Trimetilamin-N-Oksit’in Nörodejeneratif Hastalıklardaki Rolü

Özet

Trimetilamin N-oksit (TMAO), bağırsak mikrobiyotası tarafından kolin, L-karnitin ve betain gibi besin bileşenlerinden türetilen trimetilaminin karaciğerde flavin içeren monooksijenazlar aracılığıyla oksidasyonu sonucunda oluşan bir metabolittir. Son yıllarda TMAO, kardiyovasküler hastalıkların yanı sıra nörodejeneratif hastalıkların patogenezindeki olası rolü nedeniyle dikkat çekmektedir. Bu bölümün amacı, TMAO’nun metabolizmasını, fizyolojik işlevlerini ve nörodejeneratif hastalıklardaki etkilerini güncel literatür ışığında değerlendirmektir. Mevcut bulgular, TMAO’nun kan-beyin bariyerini geçebildiğini ve Alzheimer hastalığı, Parkinson hastalığı, amyotrofik lateral skleroz ve Huntington hastalığı gibi nörodejeneratif süreçlerde rol oynayabileceğini göstermektedir. Özellikle Alzheimer hastalığında TMAO’nun tau protein agregasyonunu artırdığı, nöroinflamasyonu tetiklediği, endoplazmik retikulum stresini güçlendirdiği ve mitokondriyal disfonksiyona katkıda bulunduğu bildirilmiştir. Ayrıca yüksek TMAO düzeylerinin bilişsel performansın azalması ve nörodejeneratif hastalıkların ilerlemesi ile ilişkili olduğu gösterilmiştir. Parkinson hastalığı ve amyotrofik lateral sklerozda bağırsak mikrobiyotası kaynaklı metabolit değişikliklerinin hastalık patogeneziyle ilişkili olabileceği düşünülmektedir. Sonuç olarak TMAO, nörodejeneratif hastalıkların tanı, prognoz ve tedavi süreçlerinde potansiyel bir biyobelirteç ve terapötik hedef olarak değerlendirilmektedir.

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a metabolite generated through the hepatic oxidation of trimethylamine, which is produced by the gut microbiota from dietary nutrients such as choline, L-carnitine, and betaine. In recent years, TMAO has attracted considerable attention due to its potential involvement in the pathogenesis of both cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this chapter is to evaluate the metabolism, physiological functions, and role of TMAO in neurodegenerative disorders in light of current evidence. Emerging studies indicate that TMAO can cross the blood–brain barrier and may contribute to the development and progression of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, TMAO has been reported to promote tau protein aggregation, enhance neuroinflammation, activate endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways, and contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction. Elevated circulating TMAO levels have also been associated with cognitive decline and disease progression. Overall, TMAO represents a promising biomarker and potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders.

Referanslar

Rath S, Heidrich B, Pieper DH, Vital M. Uncovering the trimethylamine-producing bacteria of the human gut microbiota. Microbiome. 2017;5(1):54.

Kaysen GA, Johansen KL, Chertow GM, Dalrymple LS, Kornak J, Grimes B, et al. Associations of Trimethylamine N-Oxide With Nutritional and Inflammatory Biomarkers and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients New to Dialysis. J Ren Nutr. 2015;25(4):351-6.

Tang WH, Wang Z, Kennedy DJ, Wu Y, Buffa JA, Agatisa-Boyle B, et al. Gut microbiota-dependent trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) pathway contributes to both development of renal insufficiency and mortality risk in chronic kidney disease. Circ Res. 2015;116(3):448-55.

Wang Z, Bergeron N, Levison BS, Li XS, Chiu S, Jia X, et al. Impact of chronic dietary red meat, white meat, or non-meat protein on trimethylamine N-oxide metabolism and renal excretion in healthy men and women. Eur Heart J. 2019;40(7):583-94.

Koeth RA, Levison BS, Culley MK, Buffa JA, Wang Z, Gregory JC, et al. γ-Butyrobetaine is a proatherogenic intermediate in gut microbial metabolism of L-carnitine to TMAO. Cell Metab. 2014;20(5):799-812.

Fennema D, Phillips IR, Shephard EA. Trimethylamine and Trimethylamine N-Oxide, a Flavin-Containing Monooxygenase 3 (FMO3)-Mediated Host-Microbiome Metabolic Axis Implicated in Health and Disease. Drug Metab Dispos. 2016;44(11):1839-50.

Ierardi E, Sorrentino C, Principi M, Giorgio F, Losurdo G, Di Leo A. Intestinal microbial metabolism of phosphatidylcholine: a novel insight in the cardiovascular risk scenario. Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr. 2015;4(4):289-92.

Tang WH, Wang Z, Levison BS, Koeth RA, Britt EB, Fu X, et al. Intestinal microbial metabolism of phosphatidylcholine and cardiovascular risk. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(17):1575-84.

Bennett BJ, de Aguiar Vallim TQ, Wang Z, Shih DM, Meng Y, Gregory J, et al. Trimethylamine-N-oxide, a metabolite associated with atherosclerosis, exhibits complex genetic and dietary regulation. Cell Metab. 2013;17(1):49-60.

Li T, Chen Y, Gua C, Li X. Elevated Circulating Trimethylamine N-Oxide Levels Contribute to Endothelial Dysfunction in Aged Rats through Vascular Inflammation and Oxidative Stress. Front Physiol. 2017;8:350.

Wang Z, Klipfell E, Bennett BJ, Koeth R, Levison BS, Dugar B, et al. Gut flora metabolism of phosphatidylcholine promotes cardiovascular disease. Nature. 2011;472(7341):57-63.

Dolphin CT, Janmohamed A, Smith RL, Shephard EA, Phillips IR. Missense mutation in flavin-containing mono-oxygenase 3 gene, FMO3, underlies fish-odour syndrome. Nat Genet. 1997;17(4):491-4.

Zhou Y, Zhang Y, Jin S, Lv J, Li M, Feng N. The gut microbiota derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide: Its important role in cancer and other diseases. Biomed Pharmacother. 2024;177:117031.

Bennett Brian J, Vallim Thomas Qde A, Wang Z, Shih Diana M, Meng Y, Gregory J, et al. Trimethylamine-N-Oxide, a Metabolite Associated with Atherosclerosis, Exhibits Complex Genetic and Dietary Regulation. Cell Metab. 2013;17(1):49-60.

Perez-Paramo YX, Chen G, Ashmore JH, Watson CJW, Nasrin S, Adams-Haduch J, et al. Nicotine-N'-Oxidation by Flavin Monooxygenase Enzymes. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2019;28(2):311-20.

Ma S-R, Tong Q, Lin Y, Pan L-B, Fu J, Peng R, et al. Berberine treats atherosclerosis via a vitamine-like effect down-regulating Choline-TMA-TMAO production pathway in gut microbiota. Sig Transduct Target Ther. 2022;7(1):207.

Hartiala J, Bennett BJ, Tang WHW, Wang Z, Stewart AFR, Roberts R, et al. Comparative Genome-Wide Association Studies in Mice and Humans for Trimethylamine N-Oxide, a Proatherogenic Metabolite of Choline and l-Carnitine. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2014;34(6):1307-13.

Uno Y, Makiguchi M, Ushirozako G, Tsukiyama-Kohara K, Shimizu M, Yamazaki H. Molecular and functional characterization of flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMO1-6) in tree shrews. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol. 2024;277:109835.

Yeung CK, Adman ET, Rettie AE. Functional characterization of genetic variants of human FMO3 associated with trimethylaminuria. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2007;464(2):251-9.

Wang X, Chen L, Teng Y, Xie W, Huang L, Wu J, et al. Effect of three oral pathogens on the TMA-TMAO metabolic pathway. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024;14:1413787.

Zixin Y, Lulu C, Xiangchang Z, Qing F, Binjie Z, Chunyang L, et al. TMAO as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for chronic kidney disease: A review. Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:929262.

Cháfer-Pericás C, Herráez-Hernández R, Campíns-Falcó P. Liquid chromatographic determination of trimethylamine in water. J Chromatogr A. 2004;1023(1):27-31.

Li F, Liu H-y, Xue C-h, Xin X-q, Xu J, Chang Y-g, et al. Simultaneous determination of dimethylamine, trimethylamine and trimethylamine-n-oxide in aquatic products extracts by ion chromatography with non-suppressed conductivity detection. Journal of Chromatography A. 2009;1216(31):5924-6.

Veeravalli S, Karu K, Phillips IR, Shephard EA. A highly sensitive liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method for quantification of TMA, TMAO and creatinine in mouse urine. Methods X. 2017;4:310-9.

Chang YC, Chu YH, Wang CC, Wang CH, Tain YL, Yang HW. Rapid Detection of Gut Microbial Metabolite Trimethylamine N-Oxide for Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention. Biosensors (Basel). 2021;11(9).

Lakshmi GBVS, Yadav AK, Mehlawat N, Jalandra R, Solanki PR, Kumar A. Gut microbiota derived trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) detection through molecularly imprinted polymer based sensor. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):1338.

Waffo AFT, Mitrova B, Tiedemann K, Iobbi-Nivol C, Leimkühler S, Wollenberger U. Electrochemical Trimethylamine N-Oxide Biosensor with Enzyme-Based Oxygen-Scavenging Membrane for Long-Term Operation under Ambient Air. Biosensors. 2021;11(4):98.

Yi Y, Liang A, Luo L, Zang Y, Zhao H, Luo A. A novel real-time TMAO detection method based on microbial electrochemical technology. Bioelectrochemistry. 2022;144:108038.

Nasralla M, Laurent H, Baker DL, Ries ME, Dougan L. A study of the interaction between TMAO and urea in water using NMR spectroscopy. Phys Chem. 2022;24(35):21216-22.

Lidbury I, Murrell JC, Chen Y. Trimethylamine N-oxide metabolism by abundant marine heterotrophic bacteria. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2014;111(7):2710-5.

Laurent H, Youngs TGA, Headen TF, Soper AK, Dougan L. The ability of trimethylamine N-oxide to resist pressure induced perturbations to water structure. Commun Chem. 2022;5(1):116.

Rani A, Jayaraj A, Jayaram B, Pannuru V. Trimethylamine-N-oxide switches from stabilizing nature: A mechanistic outlook through experimental techniques and molecular dynamics simulation. Sci. Rep. 2016;6(1):23656.

Wang Z, Tang WHW, O’Connell T, Garcia E, Jeyarajah EJ, Li XS, et al. Circulating trimethylamine N-oxide levels following fish or seafood consumption. Eur. J. Nutr. 2022;61(5):2357-64.

Ilyas A, Wijayasinghe YS, Khan I, El Samaloty NM, Adnan M, Dar TA, et al. Implications of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and Betaine in Human Health: Beyond Being Osmoprotective Compounds. Front Mol Biosci. 2022;9:964624.

Shanmugham M, Bellanger S, Leo CH. Gut-Derived Metabolite, Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) in Cardio-Metabolic Diseases: Detection, Mechanism, and Potential Therapeutics. Pharmaceuticals. 2023;16(4):504.

Zhu Y, Li Q, Jiang H. Gut microbiota in atherosclerosis: focus on trimethylamine N-oxide. Apmis. 2020;128(5):353-66.

Qi J, You T, Li J, Pan T, Xiang L, Han Y, et al. Circulating trimethylamine N-oxide and the risk of cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 prospective cohort studies. J Cell Mol Med. 2018;22(1):185-94.

Vogt NM, Romano KA, Darst BF, Engelman CD, Johnson SC, Carlsson CM, et al. The gut microbiota-derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide is elevated in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's res. ther. 2018;10(1):124.

Caradonna E, Nemni R, Bifone A, Gandolfo P, Costantino L, Giordano L, et al. The Brain–Gut Axis, an Important Player in Alzheimer and Parkinson Disease: A Narrative Review. J. Clin. Med. 2024;13(14):4130.

Mirji G, Worth A, Bhat SA, El Sayed M, Kannan T, Goldman AR, et al. The microbiome-derived metabolite TMAO drives immune activation and boosts responses to immune checkpoint blockade in pancreatic cancer. Sci. Immunol. 2022;7(75):eabn0704.

Xu R, Wang Q, Li L. A genome-wide systems analysis reveals strong link between colorectal cancer and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbial metabolite of dietary meat and fat. BMC Genomics. 2015;16(7):S4.

DeTure MA, Dickson DW. The neuropathological diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Mol. Neurodegener. 2019;14(1):32.

Tarawneh R, Holtzman DM. The clinical problem of symptomatic Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2012;2(5):a006148.

Arar S, Haque MA, Kayed A, Khan S, Bhatt N, Zhao Y, et al. Tau Oligomers in Alzheimer's Disease: Modulation Effect of Osmolytes on Amplified Brain-Derived Tau Oligomers. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2025;16(15):2829-43.

Vernetti L, Gough A, Baetz N, Blutt S, Broughman JR, Brown JA, et al. Functional Coupling of Human Microphysiology Systems: Intestine, Liver, Kidney Proximal Tubule, Blood-Brain Barrier and Skeletal Muscle. Sci. Rep. 2017;7(1):42296.

Del Rio D, Zimetti F, Caffarra P, Tassotti M, Bernini F, Brighenti F, et al. The Gut Microbial Metabolite Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Is Present in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid. Nutrients. 2017;9(10):1053.

Hoyles L, Jiménez-Pranteda ML, Chilloux J, Brial F, Myridakis A, Aranias T, et al. Metabolic retroconversion of trimethylamine N-oxide and the gut microbiota. Microbiome. 2018;6(1):73.

Levine ZA, Larini L, LaPointe NE, Feinstein SC, Shea JE. Regulation and aggregation of intrinsically disordered peptides. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015;112(9):2758-63.

Xu R, Wang Q. Towards understanding brain-gut-microbiome connections in Alzheimer’s disease. BMC Syst. Biol. 2016;10(3):63.

Caradonna E, Abate F, Schiano E, Paparella F, Ferrara F, Vanoli E, et al. Trimethylamine-N-Oxide (TMAO) as a Rising-Star Metabolite: Implications for Human Health. Metabolites. 2025;15(4).

Jiao F, Zhou L, Wu Z. The microbiota-gut-brain axis: a potential target in the small-molecule compounds and gene therapeutic strategies for Parkinson's disease. Neurol Sci. 2025;46(2):561-78.

Saaoud F, Liu L, Xu K, Cueto R, Shao Y, Lu Y, et al. Aorta- and liver-generated TMAO enhances trained immunity for increased inflammation via ER stress/mitochondrial ROS/glycolysis pathways. JCI Insight. 2023;8(1).

Perner C, Krüger E. Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Its Role in Homeostasis and Immunity of Central and Peripheral Neurons. Front Immunol. 2022;13:859703.

Scaramozzino F, Peterson DW, Farmer P, Gerig JT, Graves DJ, Lew J. TMAO promotes fibrillization and microtubule assembly activity in the C-terminal repeat region of tau. Biochemistry. 2006;45(11):3684-91.

Wang W, Zhao F, Ma X, Perry G, Zhu X. Mitochondria dysfunction in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease: recent advances. Mol. Neurodegener. 2020;15(1):30.

Brunt VE, LaRocca TJ, Bazzoni AE, Sapinsley ZJ, Miyamoto-Ditmon J, Gioscia-Ryan RA, et al. The gut microbiome-derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide modulates neuroinflammation and cognitive function with aging. Geroscience. 2021;43(1):377-94.

Li D, Ke Y, Zhan R, Liu C, Zhao M, Zeng A, et al. Trimethylamine‐N‐oxide promotes brain aging and cognitive impairment in mice. Aging cell. 2018;17(4):e12768.

Balestrino R, Schapira AHV. Parkinson disease. Eur J Neurol. 2020;27(1):27-42.

Zhao Z, Ning J, Bao XQ, Shang M, Ma J, Li G, et al. Fecal microbiota transplantation protects rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease mice via suppressing inflammation mediated by the lipopolysaccharide-TLR4 signaling pathway through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Microbiome. 2021;9(1):226.

Sampson TR, Debelius JW, Thron T, Janssen S, Shastri GG, Ilhan ZE, et al. Gut Microbiota Regulate Motor Deficits and Neuroinflammation in a Model of Parkinson's Disease. Cell. 2016;167(6):1469-80.e12.

Sun MF, Zhu YL, Zhou ZL, Jia XB, Xu YD, Yang Q, et al. Neuroprotective effects of fecal microbiota transplantation on MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease mice: Gut microbiota, glial reaction and TLR4/TNF-α signaling pathway. Brain Behav Immun. 2018;70:48-60.

Hou YF, Shan C, Zhuang SY, Zhuang QQ, Ghosh A, Zhu KC, et al. Gut microbiota-derived propionate mediates the neuroprotective effect of osteocalcin in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Microbiome. 2021;9(1):34.

Chiò A, Logroscino G, Hardiman O, Swingler R, Mitchell D, Beghi E, et al. Prognostic factors in ALS: A critical review. Amyotroph Lateral Scler. 2009;10(5-6):310-23.

Lee A, Arachchige BJ, Reed S, Henderson R, Aylward J, McCombe PA. Plasma from some patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis exhibits elevated formaldehyde levels. J Neurol Sci. 2020;409:116589.

Swer NM, Venkidesh BS, Murali TS, Mumbrekar KD. Gut microbiota-derived metabolites and their importance in neurological disorders. Mol Biol Rep. 2023;50(2):1663-75.

Chen L, Chen Y, Zhao M, Zheng L, Fan D. Changes in the concentrations of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and its precursors in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):15198.

Ross CA, Tabrizi SJ. Huntington's disease: from molecular pathogenesis to clinical treatment. Lancet Neurol. 2011;10(1):83-98.

Babu CS, Mahadevan M, Rao BS, Ranju V, Bipul R, Bhat A, et al. Management of Huntington's disease: Perspectives from the Siddha system of medicine. Food for Huntington's Disease: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. 2018. p. 159-80.

MacDonald ME, Ambrose CM, Duyao MP, Myers RH, Lin C, Srinidhi L, et al. A novel gene containing a trinucleotide repeat that is expanded and unstable on Huntington's disease chromosomes. Cell. 1993;72(6):971-83.

Rubinsztein DC, Leggo J, Coles R, Almqvist E, Biancalana V, Cassiman JJ, et al. Phenotypic characterization of individuals with 30-40 CAG repeats in the Huntington disease (HD) gene reveals HD cases with 36 repeats and apparently normal elderly individuals with 36-39 repeats. Am J Hum Genet. 1996;59(1):16-22.

Wasser CI, Mercieca E-C, Kong G, Hannan AJ, McKeown SJ, Glikmann-Johnston Y, et al. Gut dysbiosis in Huntington’s disease: associations among gut microbiota, cognitive performance and clinical outcomes. Brain commun. 2020;2(2):fcaa110.

Andrich JE, Wobben M, Klotz P, Goetze O, Saft C. Upper gastrointestinal findings in Huntington's disease: patients suffer but do not complain. J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2009;116(12):1607-11.

van der Burg JM, Winqvist A, Aziz NA, Maat-Schieman ML, Roos RA, Bates GP, et al. Gastrointestinal dysfunction contributes to weight loss in Huntington's disease mice. Neurobiol Dis. 2011;44(1):1-8.

Beal MF, Matson WR, Swartz KJ, Gamache PH, Bird ED. Kynurenine pathway measurements in Huntington's disease striatum: evidence for reduced formation of kynurenic acid. J Neurochem. 1990;55(4):1327-39.

Verwaest KA, Vu TN, Laukens K, Clemens LE, Nguyen HP, Van Gasse B, et al. 1H NMR based metabolomics of CSF and blood serum: A metabolic profile for a transgenic rat model of Huntington disease. Biochim. Biophys. Acta Mol. Basis Dis. 2011;1812(11):1371-9.

Kong G, Cao K-AL, Judd LM, Li S, Renoir T, Hannan AJ. Microbiome profiling reveals gut dysbiosis in a transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease. Neurobiol. Dis. 2020;135:104268.

Borwankar T, Röthlein C, Zhang G, Techen A, Dosche C, Ignatova Z. Natural osmolytes remodel the aggregation pathway of mutant huntingtin exon 1. Biochemistry. 2011;50(12):2048-60.

Mudimela S, Vishwanath NK, Pillai A, Morales R, Marrelli SP, Barichello T, et al. Clinical significance and potential role of trimethylamine N-oxide in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Drug Discov. Today. 2022;27(11):103334.

Yayınlanan

16 Temmuz 2026

Lisans

Lisans