Comprehensive microbiome analysis of tonsillar crypts in IgA nephropathy

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Microbiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary chronic glomerular disease.
• Mucosal immune responses, particularly in tonsils and the gut, are implicated in IgAN pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between IgAN and the bacterial microbiome within tonsillar crypts.
• To compare tonsillar bacterial flora in IgAN patients with those in recurrent tonsillitis (RT) and tonsillar hyperplasia (TH) patients.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive microbiome analysis of tonsillar crypt DNA from 48 IgAN patients, 21 RT patients, and 30 TH patients.
• 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing (V4 region) and high-throughput multiplexed analysis.
• Statistical analysis using permutational multivariate analysis of variance and principal component analysis (PCA).

Main Results:

• Significant diversity in bacterial composition was observed across all samples.
• Prevotella spp., Fusobacterium spp., Sphingomonas spp., and Treponema spp. were predominant in IgAN patients.
• Tonsillar bacterial profiles in IgAN patients differed significantly from TH patients but not from RT patients.

Conclusions:

• Tonsillar crypts in both IgAN and RT patients exhibit similar bacterial patterns.
• The host immune response to specific tonsillar bacteria may play a crucial role in the development of IgAN.