Flavonifractor Plautii or Its Metabolite Desaminotyrosine as Prophylactic Agents for Alleviating Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Abstract Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major contributor to myocardial damage, leading to adverse cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of gut microbiota‐derived metabolites in modulating cardiac outcomes. Here, the cardioprotective effects of a commensal bacterium Flavonifractor plautii (F. plautii) and its metabolite desaminotyrosine (DAT) against myocardial I/R injury are investigated. We showed that prophylactic gavage of F. plautii attenuates myocardial I/R injury as evidenced by improved cardiac function and reduced cardiac injury. We also found that its metabolite DAT recapitulates these cardioprotective effects against myocardial I/R injury. Transcriptomic analysis has revealed that DAT preserves cardiac tissue and attenuates immune responses against myocardial I/R injury. Mechanistically, DAT promotes cardiomyocyte survival through the modulation of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP⁺/NADPH) ratio. Further, DAT suppressed macrophage proinflammatory activities and cardiac inflammation via the reduction in interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) production. Taken together, our findings indicate that F. plautii and its metabolite DAT exert pleiotropic cardioprotective effects against myocardial I/R injury, suggesting them as potential prophylactic therapeutic options for alleviating myocardial I/R injury.