Exploring the gut mycobiome: differential composition and clinical associations in hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and their comorbidity

Front Immunol. 2023 Dec 14:14:1317809. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1317809. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Background: Hypertension (HTN) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) pose significant global health challenges and often coexist, amplifying cardiovascular risks. Recent attention has turned to the gut mycobiome as a potential factor in their pathophysiology. Our study sought to examine the gut fungal profile in individuals with HTN, CKD, and the concurrent HTN+CKD condition, investigating its connections with serum cytokines, renal function, and blood pressure.

Methods and materials: We investigated three distinct participant groups: a cohort of 50 healthy controls (HC), 50 individuals diagnosed with HTN-only, and 50 participants suffering from both HTN and CKD (HTN+CKD). To facilitate our research, we gathered fecal and blood samples and conducted a comprehensive analysis of serum cytokines. Moreover, fungal DNA extraction was conducted with meticulous care, followed by sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region.

Results: HTN+CKD patients displayed distinctive fungal composition with increased richness and diversity compared to controls. In contrast, HTN-only patients exhibited minimal fungal differences. Specific fungal genera were notably altered in HTN+CKD patients, characterized by increased Apiotrichum and Saccharomyces levels and reduced Candida abundance. Our correlation analyses revealed significant associations between fungal genera and serum cytokines. Moreover, certain fungal taxa, such as Apiotrichum and Saccharomyces, exhibited positive correlations with renal function, while others, including Septoria, Nakaseomyces, and Saccharomyces, were linked to blood pressure, particularly diastolic pressure.

Conclusion: Gut mycobiome dysbiosis in individuals with comorbid HTN and CKD differs significantly from that observed in HTN-only and healthy controls. The interactions between serum cytokines, renal function, and blood pressure emphasize the potential impact of the fungal microbiome on these conditions. Additional research is required to clarify the underlying mechanisms and identify therapeutic opportunities associated with mycobiome dysbiosis in HTN and CKD.

Keywords: chronic kidney disease; cytokine; gut mycobiome; hypertension; renal function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Basidiomycota*
  • Comorbidity
  • Cytokines
  • Dysbiosis / microbiology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hypertension* / complications
  • Mycobiome*
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / complications
  • Saccharomyces*

Substances

  • Cytokines

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the Guangdong Medical Research Foundation (B2023412), Start-up Fund of Shenzhen Longhua Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital (LHFY202203) and Shenzhen Longhua District Medical and Health Institutions Research Project (2022068), the Research Project of China National Health Development Research Center (WKZX2022JG0105), Shandong Provincial Laboratory Project (SYS202202), the Research Project of Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory (JNL-2022033C), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2022ZFJH003), and the Foundation of China’s State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (ZZ202316 and ZZ202319).