<i>Clostridium butyricum</i> Ameliorates Atherosclerosis by Regulating Host Linoleic Acid Metabolism

Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is strongly implicated in atherosclerosis (AS), thus prompting microbial modulation to be explored as a therapeutic strategy. However, limited evidence exists for probiotic interventions capable of alleviating AS. Here, we focused on <i>Clostridium butyricum<...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chao Yin, Peizhi Fan, Xiangyu Mou, Wenjing Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1220
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Summary:Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is strongly implicated in atherosclerosis (AS), thus prompting microbial modulation to be explored as a therapeutic strategy. However, limited evidence exists for probiotic interventions capable of alleviating AS. Here, we focused on <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> (<i>C. butyricum</i>; CB), a probiotic known for its production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). We found that administration of <i>C. butyricum</i> to high-fat diet (HFD)-fed <i>Apoe</i> deficient (<i>Apoe<sup>−/−</sup></i>) mice reduced plaque area by improving blood lipid profiles, decreasing macrophage infiltration in the aortic roots, and lowering the levels of circulating pro-inflammatory monocytes and macrophages. By non-targeted serum metabolomics analysis, <i>C. butyricum</i> treatment significantly reduced the levels of both linoleic acid and its downstream metabolites. Collectively, these findings establish <i>C. butyricum</i>-mediated amelioration of AS through modulation of linoleic acid metabolism.
ISSN:2076-2607