The effect of intestinal flora metabolites on macrophage polarization.

Intestinal flora metabolites played a crucial role in immunomodulation by influencing host immune responses through various pathways. Macrophages, as a type of innate immune cell, were essential in chemotaxis, phagocytosis, inflammatory responses, and microbial elimination. Different macrophage phenotypes had distinct biological functions, regulated by diverse factors and mechanisms. Advances in intestinal flora sequencing and metabolomics have enhanced understanding of how intestinal flora metabolites affect macrophage phenotypes and functions. These metabolites had varying effects on macrophage polarization and different mechanisms of influence. This study summarized the impact of gut microbiota metabolites on macrophage phenotype and function, along with the underlying mechanisms associated with different metabolites produced by intestinal flora.

Effects of prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics on serum creatinine in non-dialysis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: Serum creatinine level are influenced by many factors. Although accumulated data suggested that prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics supplements could affect serum creatinine level, the results remained controversial. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the effects of prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics on serum creatinine in non-dialysis patients. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database) and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for eligible randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) which were limited to English language studies until 30 September 2022. A random-effects model was performed to analyze the impact of pooled trials. RESULT: Twelve randomized, controlled trial studies were included in the meta-analysis. Prebiotics, probiotics or synbiotics supplementation did not significantly decrease the serum creatinine levels in non-dialysis patients compared to placebo [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): (-0.21, 0.31); p = 0.72; I2 = 61%]. CONCLUSION: The present meta-analysis indicated that supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics could not act as promising adjuvant therapies to decrease the serum creatinine levels in non-dialysis patients.

Altered gut microbiota and microbial biomarkers associated with chronic kidney disease.

The present study aimed to determine the differences in gut microbiota between patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and healthy controls (HC) and search for better microbial biomarkers associated with CKD. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach was used to investigate the differences in gut microbiota between the CKD and HC groups. The study found that 12 phylotypes were overrepresented in the CKD group and 19 in the HC group at the genus level. Furthermore, genera Lachnospira and Ruminococcus_gnavus performed the best in differentiating between HC and CKD populations. In addition, this novel study found that the genera Holdemanella, Megamonas, Prevotella 2, Dielma, and Scardovia were associated with the progression of CKD and hemodialysis. In conclusion, the composition of gut microbiota was different in CKD populations compared with healthy populations, and Lachnospira and R._gnavus were better microbial biomarkers. In addition, five phylotypes, including Holdemanella, Megamonas, Prevotella2, Dielma, and Scardovia, served as an indicator of the progression of CKD and hemodialysis. However, large-scale prospective studies should be performed to identify the reliability of the set of these phylotypes as biomarkers.