The Antioxidant Cistanche deserticola Polysaccharide Modulates Gut Microbiota and Redox Homeostasis to Alleviate BAPN-Induced Aortic Dissection in Mice

Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening vascular disease characterized by progressive vascular remodeling, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Among them, severe oxidative stress and systemic inflammation are important driving factors causing vascular integrity damage. Cistanche deserticola polysaccharides (CTPs) have definite deserticola anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, their influence on the progression of AD remains to be studied. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of CTP in a BAPN-induced mouse model of aortic dissection and explored the underlying mechanisms. CTP administration significantly attenuated aortic dilation and reduced the incidence of aortic dissection, accompanied by suppression of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, preservation of extracellular matrix integrity, and maintenance of the contractile phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells. Most importantly, CTP inhibits oxidative stress responses, as evidenced by the recovery of endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity and the reduction in lipid peroxidation. At the same time, CTP also suppresses systemic inflammatory responses. In addition, CTP markedly reshaped gut microbiota composition, characterized by enrichment of Akkermansia and Lachnospiraceae and reduction in Desulfovibrio and Escherichia–Shigella. Correlation analyses revealed close associations between gut microbial alterations and antioxidant, vascular remodeling, and smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation. Collectively, these findings suggest that CTP confers vascular protection against aortic dissection through coordinated regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular remodeling. The observed changes in gut microbiota composition may represent an additional mechanism associated with the beneficial effects of CTP and warrant further investigation.