Multi-omics analyses reveal that hesperidin ameliorates high-altitude pulmonary hypertension by restoring gut-lung axis homeostasis.

BACKGROUND

Currently, conventional therapies for pulmonary hypertension have limited efficacy in treating high-altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH). Hesperidin, a bioactive flavonoid known for its multiple pharmacological activities, has not been explored against HAPH.

PURPOSE

To elucidate the therapeutic effects of hesperidin on hypoxia-induced HAPH in Sprague-Dawley rats and explore its pharmacological mechanisms.

STUDY DESIGN

An in vivo study was conducted by administering hesperidin to hypoxia-exposed rats, while in vitro investigations were performed using lipopolysaccharide-treated C57BL/6 mouse intestinal organoids and hypoxia-exposed Caco-2 cells.

METHODS

The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), wall thickness percentage (WT %), and wall area percentage (WA %) were measured to evaluate disease progression. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Intestinal barrier integrity was assessed by histopathology and western blot. Inflammatory markers were measured in mouse intestinal organoids and hypoxia-exposed Caco-2 cells via western blot. Serum inflammatory cytokines were quantified using ELISA. Metabolomics profiling identified changes in serum metabolites, which were validated by ELISA. Transcriptomics was performed to detect gene expression changes in lung tissue, with protein expression confirmed by western blot. Finally, an integrated multi-omics analysis was conducted to elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the hesperidin-mediated amelioration of HAPH.

RESULTS

Hesperidin significantly attenuated mPAP, WA %, and WT %. Notably, hesperidin modulated the composition of the gut microbiota, specifically decreasing Eggerthellaceae and increasing Christensenellaceae abundance. Moreover, it reduced the expression of Occludin, Notch1, p-NF-κB/NF-κB, and TNF-α in intestinal tissues, with similar reductions observed in organoids and Caco-2 cells (except Occludin). Additinaly, hesperindin decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in serum. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and choline-related metabolites, such as choline, total lysophosphatidylcholines, glycerophosphocholine, and trimethylamine N-oxide, were also decreased and confirmed by ELISA. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that hesperidin suppressed Egfr, Fos, and Wasf1 pulmonary expression. Western blotting verified that hesperidin reduced the protein expression of EGFR, c-Fos, and WASF1. Integrated multi-omics analysis established significant correlations among gut microbiota alterations, choline metabolism changes, and pulmonary gene expression patterns.

CONCLUSION

This work is the first to demonstrate that hesperidin exerts protective effects against HAPH by modulating the gut-lung axis-restructuring microbiota, reducing intestinal inflammation, modulating choline metabolism, and normalizing pulmonary gene expression-suggesting therapeutic potential.