The aim of this study was to explore the impact of chronic apical periodontitis (CAP) on atherosclerosis in apoE^−/− mice fed high-fat diet (HFD). This investigation focused on the gut microbiota, metabolites, and intestinal barrier function to uncover potential links between oral health and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this study, CAP was shown to exacerbate atherosclerosis in HFD-fed apoE^−/− mice, as evidenced by the increase in plaque size and volume in the aortic walls observed via Oil Red O staining. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed significant alterations in the gut microbiota, with harmful bacterial species thriving while beneficial species declining. Metabolomic profiling indicated disruptions in lipid metabolism and primary bile acid synthesis, leading to elevated levels of taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA), taurocholic acid (TCA), and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TDCA). These metabolic shifts may contribute to atherosclerosis development. Furthermore, impaired intestinal barrier function, characterized by reduced mucin expression and disrupted tight junction proteins, was observed. The increased intestinal permeability observed was positively correlated with the severity of atherosclerotic lesions, highlighting the importance of the intestinal barrier in cardiovascular health. In conclusion, this research underscores the intricate interplay among oral health, gut microbiota composition, metabolite profiles, and CVD incidence. These findings emphasize the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene as a potential preventive measure against cardiovascular issues, as well as the need for further investigations into the intricate mechanisms linking oral health, gut microbiota, and metabolic pathways in CVD development.

本研究的目的是探讨慢性根尖周炎 (CAP) 对喂食高脂饮食 (HFD) 的 apoE ^−/−小鼠动脉粥样硬化的影响。这项研究重点关注肠道微生物群、代谢物和肠道屏障功能，以揭示口腔健康与心血管疾病 (CVD) 之间的潜在联系。在这项研究中，CAP 会加剧 HFD 喂养的 apoE ^−/−小鼠的动脉粥样硬化，通过油红 O 染色观察到主动脉壁斑块大小和体积的增加就证明了这一点。 16S rRNA 测序揭示了肠道微生物群的显着变化，有害细菌种类大量繁殖，而有益细菌种类减少。代谢组学分析表明脂质代谢和初级胆汁酸合成受到破坏，导致牛磺鹅去氧胆酸 (TCDCA)、牛磺胆酸 (TCA) 和牛磺熊去氧胆酸 (TDCA) 水平升高。这些代谢变化可能有助于动脉粥样硬化的发展。此外，还观察到肠道屏障功能受损，其特征是粘蛋白表达减少和紧密连接蛋白破坏。观察到的肠道通透性增加与动脉粥样硬化病变的严重程度呈正相关，凸显了肠道屏障在心血管健康中的重要性。总之，这项研究强调了口腔健康、肠道微生物群组成、代谢物特征和 CVD 发病率之间复杂的相互作用。这些发现强调了保持良好口腔卫生作为预防心血管问题的潜在预防措施的重要性，以及需要进一步研究口腔健康、肠道微生物群和心血管疾病发展中代谢途径之间的复杂机制。