Research progress in the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis and treatment of IgA nephropathy

Abstract

As the most common form of glomerulonephritis worldwide, IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by the diffuse deposition of immune complexes formed by glycosylation-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) and its specific antibodies (Gd-IgA1-IgG) in the glomerular mesangium. Although the mechanisms of Gd-IgA1 production are still unknown, there is accumulating evidence that Gd-IgA1-producing plasma cells are primarily derived from gut-associated lymphoid tissue, giving rise to the "gut-kidney axis" theory. Further research has discovered that gut microbiota may be involved in IgAN development and progression, and that several interventions to regulate gut microbiota, such as probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and intestinal immunity modulation, may be used in the treatment of IgAN. In patients with IgAN, targeted-release formulation-budesonide has been shown to reduce urinary protein levels and delay kidney progression. Gut microbiota has promising potential as a preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic target for IgAN, and further research is needed.

Keywords

• iga nephropathy
• intestinal microbiota
• gut-kidney axis
• intestinal mucosal immunity
• therapeutics