in people could help them with cardiovascular disease or even gout. But we have a new understanding of one way the gut microbiome modulates the abundance of this inflammatory compound, and that may point the way to new treatments,” he says.
As such, this study offers exciting new avenues for healthcare research and treatment. By identifying a genetic marker of uric acid breakdown in the gut, researchers may be able to explore ways to combat cardiovascular disease and gout in the future.
