The gut microbiota metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide promotes cardiac hypertrophy by activating the autophagic degradation of SERCA2a

Abstract Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) is a newly found intestinal microbiota metabolite. Here, we aimed to explore the effects of TMAO on calcium homeostasis and its implication in cardiac hypertrophy, especially focusing on the regulatory mechanism of TMAO on the key calcium transporter SERCA2a. Ech...

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Main Authors: Dongyu Lei, Yi Liu, Yuan Liu, Yujie Jiang, Yuyan Lei, Feilong Zhao, Wenqun Li, Zhonghua Ouyang, Lulu Chen, Siyuan Tang, Dongsheng Ouyang, Xiaohui Li, Ying Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08016-9
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author Dongyu Lei
Yi Liu
Yuan Liu
Yujie Jiang
Yuyan Lei
Feilong Zhao
Wenqun Li
Zhonghua Ouyang
Lulu Chen
Siyuan Tang
Dongsheng Ouyang
Xiaohui Li
Ying Li
author_facet Dongyu Lei
Yi Liu
Yuan Liu
Yujie Jiang
Yuyan Lei
Feilong Zhao
Wenqun Li
Zhonghua Ouyang
Lulu Chen
Siyuan Tang
Dongsheng Ouyang
Xiaohui Li
Ying Li
author_sort Dongyu Lei
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) is a newly found intestinal microbiota metabolite. Here, we aimed to explore the effects of TMAO on calcium homeostasis and its implication in cardiac hypertrophy, especially focusing on the regulatory mechanism of TMAO on the key calcium transporter SERCA2a. Echocardiography and histological assessment showed that mice fed with TMAO or Choline for 8 weeks exhibited significant pathological changes of cardiac hypertrophy, which is accompanied by increased plasma levels of TMAO. The results indicated that TMAO could increase the intracellular Ca2+ level, up-regulate the expression of ANP and MYH7, and down-regulate SERCA2a expression, which could be reversed by overexpressing of SERCA2a and BAPTA-AM. Meanwhile, TMAO treatment promotes autophagy in vitro and in vivo. By employing immunofluorescence staining and immunoprecipitation assay, it was found that SERCA2a bound to ATG5 and transported to autophagosomes via the ATG5 complex for degradation under TMAO conditions. Furthermore, either 3MA or siATG5 could ameliorate TMAO-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and SERCA2a degradation. Finally, in vivo intervention showed that 3MA could relieve cardiac hypertrophy and rescue the down-regulation of SERCA2a in TMAO-fed mice. The current study identifies a mechanism in which TMAO promotes cardiac hypertrophy via elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels and enhanced autophagy degradation of SERCA2a.
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spelling doaj-art-d4fc82c8094941a6bd9d889a9d44e7642025-08-20T02:17:02ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-04-018111410.1038/s42003-025-08016-9The gut microbiota metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide promotes cardiac hypertrophy by activating the autophagic degradation of SERCA2aDongyu Lei0Yi Liu1Yuan Liu2Yujie Jiang3Yuyan Lei4Feilong Zhao5Wenqun Li6Zhonghua Ouyang7Lulu Chen8Siyuan Tang9Dongsheng Ouyang10Xiaohui Li11Ying Li12Department of Health Management, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Health Management, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Health Management, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South UniversityDepartment of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityHunan Key Laboratory for Bioanalysis of Complex Matrix Samples, Changsha Duxact Biotech Co., Ltd.Hunan Key Laboratory for Bioanalysis of Complex Matrix Samples, Changsha Duxact Biotech Co., Ltd.Xiangya Nursing School, Central South UniversityHunan Key Laboratory for Bioanalysis of Complex Matrix Samples, Changsha Duxact Biotech Co., Ltd.Department of Pharmacology, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South UniversityDepartment of Health Management, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityAbstract Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) is a newly found intestinal microbiota metabolite. Here, we aimed to explore the effects of TMAO on calcium homeostasis and its implication in cardiac hypertrophy, especially focusing on the regulatory mechanism of TMAO on the key calcium transporter SERCA2a. Echocardiography and histological assessment showed that mice fed with TMAO or Choline for 8 weeks exhibited significant pathological changes of cardiac hypertrophy, which is accompanied by increased plasma levels of TMAO. The results indicated that TMAO could increase the intracellular Ca2+ level, up-regulate the expression of ANP and MYH7, and down-regulate SERCA2a expression, which could be reversed by overexpressing of SERCA2a and BAPTA-AM. Meanwhile, TMAO treatment promotes autophagy in vitro and in vivo. By employing immunofluorescence staining and immunoprecipitation assay, it was found that SERCA2a bound to ATG5 and transported to autophagosomes via the ATG5 complex for degradation under TMAO conditions. Furthermore, either 3MA or siATG5 could ameliorate TMAO-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and SERCA2a degradation. Finally, in vivo intervention showed that 3MA could relieve cardiac hypertrophy and rescue the down-regulation of SERCA2a in TMAO-fed mice. The current study identifies a mechanism in which TMAO promotes cardiac hypertrophy via elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels and enhanced autophagy degradation of SERCA2a.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08016-9
spellingShingle Dongyu Lei
Yi Liu
Yuan Liu
Yujie Jiang
Yuyan Lei
Feilong Zhao
Wenqun Li
Zhonghua Ouyang
Lulu Chen
Siyuan Tang
Dongsheng Ouyang
Xiaohui Li
Ying Li
The gut microbiota metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide promotes cardiac hypertrophy by activating the autophagic degradation of SERCA2a
Communications Biology
title The gut microbiota metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide promotes cardiac hypertrophy by activating the autophagic degradation of SERCA2a
title_full The gut microbiota metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide promotes cardiac hypertrophy by activating the autophagic degradation of SERCA2a
title_fullStr The gut microbiota metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide promotes cardiac hypertrophy by activating the autophagic degradation of SERCA2a
title_full_unstemmed The gut microbiota metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide promotes cardiac hypertrophy by activating the autophagic degradation of SERCA2a
title_short The gut microbiota metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide promotes cardiac hypertrophy by activating the autophagic degradation of SERCA2a
title_sort gut microbiota metabolite trimethylamine n oxide promotes cardiac hypertrophy by activating the autophagic degradation of serca2a
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08016-9
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