Salt-responsive gut commensal modulates T(H)17 axis and disease

Western lifestyle with high salt consumption leads to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. High salt may additionally drive autoimmunity by inducing T helper (T(H))17 cells, which may also contribute to hypertension. Induction of T(H)17 cells depends on the gut microbiota, yet the effect of salt on the gut microbiome is unknown. In mouse model systems, we show that high salt intake affects the gut microbiome, particularly by depleting Lactobacillus murinus. Consequently, L. murinus treatment prevents salt-induced aggravation of actively-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and salt-sensitive hypertension, by modulating T(H)17 cells. In line with these findings, moderate high salt challenge in a pilot study in humans reduces intestinal survival of Lactobacillus spp. along with increased T(H)17 cells and blood pressure. Our results connect high salt intake to the gut-immune axis and highlight the gut microbiome as a potential therapeutic target to counteract salt-sensitive conditions.