Publications by authors named "Harithaa Anandakumar"
The intestine exhibits distinct characteristics along its length, with a substantial immune cell reservoir and diverse microbiota crucial for maintaining health. This study investigates how anatomical location and regional microbiota influence intestinal immune cell abundance. Using conventionally colonized and germ-free mice, segment-specific immune cell composition and microbial communities were assessed.
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- Metformin, a diabetes medication, appears to offer cardiovascular protection and influences gut microbiota in hypertensive rats.
- In the study, metformin treatment increased short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces, lowered blood pressure, and improved cardiac function, despite some increase in cardiac hypertrophy.
- The research suggests that SCFA levels may mediate the observed anti-inflammatory and blood pressure-lowering effects of metformin, even in the absence of diabetes.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is associated with high mortality and costs, and frequently caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Although prior antimicrobial therapy is a major risk factor for HAP, the underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate that antibiotic therapy in hospitalized patients is associated with decreased diversity of the gut microbiome and depletion of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: Cardiac energy metabolism is centrally involved in heart failure (HF), although the direction of the metabolic alterations is complex and likely dependent on the particular stage of HF progression. Vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B) has been shown to modulate metabolic processes and to induce physiological cardiac hypertrophy; thus, it could be cardioprotective in the failing myocardium. This study investigates the role of VEGF-B in cardiac proteomic and metabolic adaptation in HF during aldosterone and high-salt hypertensive challenges.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEngineered skeletal muscle recapitulates human muscle development, regeneration and dystrophy.
J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle
December 2022
Background: Human pluripotent stem cell-derived muscle models show great potential for translational research. Here, we describe developmentally inspired methods for the derivation of skeletal muscle cells and their utility in skeletal muscle tissue engineering with the aim to model skeletal muscle regeneration and dystrophy in vitro.
Methods: Key steps include the directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells to embryonic muscle progenitors followed by primary and secondary foetal myogenesis into three-dimensional muscle.
Article Synopsis
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) leads to an inflammatory immune response, which is linked to hypertension and cardiovascular issues, potentially due to imbalances in gut bacteria (dysbiosis).
- In a study of 48 children at varying stages of CKD, researchers found signs of inflammation, gut dysfunction, and changes in the gut microbiome, including reduced production of beneficial compounds like short-chain fatty acids.
- The findings suggest that disruptions in gut health and microbial metabolites contribute to an inflammatory immune response in CKD, indicating the significant role of the microbiome in influencing kidney health and associated cardiovascular risks.