title: Probiotic mixture VSL#3 reduce high fat diet induced vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis in ApoE(-/-) mice.
abstract: Atherosclerosis results from chronic inflammation potentially caused by translocation of bacterial components from the oro-gastrointestinal tract to circulation. Specific probiotics have anti-inflammatory effects and may reduce bacterial translocation. We thereby tested whether a probiotic mixture with documented anti-inflammatory potential could reduce atherosclerosis. ApoE(-/-) mice were fed high fat diet alone or with VSL#3 or a positive control treatment, telmisartan or both for 12 weeks. All treatments reduced atherosclerotic plaques significantly compared to high fat diet alone. VSL#3 significantly reduced proinflammatory adhesion molecules and risk factors of plaque rupture, reduced vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis to a comparable extent to telmisartan; and VSL#3 treated mice had the most distinctly different intestinal microbiota composition from the control groups. Combining the VSL#3 and telmisartan brought no further benefits. Our findings showed the therapeutic potential of VSL#3 in reducing atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation.
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Yee Kwan
authors: YK
authors: Chan
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Hani
authors: H
authors: El-Nezami
authors: Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Kristiina
authors: K
authors: Kinnunen
authors: Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. pirkka.kirjavainen@thl.fi.|Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 95, 70701, Kuopio, Finland. pirkka.kirjavainen@thl.fi.
authors: Pirkka V
authors: PV
authors: Kirjavainen
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Gut microbiota; VSL#3; Vascular inflammation