Gut Microbiota-kidney Axis Research

The human gastrointestinal tract is colonized by a dense population of microbes that outnumber host cells 10-fold, which form communities of bacteria, viruses and microbial eukaryotes that are specific to people of different ages, diet habits, and health conditions. The host-gut microbiota interaction has been focused on increasingly in recent years, and it is well known that gut microbiota contributes a lot to host physiology functions but a multitude of ailments.

Gut-kidney axis is a newly brought up theory that describes the bilateral relationship between our gut microbiota and kidney function, suggesting that a decline in kidney function impacts the gut which then impacts kidney function in return and might fall into a vicious cycle; likewise, the stable and healthy condition of gut microbiota and kidney will also benefit each other. Researchers have confirmed multiple gut microbiota related renal disorders including chronic kidney disease (CKD), Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and Kidney stone disease (KSD). Given a large amount of emerging research suggesting the link between the gut and the kidneys, gastrointestinal manifestations were observed in patients with renal diseases, and vice versa, it is the high point that more studies on gut-kidney axis and the pathophysiological mechanisms need to be done for novel treatment strategies that could potentially be adapted in the future.

Figure 1. Gut-kidney axis: gastrointestinal-related inflammation and uremic toxin generation kidney diseases. (Zha 2017)

CD Genomics is a preeminent corporation that specializes in multi-omics. Equipped with state-of-the-art techniques and served by well-experienced scientists, we have extensive experience dealing with all kinds of difficulties you may have encountered in your research, and we will provide the most valid solutions to meet your needs. Our knowledge about the intrinsic mechanisms of the gut microbiota-kidney interaction and potential therapeutic options for gut microbiota-associated kidney diseases are just starting to take shape, and the current multi-omics era promises rapid progress at the global level towards these research topics. We provide powerful tools to support your gut microbiota and kidney research from the following multiple views:

Gut Microbiota Composition:

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of some kidney diseases, and kidney function decline also leads to gut dysbiosis. Abnormal changes in the composition of gut microbiota may indicate the shift of the host’s health condition; lateral comparison of microbiota composition between normal individuals and kidney disease patients may as well uncover the intrinsic correlation between gut microbiota and liver-related diseases. We provide a wide range of technologies for gut microbiota composition profiling. Our specialty lies in multi-omics analysis mainly by state-of-the-art detecting methods coupled with bioinformatics analysis platforms. We provide all kinds of sequencing and gene array technologies to profile target sequences, (meta)genome, and (meta)transcriptome of all types of microbes, in order to offer the most comprehensive information on the microbiota composition of different individuals across gut-kidney axis:

• Amplicon sequencing
• Whole-genome sequencing
• Metagenomic sequencing
• Virome sequencing
• DNA microarray
• Metatranscriptomics solutions

Gut Microbiota Metabolism:

The microbiota colonized in our gastrointestinal tract share the food we eat and decompose them into smaller molecules, some of these metabolites may benefit human health, while some others will promote inflammation in the host body by crossing the gut barrier to organs such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) transformed by some intestinal microbes laying negative effects on kidneys. Either way, research into gut microbiota metabolism will undoubtedly bring more insights into kidney care solutions.

Gut microbial metabolites including lipopolysaccharides (LPS), butyrate, and enzymes such as intestinal alkaline phosphatase, and many other marker molecules are critical indicators to investigate gut-kidney axis and kidney diseases. We provide functional analysis of all kinds of intestinal metabolites and key substances by cutting-edge technologies including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS) and many other efficient equipment, in order to investigate the physiological status of both the microbiota and the hosts, identify various potential biomarkers, map unique metabolome fingerprints of specific cellular processes, determine specific pathways, and unveil fundamental mechanisms of certain diseases.

• Metaproteomics solutions
• Metabolomics solutions

Link with Fitness and Diseases:

Kidney diseases are often caused by multiple factors, both genetically and environmentally. Research indicates that patients with autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal disorders are often associated with an increased risk of kidney diseases including chronic kidney disease (CKD), Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and Kidney stone disease (KSD). The gut-kidney axis is a complex and bidirectional modulation with pathophysiological mechanisms demanding to be clarified. We provide solutions including comprehensive multi-omics techniques, powerful bioinformatics, and a variety of model organisms to address these issues:

• Bioinformatics analysis
• Model organisms for gut microbiota research

Figure 2. Putative interconnections between LPS-detoxification and intestinal barrier function. (Lehto 2018)

Potential Therapeutic Options

The gut microbiota modulation could be a highly potential approach to attenuate kidney diseases and to preserve kidney functions. Dietary interventions, fecal transplantation, antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics are all potential options, as well as some potential novel therapeutic targets including intestinal alkaline phosphatase, and contact activation pathway. But not all approaches have the same impact on gut microbiota modulation nor gut-kidney axis pathogenesis process, a large number of specific studies still need to be done. We have extensive experience and can provide you with multi-omics solutions related to gut microbiota-kidney axis research.

CD Genomics dedicates to providing the highest level of service in gut microbiota research. We will offer the most suitable strategies according to your sample and research purpose. To find out more about the services we offer for gut microbiota and kidney research, please feel free to contact us.

*For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.