A bacterial metabolite, trimethylamine N-oxide, disrupts the hemostasis balance in human primary endothelial cells but no coagulopathy in mice

: The gut microbial metabolite, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), was previously reported to induce platelet hypersensitivity, which leads to thrombotic risk. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of TMAO on endothelial cells (EC), which is the primary vessel wall contact with the lumen, remains unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of TMAO on procoagulant activity (PCA) in EC and mice, for a possible link between microbiota and coagulation. To test the PCA of TMAO in EC, we performed one-stage clotting assays and converted into PCA. Antitissue factor (TF) antibody was used to test the TF role in PCA. Quantitative PCR was performed to measure the TF, thrombomodulin, IL-6,…