Diversity of oligosaccharides in lipooligosaccharides of Akkermansia muciniphila and its anti-atherosclerotic activity

doi:10.1007/s13659-026-00612-4

Natural Products and Bioprospecting ›› 2026, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (4): 58-58.DOI: 10.1007/s13659-026-00612-4

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Diversity of oligosaccharides in lipooligosaccharides of Akkermansia muciniphila and its anti-atherosclerotic activity

Yuting Zhang^1,2,3, Wang Dong^1,2,3, Jinghan Lin^1,2,3, Jingzu Sun^1,3, Ruopeng Yin^1,2,3, Xun Lv^1,3, Wenzhao Wang¹, Tao Wang^1,3, Hongwei Liu^1,2,3

1. State Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity and Innovative Utilization, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China;
2. Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China;
3. The Laboratory of Microbiome and Microecological Technology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China

Received:2025-12-03 Accepted:2026-02-23 Online:2026-08-29 Published:2026-08-22
Contact: Tao Wang,E-mail:wangtao@im.ac.cn;Hongwei Liu,E-mail:liuhw@im.ac.cn
Supported by:
National Natural Science Foundation of China,92578117,Hongwei Liu,Key Research and Development Program of China,2025YFA1309200,Hongwei Liu

Diversity of oligosaccharides in lipooligosaccharides of Akkermansia muciniphila and its anti-atherosclerotic activity

Yuting Zhang^1,2,3, Wang Dong^1,2,3, Jinghan Lin^1,2,3, Jingzu Sun^1,3, Ruopeng Yin^1,2,3, Xun Lv^1,3, Wenzhao Wang¹, Tao Wang^1,3, Hongwei Liu^1,2,3

1. State Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity and Innovative Utilization, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China;
2. Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China;
3. The Laboratory of Microbiome and Microecological Technology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China

通讯作者: Tao Wang,E-mail:wangtao@im.ac.cn;Hongwei Liu,E-mail:liuhw@im.ac.cn
基金资助:
National Natural Science Foundation of China,92578117,Hongwei Liu,Key Research and Development Program of China,2025YFA1309200,Hongwei Liu

Abstract

Abstract: As an important and beneficial gut commensal, Akkermansia muciniphila plays a crucial role in regulating host metabolism and immunity. Lipooligosaccharides from A. muciniphila (ALOS) show anti-obesity effects in high-fat diet-fed mice. Herein, we investigated the chemical characteristics of core oligosaccharides of ALOS and explored its anti-atherosclerotic efficacy. The LC-Q-TOF-MS analysis indicated a high structural diversity of core oligosaccharides in ALOS, comprising fourteen distinct oligosaccharide species with different degrees of phosphorylation. Functionally, administration of ALOS significantly attenuated hyperlipidemia and reduced atherosclerotic plaque burden in high-fat diet-fed ApoE^-/- mice. The improvement of these metabolic symptoms was related to the restoration of intestinal barrier integrity. Mechanistically, ALOS upregulated the IL-23/IL-22 immune axis, which in turn promoted intestinal epithelial repair and modulates the microbiota. ALOS intervention reshaped the gut microbiota composition by enriching beneficial genera such as Bifidobacterium longum, Roseburia intestinalis, and Oscillibacter sp., while suppressing potential pathobionts. Our findings highlight the structural diversity and anti-atherosclerotic effect of lipooligosaccharides from A. muciniphila.

Key words: Akkermansia muciniphila, Lipooligosaccharide, Atherosclerosis, IL-22, Gut microbiota

摘要： As an important and beneficial gut commensal, Akkermansia muciniphila plays a crucial role in regulating host metabolism and immunity. Lipooligosaccharides from A. muciniphila (ALOS) show anti-obesity effects in high-fat diet-fed mice. Herein, we investigated the chemical characteristics of core oligosaccharides of ALOS and explored its anti-atherosclerotic efficacy. The LC-Q-TOF-MS analysis indicated a high structural diversity of core oligosaccharides in ALOS, comprising fourteen distinct oligosaccharide species with different degrees of phosphorylation. Functionally, administration of ALOS significantly attenuated hyperlipidemia and reduced atherosclerotic plaque burden in high-fat diet-fed ApoE^-/- mice. The improvement of these metabolic symptoms was related to the restoration of intestinal barrier integrity. Mechanistically, ALOS upregulated the IL-23/IL-22 immune axis, which in turn promoted intestinal epithelial repair and modulates the microbiota. ALOS intervention reshaped the gut microbiota composition by enriching beneficial genera such as Bifidobacterium longum, Roseburia intestinalis, and Oscillibacter sp., while suppressing potential pathobionts. Our findings highlight the structural diversity and anti-atherosclerotic effect of lipooligosaccharides from A. muciniphila.

关键词: Akkermansia muciniphila, Lipooligosaccharide, Atherosclerosis, IL-22, Gut microbiota

Yuting Zhang, Wang Dong, Jinghan Lin, Jingzu Sun, Ruopeng Yin, Xun Lv, Wenzhao Wang, Tao Wang, Hongwei Liu. Diversity of oligosaccharides in lipooligosaccharides of Akkermansia muciniphila and its anti-atherosclerotic activity[J]. Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 2026, 16(4): 58-58.

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Diversity of oligosaccharides in lipooligosaccharides of Akkermansia muciniphila and its anti-atherosclerotic activity

Diversity of oligosaccharides in lipooligosaccharides of Akkermansia muciniphila and its anti-atherosclerotic activity

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