Open AccessRelative variations of gut microbiota in disordered cholesterol metabolism caused by high‐cholesterol diet and host genetics
Author(s) -
Bo Tao,
Shao Shanshan,
Wu Dongming,
Niu Shaona,
Zhao Jiajun,
Gao Ling
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
microbiologyopen
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.881
H-Index - 36
ISSN - 2045-8827
DOI - 10.1002/mbo3.491
Subject(s) - gut flora , biology , cholesterol , microbiome , feces , genetics , relative species abundance , microbial metabolism , bacteria , cholesterol 7 alpha hydroxylase , metabolism , genetic variation , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , abundance (ecology) , gene , ecology
Recent studies performed provide mechanistic insight into effects of the microbiota on cholesterol metabolism, but less focus was given to how cholesterol impacts the gut microbiota. In this study, ApoE −/− Sprague Dawley ( SD ) rats and their wild‐type counterparts ( n = 12) were, respectively, allocated for two dietary condition groups (normal chow and high‐cholesterol diet). Total 16S rDNA of fecal samples were extracted and sequenced by high‐throughput sequencing to determine differences in microbiome composition. Data were collected and performed diversity analysis and phylogenetic analysis. The influence of cholesterol on gut microbiota was discussed by using cholesterol dietary treatment as exogenous cholesterol disorder factor and genetic modification as endogenous metabolic disorder factor. Relative microbial variations were compared to illustrate the causality and correlation of cholesterol and gut microbiota. It turned out comparing to genetically modified rats, exogenous cholesterol intake may play more effective role in changing gut microbiota profile, although the serum cholesterol level of genetically modified rats was even higher. Relative abundance of some representative species showed that the discrepancies due to dietary variation were more obvious, whereas some low abundance species changed because of genetic disorders. Our results partially demonstrated that gut microbiota are relatively more sensitive to dietary variation. Nevertheless, considering the important effect of bacteria in cholesterol metabolism, the influence to gut flora by “genetically caused cholesterol disorder” cannot be overlooked. Manipulation of gut microbiota might be an effective target for preventing cholesterol‐related metabolic disorders.