Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 3, 2025

Analyses of Proteinuria, Renal Infiltration of Leukocytes, and Renal Deposition of Proteins in Lupus-prone MRL/lpr Mice
Published on: June 8, 2022
Microbiota and glomerulonephritis: An immunological point of view
Mohammadreza Ardalan1, Elham Ahmadian1, Seyed Mahdi Hosseiniyan Khatibi1
1Kidney Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Abstract:
Glomerular injury is the major cause of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) worldwide and is characterized by proteinuria. Glomerulonephritis (GN) has a wide spectrum of etiologies, the intensity of glomerular damage, histopathology, and clinical outcomes that can be associated with the landscape of the nephritogenic immune response. Beyond impaired immune responses and genetic factors, recent evidence indicates that microbiota can be contributed to the pathogenesis of GN and patients' outcomes by impacting many aspects of the innate and adaptive immune systems. It is still unknown whether dysbiosis induces GN or it is a secondary effect of the disease. Several factors such as drugs and nutritional problems can lead to dysbiosis in GN patients. It has been postulated that gut dysbiosis activates immune responses, promotes a state of systemic inflammation, and produces uremic toxins contributing to kidney tissue inflammation, apoptosis, and subsequent proteinuric nephropathy. In this review, the impact of gastrointestinal tract (GI) microbiota on the pathogenesis of the primary GN will be highlighted. The application of therapeutic interventions based on the manipulation of gut microbiota with special diets and probiotic supplementation can be effective in GN.
Related Concept Videos
Acute Kidney Injury II: Pathophysiology
Nephrotic Syndrome I : Introduction
Acute Pyelonephritis I: Introduction
Renal Corpuscle
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous...
Urinary Tract Infection II: Pathophysiology
Nephrotic Syndrome II : Assessment and Medical Management

