Disruption of the gut fungal community, particularly loss of balanced interaction networks centered on Apiotrichum and related genera, correlates with increased arterial stiffness through metabolite-mediated effects on vascular tone regulators. This connection between mycobiome dysbiosis and vascular aging identifies a previously undercharacterized mechanism linking intestinal fungal ecology to cardiovascular function.
Key Points
- Five fungal genera drive the shift from balanced to dysfunctional fungal networks in arterial stiffn
- Thirty-nine metabolites from fungi target vasoconstriction regulators and adrenergic pathways
- Gut mycobiome composition directly correlates with pulse wave velocity, a marker of vascular aging
Longevity Analysis
Arterial stiffness is a robust predictor of cardiovascular mortality and functional decline. This research reveals that the architecture of the gut fungal community—not merely its diversity—shapes vascular function through metabolite production that influences blood vessel tone and endothelial regulation. The identification of specific fungal drivers and their metabolic outputs provides a mechanistic bridge between a neglected aspect of the microbiota and one of the most consequential markers of aging. Individuals experiencing shifts in their fungal ecosystem away from balanced interaction networks lose a source of compounds that maintain vascular compliance, while their dysbiotic state simultaneously activates pathways that promote constriction and stiffening. This suggests that restoring functional fungal ecology may be as relevant to cardiovascular aging as managing lipids or blood pressure.
Original published by Wiley Aging Cell, by Jiarui Chen, Jialin He, Bingqi Ye, Jialu Yang, Ludi Liu, Jingmeng Ju, Sinan Li, Benjie Li, Min Xia, Yan Liu .