Our study uncovered that empagliflozin (EMPA) potentially protects renal function and morphology in obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) mice by regulating the gut-kidney axis. EMPA’s reno-protective effects in ORG mice are associated with the lipid metabolism, especially in glycerophospholipid metabolism and the pantothenate/CoA synthesis pathways. EMPA’s modulation of gut microbiota appears to be pivotal in suppressing glycerol 3-phosphate and CoA synthesis. The insights into gut microbiota-host metabolic interactions offer a novel therapeutic approach for ORG.

Growing evidence suggests a complex bidirectional interaction between gut microbes, gut-derived microbial metabolites, and diabetic kidney disease (DKD), known as the “gut-kidney axis” theory. The present study aimed to characterize the role of microbial metabolites in DKD. Six-week-old db/db and littermate db/m mice were raised to 20 weeks old. The serum, urine, feces, liver, perinephric fat, and kidney were analyzed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based metabolomic analyses. The db/db mice showed obvious pathological changes and worse renal functions than db/m mice. Indoleacetaldehyde (IAld) and 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan (5-HTP) in kidney samples, and serotonin (5-HT) in fecal samples were increased in the db/db group. Phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidate (PA), and 1-acylglycerophosphocholine (lysoPC) were decreased in liver and serum samples of the db/db group, while PC and lysoPC were decreased in kidney and perinephric fat samples. Suggested metabolomic homeostasis was disrupted in DKD mice, especially glycerophospholipid and tryptophan metabolism, which are closely related to the gut microbiome. Our findings reveal the perturbation of gut microbial metabolism in db/db mice with DKD, which may be useful for building a bridge between the gut microbiota and the progression of DKD and provide a theoretical basis for the intestinal treatment of DKD.

Obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) is a kidney disorder associated with obesity, where dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and disturbances in lipid metabolism play crucial roles in its development. However, the exact mechanisms by which imbalances in gut microbiota influence lipid metabolism and contribute to the pathogenesis of ORG are still not fully understood. A high-fat diet (HFD)-induced ORG model was established using 6-week-old male C57BL/6 J mice to investigate the role of gut microbiota and gut-derived metabolites in ORG progression. 16S rRNA sequencing was employed to profile the gut microbiota, while liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was applied for metabolite analysis in fecal, serum, and kidney samples. Compared to age-matched normal diet (ND) mice, ORG mice exhibited significant increases in triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (CHO), and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), alongside enhanced lipid droplet accumulation in renal tubules and glomerular hypertrophy. Metabolomic analysis revealed altered metabolic profiles in ORG mice, particularly the reprogramming of glycerophospholipid metabolism. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing demonstrated reduced gut microbiota diversity in ORG mice relative to the ND group. Further investigation revealed that the shift in renal glycerophospholipid metabolism and elevated blood lipid levels in ORG mice were closely linked to gut microbiota dysbiosis, specifically increased abundance of Lachnospiraceae and decreased abundance of Muribaculaceae. The dysbiosis of gut microbiota induced by a HFD leads to glycerophospholipid metabolic reprogramming, promoting lipid droplet deposition in the kidneys and contributing to ORG progression. Our study highlights the contribution of gut microbial metabolism to the development of ORG, offering new perspectives for potential therapeutic strategies targeting the gut in ORG treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by profound cytoskeletal dysregulation in immune cells, yet the potential regulatory molec