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Microbial Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Blood Pressure Regulation

  • Gut Microbiome, Sympathetic Nervous System, and Hypertension (MK Raizada and EM Richards, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Microbial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are byproducts of microbial metabolism which can be absorbed into the bloodstream of the host, where they exert effects on host physiology. SCFAs have been known to influence several aspects of host physiology, including the regulation of blood pressure. In this review, we will consider recent studies linking SCFAs to blood pressure regulation.

Recent Findings

Several recent studies have found that changes in blood pressure often coordinate with expected changes in SCFAS. Efforts are now well underway to dissect and better understand this potential connection. One way that SCFAs can influence host cells is by interacting with host GPCRs, including Gpr41 and Olfr78, among others. Intriguingly, mice null for Olfr78 are hypotensive, whereas mice null for Gpr41 are hypertensive, implying that these pathways may be physiologically important links between SCFAs and host blood pressure control.

Summary

In sum, these studies demonstrate that there does indeed appear to be a link between SCFAs and blood pressure, which likely involves host GPCRs, at least in part; however, the details and intricacies of these interactions are not yet fully understood and will greatly benefit from further studies.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful for support from the NIH NIDDK (R01DK-107726), NIH NHLBI (R01HL-128512), and the AHA (16IRG27260265), and to members of the Pluznick Lab, especially Dr. Niranjana Natarajan, for helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 725 N Wolfe St, WBSB 205, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Jennifer L. Pluznick

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Correspondence to Jennifer L. Pluznick.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Pluznick reports grants from NIH NIDDK (R01DK-107,726), NIH NHLBI (R01HL-128,512), and the AHA (16IRG27260265).

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Gut Microbiome, Sympathetic Nervous System, and Hypertension

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Pluznick, J.L. Microbial Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Blood Pressure Regulation. Curr Hypertens Rep 19, 25 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-017-0722-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-017-0722-5

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