title: About the gut microbiome as a pharmacological target in atherosclerosis.
abstract: The contribution of intestinal bacterial strains (gut microbiota) in the development of cardiometabolic disease is increasingly recognized as potential diagnostic and pharmacological target. Changes in the intestinal bacterial composition and subsequent altered diversity has been associated with presence of chronic low-grade inflammation of mesenteric visceral adipose tissue, a known feature of malign obesity which can eventually lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, causality still needs to be proven. In this regard, both fecal transplantation studies as well as multiethnic prospective cohorts can help to identify the causally involved driving intestinal bacterial strains in human cardiometabolism. Ultimately, it is expected that novel diagnostic markers as well as therapeutics (pharmabiotics and vaccine strategies) can be developed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Julia J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Witjes
authors.affiliation: VUmc Diabetes Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Free University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: van Raalte
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; VUmc Diabetes Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Free University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Wallenberg Laboratory, University of Gothenberg, Gothenberg, Sweden. Electronic address: m.nieuwdorp@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nieuwdorp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Bacterial translocation; Chronic inflammation; Insulin resistance; Intestinal microbiota; Probiotics; Trained immunity; Vaccination; Visceral adipose tissue