Protection effect of gut microbiota composition and acetate absorption against hypertension-induced damages on the longevity population in Guangxi, China.

INTRODUCTION

Recent evidence supports a role for the gut microbe-metabolites in longevity. However, the phenomenon of hypertension is more common in the longevity area and whether hypertension is associated with longevity remains unclear. Here, we hypothesize that the levels of gut microbiota, SCFAs, and urine metabolites were different between hypertension elderly and hypertension longevity.

METHODS

We recruited 46 elderly volunteers from Donglan County, Guangxi, and 32 were selected and included in the experiment. The subjects with hypertension were divided into two groups according to age, Hypertension Elderly (HTE, aged 70.5 ± 8.59, = 19) and Hypertension Longevity (HTL, aged 100 ± 5.72, = 13). The gut microbiota, SCFAs, and urine metabolites were determined by three-generation 16S rRNA full-length sequencing, GC-MS, and H-NMR, respectively.

RESULTS

Compared with the HTL group, the HTE group had higher levels of hypertension-related genera and , while having lower levels of the SCFA-producing genera , , and . Based on LEFse analysis, , , , and were biomarkers that showed significant differences between the groups. In addition, the microbial pathways associated with and may promote hypertension, while may play a role in reversing the development of hypertension in long-lived elderly. Metabolomics revealed that HTL contained a lower concentration of fecal acetate and propionate than HTE, while it contained a higher concentration of serum acetate and urine acetate. Furthermore, their immune cells exhibited no significant changes in SCFAs receptors.

CONCLUSION

Although long-lived elderly have extremely high systolic blood pressure, their unique gut microbiota composition and efficient acetate absorption in the colon may offset the damages caused by hypertension and maintain healthy homeostasis.