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Vascular Calcification and the Gut and Blood Microbiome in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis: A

Ana Merino-Ribas1,2,3, Ricardo Araujo1, Luciano Pereira1,4

  • 1Nephrology & Infectious Diseases R & D Group, i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.

Biomolecules
|July 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals gut and blood microbiome changes linked to vascular calcification (VC) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Specific microbial shifts correlate with VC and mortality risk, suggesting potential biomarkers.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Microbiology
  • Cardiovascular Science

Background:

  • Vascular calcification (VC) is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor.
  • Gut dysbiosis is implicated in CKD-related CVD and inflammation, but its role in VC is unclear.
  • The interplay between gut and blood microbiomes and VC in CKD patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the association between gut and blood microbiomes and VC in CKD-PD patients.
  • To identify potential microbial biomarkers for VC and associated mortality risk.
  • To investigate the relationship between microbial changes, VC, and clinical parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Pilot study analyzing gut and blood microbiome composition in CKD-PD patients with and without VC.
  • Comparison of microbial taxa between patient groups.
  • Correlation analysis of microbial changes with VC severity, mortality risk, and clinical markers like soluble CD14 (sCD14).

Main Results:

  • Distinct gut taxa (Coprobacter, Coprococcus 3, Lactobacillus, Eubacterium eligens group) and blood taxa (Cutibacterium, Pajaroellobacter, Devosia, Hyphomicrobium, Pelomonas) differed between CKD-PD patients with and without VC.
  • VC was associated with increased all-cause mortality risk.
  • Higher mortality risk correlated with specific gut (Eubacterium eligens group) and blood (Devosia) microbial changes.
  • Soluble CD14 (sCD14) positively correlated with VC severity, despite no significant differences in uremic toxins or inflammatory markers.

Conclusions:

  • Gut Eubacterium eligens group and blood Devosia may serve as biomarkers for VC and mortality risk in CKD-PD patients.
  • Circulating sCD14 is a potential indicator of VC severity.
  • Further research into these microbial and molecular markers is warranted for managing VC, CVD, and mortality in CKD.

Keywords:
blood microbiomechronic kidney diseasegut microbiomemortality risksCD14vascular calcification

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