LN |
Molecular mimicry |
In susceptible individuals, symbiotic bacterial antigens cross-react with human DNA to activate the immune system and destroy self-tolerance, which is positively correlated with SLE activity and LN. |
[70, 71] |
Treg/Th17 imbalance |
Treg/Th17 imbalance can trigger immune responses and promote the production of SLE autoantibodies. |
[40, 42] |
↑TLR7 and TLR9 |
An increase of TLR7 and TLR9 can contribute to alterations of proinflammatory cytokines in lupus patients. |
[64, 65] |
Antinuclear antibodies |
Mice with reduced gut bacteria developed nephritis more slowly and had lower levels of circulating antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) compared to the control group. |
[67, 69] |
Germ-free lymphotoxin-deficient animals monocolonized with SFB produced more ANAs than lymphotoxin-deficient controls monocolonized with E. coli. |
[68] |
|
CKD |
Endoxin |
Endotoxemia can lead to systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, cardiac injury, and atherosclerosis. |
[52] |
Uremic toxins (TMAO, IS, and PCS) |
Uremic toxins cause inflammation and tubulointerstitial damage and promote ROS production, tubulointerstitial damage, epithelial cytotoxicity of proximal renal tubules, and progressive podocyte and glomerular damage. |
[51, 96, 97] |
SCFAs |
Gut-derived SCFAs trigger hypertension through Olfr78 in the peripheral blood vessels and renal afferent arterioles, which in turn leads to renin secretion and regulation of peripheral resistance. |
[23, 84, 101] |
|
DN |
Insulin resistance |
Intestinal dysbiosis is involved in insulin resistance and apoptosis of islet cells in diabetes. |
[7, 10, 11, 116, 118] |
Activation of the RAS |
Ang II accelerates the progression of DN by inducing renal vasoconstriction, promoting renal cell morphology, extracellular matrix deposition, inflammatory cytokine secretion, and fibro-promoting chemokines. |
[125, 126] |
Uremic toxin |
Phenyl sulfate can cause proteinuria and podocyte injury in diabetic mice. Inhibition of phenyl sulfate can reduce proteinuria in diabetic mice. |
[122] |
|
IRI |
Bone marrow monocytes and renal resident macrophages |
Applying antibiotics can diminish the gut microbiome and protect against kidney IRI profoundly by reducing the maturation status of bone marrow monocytes and F4/80+ renal resident macrophages. |
[138] |
|
IgAN |
TGF-β, BAFF, and APRIL |
Intestinal dysbiosis and chronic bacterial infections could stimulate epithelial cells to produce BAFF and APRIL which could promote excessive production of IgA. |
[140, 144–147] |
Endoxin (LPS) |
LPS is involved in the presence of important features of IgAN pathogenesis: hyperproduction and hypogalactosylation of IgA1. |
[151] |