Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Reduces Plasma Lipopolysaccharide and Inhibits Atherosclerosis

Abstract Background The gut microbiota is related to the occurrence and development of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the specific target of gut microbiota in preventing CAD is rarely reported. The aim of this study was to identify important specific targets through metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics and to verify their relationships with atherosclerosis. Methods A total of 371 participants with CAD of varying severity and controls without CAD were recruited. Then, metagenomic sequencing and untargeted metabolite sequencing were used to search for important markers in faecal samples. Mice predisposed to atherosclerosis were then used to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between these species and atherosclerosis. Results The results of faecal metagenomics sequencing and untargeted metabolite sequencing in the CAD group and control group showed that the population with a high abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii(F. prausnitzii) had the lowest incidence of CAD, and random forest importance analysis also revealed the relationship between F. prausnitzii and CAD. Moreover, we also found that F. prausnitzii was equally effective in predicting CAD alone. F. prausnitzii reduced the formation of atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE−/− mice by gavage. The mechanism involves reduction of the synthesis level of intestinal LPS and improvement of intestinal permeability by strengthening the mechanical barrier and mucosal barrier to reduce the level of plasma LPS, leading to systemic inflammation and local inflammatory reactions in the aorta, thus achieving an anti-atherosclerotic effect. Conclusions Sequencing of the samples identified a previously unknown link between specific gut microbiota and atherosclerosis. Treatment with F. prausnitzii may help prevent CAD.