Cited by 195Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular DiseasesCholesterol and Lipid MetabolismGut microbiota and health

L-Carnitine intake and high trimethylamine N-oxide plasma levels correlate with low aortic lesions in ApoE−/− transgenic mice expressing CETP

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Collins, Heidi L., Drazul-Schrader, Denise, Sulpizio, Anthony C., Koster, Paul D., Williamson, Yuping, Adelman, Steven J., Owen, Kevin, Sanli, Toran +1 more·2016·Atherosclerosis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Dietary l-carnitine can be metabolized by intestinal microbiota to trimethylamine, which is absorbed by the gut and further oxidized to trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in the liver. TMAO plasma levels have been associated with atherosclerosis development in ApoE(-/-) mice. To better understand the mechanisms behind this association, we conducted in vitro and in vivo studies looking at the effect of TMAO on different steps of atherosclerotic disease progression. METHODS: J774 mouse macrophage cells were used to evaluate the effect of TMAO on foam cell formation. Male ApoE(-/-) mice transfected with human cholesteryl ester transfer protein (hCETP) were fed l-carnitine and/or methimazole, a flavin monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) inhibitor that prevents the formation of TMAO. Following 12 week treatment, l-carnitine and TMAO plasma levels, aortic lesion development, and lipid profiles were determined. RESULTS: TMAO at concentrations up to 10-fold the Cmax reported in humans did not affect in vitro foam cell formation. In ApoE(-/-)mice expressing hCETP, high doses of l-carnitine resulted in a significant increase in plasma TMAO levels. Surprisingly, and independently from treatment group, TMAO levels inversely correlated with aortic lesion size in both aortic root and thoracic aorta. High TMAO levels were found to significantly correlate with smaller aortic lesion area. Plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels did not change with treatment nor with TMAO levels, suggesting that the observed effects on lesion area were independent from lipid changes. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that TMAO slows aortic lesion formation in this mouse model and may have a protective effect against atherosclerosis development in humans.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.10.108

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  • TMAO shows positive effects against atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− transgenic mice expressing cholesteryl ester transfer protein CETP.

    “even TMAO showed positive effects against atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− transgenic mice expressing cholesteryl ester transfer protein CETP [70].”
  • Feeding L-carnitine to Apoe-/- transgenic mice overexpressing human CETP increased plasma TMAO.

    “Feeding L-carnitine to Apo e -/- transgenic mice overexpressing human cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) caused increased plasma TMAO concentrations in these mice, but this elevated TMAO was inversely correlated with aortic lesion size (31).”
  • The effects of TMAO on atherogenesis are completely opposite in Apoe-/- transgenic mice overexpressing human CETP.

    “As discussed above in Section 5.1.2,the effects of TMAO on atherogenesis are completely opposite when Apo e -/-transgenic mice overexpressing human CETP are studied.”
  • In those CETP-overexpressing mice, increased plasma TMAO was inversely correlated with aortic lesion size.

    “In these mice, increased plasma TMAO concentrations were inversely correlated with aortic lesion size (31).”
  • In those CETP-overexpressing mice, elevated TMAO was inversely correlated with aortic lesion size.

    “Feeding L-carnitine to Apo e -/- transgenic mice overexpressing human cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) caused increased plasma TMAO concentrations in these mice, but this elevated TMAO was inversely correlated with aortic lesion size (31).”

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Authors
Collins, H. L., Drazul-Schrader, D., Sulpizio, A. C., Koster, P. D., Williamson, Y., Adelman, S. J., Owen, K., Sanli, T., & Bellamine, A.
Affiliations
  • Lonza (United States) (US)
  • KGK Synergize (Canada) (CA)
Corresponding author
Bellamine, Aouatef
Venue
Atherosclerosis
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-01
Volume
244
Pages
29-37
ISSN
0021-9150 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2211887163
Cited by
189
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 12
FWCI
7.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Atherosclerosis (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
Keywords
L-carnitine, trimethylamine N-oxide, aortic lesions, ApoE-deficient mice, cholesteryl ester transfer protein, methimazole, flavin monooxygenase 3, gut microbiota, foam cell formation, macrophages
MeSH terms
Animals, Apolipoproteins E, Carnitine, Cells, Cultured, Disease Models, Animal, Humans, Macrophages, Male, Methylamines, Mice, Knockout, Disease Progression, Atherosclerosis, Mice, Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins

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