Journal: Nature Communications

Article Title: Gut microbiota-derived metabolite isovalerylcarnitine modulates salt sensitivity of blood pressure and incident hypertension: a multicenter dietary salt intervention trial

doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-67513-x

Figure Lengend Snippet: a Study scheme of the GenSalt study (n = 226). b Plasma levels of five acylcarnitines between the low-salt and high-salt interventions. Differences in metabolites between groups were tested using linear mixed models, adjusted for the random intercepts of individuals. In each boxplot, the center line indicates the median, the box represents the interquartile range (IQR), the whiskers extend to the minimum and maximum values within 1.5 IQR, and points beyond the whiskers are outliers. c Adjusted mean change in isovalerylcarnitine in SR and extreme SS individuals. Differences in metabolites between groups were tested using linear mixed models, and the adjusted mean changes (least-squares means) were obtained, adjusted for body mass index, smoking, and total cholesterol, and the random intercepts of matches. Data are presented as adjusted means change (95% CI). p -values are two-sided. CI confidence interval; SR salt resistance; SS salt sensitivity; SSBP salt sensitivity of blood pressure.

Article Snippet: Rats in group C received a subcutaneous infusion of isovalerylcarnitine (MedChemExpress, Cat#139144-12-0) dissolved in saline at a dose of 200 μg/kg/d, administered via an osmotic mini-pump for 28 days.

Techniques: Clinical Proteomics

Journal: Nature Communications

Article Title: Gut microbiota-derived metabolite isovalerylcarnitine modulates salt sensitivity of blood pressure and incident hypertension: a multicenter dietary salt intervention trial

doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-67513-x

Figure Lengend Snippet: a Flow chart of the intervention in Wistar rats. b Non-invasive BP level of Wistar rats in the control and HSD groups (n = 15 animals per group). Data are presented as mean (95% CI). c Plasma level of isovalerylcarnitine of Wistar rats in the control and HSD groups (n = 15 animals per group). d Flow chart of the intervention in Dahl SS rats. e Telemetric monitoring BP of Dahl SS rats in the control, HSD, and HSD + isovalerylcarnitine groups (n = 7, 11, 11 animals, respectively). Data are presented as mean (95% CI). f Concentration-response curves of vasodilatation in mesenteric arteries in response to acetylcholine (n = 11, 13, 13 arteries, respectively) and sodium nitroprusside (n = 10, 10, 12 arteries, respectively) in the control, HSD, and HSD + isovalerylcarnitine groups of Dahl SS rats. Data are presented as mean (95% CI). Immunofluorescent staining ( g ) and fluorescence intensity ( h ) of eNOS in the aortas from the control, HSD, and HSD + isovalerylcarnitine groups of Dahl SS rats (n = 7, 11, 11 animals, respectively). i Representative H&E, Masson’s staining, and Sirius Red staining of the aortas and kidneys of Dahl SS rats. j Quantification of tunica media collagen deposition in thoracic aortas from the control, HSD, and HSD + isovalerylcarnitine groups of Dahl SS rats (n = 7, 11, 11 animals, respectively). k Quantification of fibrotic area of the kidney from the control, HSD, and HSD + isovalerylcarnitine groups of Dahl SS rats (n = 7, 11, 11 animals, respectively). Differences in BP and vasodilatation between groups throughout the entire experiment were tested using repeated measurement ANOVA. Differences in metabolites and BP between groups at the end of the experiment were tested using t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test. p -values are two-sided. Scale bar: 50 μm. In each boxplot, the center line indicates the median, the box represents the interquartile range (IQR), the whiskers extend to the minimum and maximum values within 1.5 IQR, and points beyond the whiskers are outliers. ANOVA analysis of variance; BP blood pressure; CI confidence interval; DBP diastolic blood pressure; eNOS endothelial nitric oxide synthase; HSD high-salt diet; NaCl sodium chloride; SBP systolic blood pressure; SS salt sensitivity.

Article Snippet: Rats in group C received a subcutaneous infusion of isovalerylcarnitine (MedChemExpress, Cat#139144-12-0) dissolved in saline at a dose of 200 μg/kg/d, administered via an osmotic mini-pump for 28 days.

Techniques: Control, Clinical Proteomics, Concentration Assay, Staining, Fluorescence

Journal: Nature Communications

Article Title: Gut microbiota-derived metabolite isovalerylcarnitine modulates salt sensitivity of blood pressure and incident hypertension: a multicenter dietary salt intervention trial

doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-67513-x

Figure Lengend Snippet: a Study scheme of the prospective cohort study (n = 3907). b Association between isovalerylcarnitine and hypertension. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate ORs and HRs, respectively, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, work-related physical activity, area, region, smoking status, current drinking, education, dietary score, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and carnitine. Data are presented as OR or HR (95% CI). p -values are two-sided. Before analysis, the concentration of isovalerylcarnitine was normalized, and effect sizes were reported for each standard deviation (0.08 μmol/L) increase in isovalerylcarnitine. The associations of the continuous form and tertiles [T1 (0.03–0.10 μmol/L), T2 (0.11–0.16 μmol/L), and T3 (0.17–0.45 μmol/L)] of isovalerylcarnitine with prevalent hypertension, incident hypertension, and BP status progression were evaluated. For the tertile form, the first tertile (T1) was used as the reference. BP blood pressure; CI confidence interval; DBP diastolic blood pressure; HR hazard ratio; OR odds ratio; SBP systolic blood pressure.

Article Snippet: Rats in group C received a subcutaneous infusion of isovalerylcarnitine (MedChemExpress, Cat#139144-12-0) dissolved in saline at a dose of 200 μg/kg/d, administered via an osmotic mini-pump for 28 days.

Techniques: Activity Assay, Concentration Assay, Standard Deviation