Imidazole propionate: Cause and cure in atherosclerosis?

Chen, Xiangqi; Tang, Xiaoqiang; Li, Yanping; He, Jinhan · Cell Metab · 2025

Level V

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Abstract

Atherosclerosis remains the leading type of cardiovascular disease, yet its pathogenesis is not completely understood, hindering the development of effective early diagnostics and therapeutics. Recent work by Mastrangelo et al. in Nature has identified a novel driver of atherosclerosis, the gut microbiota-derived metabolite imidazole propionate, which triggers atherosclerosis via the imidazoline-1 receptor in myeloid cells.

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