Administration of N-Acyl-Phosphatidylethanolamine Expressing Bacteria to Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-/- Mice Improves Indices of Cardiometabolic Disease

Sci Rep. 2019 Jan 23;9(1):420. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-37373-1.

Abstract

Obesity increases the risk for cardiometabolic diseases. N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs) are precursors of N-acylethanolamides, which are endogenous lipid satiety factors. Incorporating engineered bacteria expressing NAPEs into the gut microbiota retards development of diet induced obesity in wild-type mice. Because NAPEs can also exert anti-inflammatory effects, we hypothesized that administering NAPE-expressing bacteria to low-density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr)-/- mice fed a Western diet would improve various indices of cardiometabolic disease manifested by these mice. NAPE-expressing E. coli Nissle 1917 (pNAPE-EcN), control Nissle 1917 (pEcN), or vehicle (veh) were given via drinking water to Ldlr-/- mice for 12 weeks. Compared to pEcN or veh treatment, pNAPE-EcN significantly reduced body weight and adiposity, hepatic triglycerides, fatty acid synthesis genes, and increased expression of fatty acid oxidation genes. pNAPE-EcN also significantly reduced markers for hepatic inflammation and early signs of fibrotic development. Serum cholesterol was reduced with pNAPE-EcN, but atherosclerotic lesion size showed only a non-significant trend for reduction. However, pNAPE-EcN treatment reduced lesion necrosis by 69% indicating an effect on preventing macrophage inflammatory death. Our results suggest that incorporation of NAPE expressing bacteria into the gut microbiota can potentially serve as an adjuvant therapy to retard development of cardiometabolic disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / genetics
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / microbiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / prevention & control
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development*
  • Fatty Acids / genetics
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis* / genetics
  • Liver Cirrhosis* / metabolism
  • Liver Cirrhosis* / microbiology
  • Liver Cirrhosis* / prevention & control
  • Mice
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / biosynthesis*
  • Receptors, LDL / deficiency*
  • Triglycerides / genetics
  • Triglycerides / metabolism

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines
  • Receptors, LDL
  • Triglycerides