The hereditary form of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM), referred to as hATTR, is caused by a mutation in the TTR gene. However, not everyone with this gene change shows the same symptoms. A recent study published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum suggests that the gut microbiome might also affect how the disease develops.
Our guts are home to trillions of bacteria and other microbes, which collectively form the gut microbiome. These microbes do more than help digest food — they also produce substances that affect our brains, immune systems and metabolism.
In the study, researchers compared blood and stool samples from 13 people with hATTR to those from 22 healthy individuals. They found clear differences. People with hATTR had lower levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and taurine in their blood, and the lowest levels were seen in those who had heart problems related to the disease. GABA is a calming chemical that helps regulate mood and inflammation. Taurine is known for its heart-protective effects.
The study also found that several beneficial gut bacteria — such as Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Lactobacillus rogosae, and Hungatella hathewayi — were significantly reduced in hATTR patients.
The researchers believe that these changes in gut bacteria might be helping drive the disease by disrupting important chemical pathways that affect GABA and taurine levels.
Read more about ATTR-CM causes and risk factors
“To our knowledge, this study represents the first comprehensive integration of gut microbiome and serum metabolome analyses in hATTR,” the researchers said.
By showing that the gut microbiome may play a bigger role in hATTR than previously thought, the study opens the door to new research that could help scientists better understand the disease and develop new ways to treat it. Treatments that focus on the gut microbiome could one day help manage hATTR symptoms or slow down its progression.
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