Role of the Gut Microbiome in Obstructive Sleep Apnea–Induced Hypertension. Issue 2 (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Durgan, David J.; Ganesh, Bhanu P.; Cope, Julia L.; Ajami, Nadim J.; Phillips, Sharon C.; Petrosino, Joseph F.; Hollister, Emily B.; Bryan, Robert M.
• Is Part Of: Hypertension. Volume 67:Issue 2(2016:Feb.)
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: butyrates -- dysbiosis -- hypertension -- microbiota -- obstructive sleep apnea; Hypertension -- Periodicals; Hypertension -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 616.132005
• DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.115.06672
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0194-911X

Abstract

Abstract : Individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk for systemic hypertension. The importance of a healthy gut microbiota, and detriment of a dysbiotic microbiota, on host physiology is becoming increasingly evident. We tested the hypothesis that gut dysbiosis contributes to hypertension observed with OSA. OSA was modeled in rats by inflating a tracheal balloon during the sleep cycle (10-s inflations, 60 per hour). On normal chow diet, OSA had no effect on blood pressure; however, in rats fed a high-fat diet, blood pressure increased 24 and 29 mm Hg after 7 and 14 days of OSA, respectively ( P <0.05 each). Bacterial community characterization was performed on fecal pellets isolated before and after 14 days of OSA in chow and high-fat fed rats. High-fat diet and OSA led to significant alterations of the gut microbiota, including decreases in bacterial taxa known to produce the short chain fatty acid butyrate ( P <0.05). Finally, transplant of dysbiotic cecal contents from hypertensive OSA rats on high-fat diet into OSA recipient rats on normal chow diet (shown to be normotensive) resulted in hypertension similar to that of the donor (increased 14 and 32 mm Hg after 7 and 14 days of OSA, respectively; P <0.05). These studies demonstrate a causal relationship between gut dysbiosis and hypertension, and suggest that manipulation of the microbiota may be a viable treatment for OSA-induced, and possibly other forms of, hypertension. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.