{
  "id": 13122551,
  "title": "Chronic intestinal inflammation can affect heart through changes in gut microbiota and immune cells, study finds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/chronic-intestinal-inflammation-can-affect-heart-through-changes-in",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-09T13:20:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-10-chronic-intestinal-inflammation-affect-heart.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study reveals that chronic intestinal inflammation can impact heart function via alterations in gut microbiota and immune cells. Researchers at Georgia State University found that an imbalance in gut bacteria associated with chronic colitis leads to cardiac dysfunction in mice. This occurs through metabolic and mitochondrial reprogramming of systemic immune cells. The study, published in Circulation Research, suggests gut microbiota dysbiosis may serve as a potential therapeutic target for reducing cardiovascular risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Increased levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial component, stimulate immune cells to produce GBP1, a protein that promotes immune cell recruitment to the heart. GBP1-containing exosomes, released by cells, can also enter heart cells and contribute to their enlargement. The findings highlight the complex interplay between gut health and heart function, with implications beyond IBD to other infection-associated cardiac injuries.",
  "summary": "Chronic intestinal inflammation drives cardiac dysfunction through a gut microbiota-dependent pathway, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for reducing cardiovascular risk in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a study led by researchers in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University.",
  "key_points": [
    "Chronic intestinal inflammation alters gut microbiota and immune cells",
    "Imbalance in gut bacteria linked to cardiac dysfunction in mice",
    "GBP1 protein promotes immune cell recruitment to the heart"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}