INTERACTION BETWEEN GUT MICROBIOTA AND RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM: IMPACT ON ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY-INDUCED DYSBIOSE IN MICE CARDIAC PROTEOME

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is an important modulator of the cardiovascular system. It is composed by the classical and protective axes, whose deregulation can induce cardiac hypertrophy, inflammation, and hypertension. In cardiomyopathies, such as diabetic cardiomyopathy, for example, Angiotensin II(Ang II) levels are increased, which can cause cardiac tissue remodeling and consequent loss of contractile function and, eventually, progress to heart failure. Many studies have demonstrated an interaction between gut microbiota and cardiovascular pathologies. Recent data have shown that “germ-free” animals treated with Ang II did not develop arterial hypertension, reinforcing the idea that the gut microbiota influencesthe cardiovascular system homeostasis, but these mechanisms are still unknown. The hypothesis of this study is that gut microbiota regulates RAS and ultimately the cardiovascular system.