Several studies have established a link between microbial metabolite dysregulation and the progression of diseases such as obesity and hypertension. However, the role of the gut microbiome and its metabolism in chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains largely unknown. A new study demonstrates that reductions in the levels of Lactobacillus johnsonii and microbial-derived indole-3-aldehyde (IAld) largely contribute to CKD progression in rats. The investigators notably showed that L. johnsonii abundance was reduced in rats with adenine-induced CKD, while L. johnsonii supplementation ameliorated renal fibrosis in the animals. Similarly, the team showed that IAld level was decreased in the serum of rats in which CKD was induced using unilateral ureteral obstruction and 5/6 nephrectomy, while IAld treatment dampened kidney lesion. The results also suggest that IAld protects against renal injury by improving intestinal epithelial barrier functions and suppressing aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling pathway, offering new potential pathways for the treatment of CKD.
Original reference: Miao, H. et al. Signal Transduct. Target Ther. 9, 195 (2024)
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