Disabling Gut FXR Cuts Plaque in Sleep‑Apnea Mice
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- Researchers presented the findings at ASM Microbe 2026, highlighting a gut‑heart link in obstructive sleep apnea.
- ApoE knock‑out mice predisposed to atherosclerosis were used as a disease model for the study.
- ApoE/FXR knock‑out mice lacking the farnesoid X receptor showed significantly less arterial plaque in the aorta and aortic arch under sleep‑apnea‑like conditions.
- FXR receptor activation by bile acids was identified as a central driver of plaque buildup during sleep‑apnea‑like exposure.
- Sleep apnea‑like conditions caused smaller disruptions to the gut microbiome and metabolome when FXR was absent.
- Bile acids of interest were pinpointed for future supplementation studies and potential probiotic interventions.
Why it matters: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea could gain a novel treatment avenue that lowers cardiovascular risk, while pharmaceutical firms may pursue FXR‑modulating drugs and probiotic therapies, redirecting research funding toward gut‑microbe based interventions and potentially reducing healthcare costs associated with sleep‑apnea‑related heart disease.
