The Relationship between Urinary Stones and Gut Microbiomeby 16S Sequencing

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Urology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in host health and disease.
• Urinary stone disease (urolithiasis) is a common condition with multifactorial causes.
• The relationship between the gut microbiome and urinary stone formation is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differences in gut microbiome composition between patients with urolithiasis and healthy individuals.
• To identify specific microbial species associated with urinary stone formation.
• To evaluate the impact of altered gut microbiota on urinary stone development using a mouse model.

Main Methods:

• Stool samples were collected from urolithiasis patients and healthy controls for 16S rRNA sequencing.
• A mouse model of urolithiasis was established, involving fecal microbiota transplantation.
• Microbiome analysis and renal tubule crystal examination were performed.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in gut microbiome composition were observed between urolithiasis patients and controls.
• Urolithiasis patients exhibited reduced overall microbial abundance but increased proportions of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria.
• Specific species, Alistipes indistinctus and Odoribacter splanchnicus, were more abundant in urolithiasis patients.
• The mouse model showed a higher incidence of urolithiasis when inoculated with urolithiasis patient stool.

Conclusions:

• Urolithiasis patients possess a distinct gut microbiome profile compared to healthy individuals.
• The altered gut microbiome contributes to increased crystal formation in renal tubules.
• Changes in the gut microbiome accelerate urinary stone formation, highlighting a potential therapeutic target.