The influence of gut microbiota on the gut-brain-kidney axis and its implications for chronic kidney disease

The gut-brain-kidney axis represents a dynamic interplay among the gut microbiota, renal function, and neurological processes, emerging as a critical factor in chronic kidney disease (CKD) pathophysiology. This paper reviews recent data on the mechanisms and pathways that integrate gut-brain-kidney...

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Main Authors: Jue Zhu, Yutong Fu, Chinasa Valerie Olovo, Jianguo Xu, Qian Wu, Wei Wei, Ke Jiang, Xueming Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1535356/full
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author Jue Zhu
Yutong Fu
Yutong Fu
Chinasa Valerie Olovo
Chinasa Valerie Olovo
Jianguo Xu
Qian Wu
Wei Wei
Ke Jiang
Ke Jiang
Xueming Zheng
Xueming Zheng
author_facet Jue Zhu
Yutong Fu
Yutong Fu
Chinasa Valerie Olovo
Chinasa Valerie Olovo
Jianguo Xu
Qian Wu
Wei Wei
Ke Jiang
Ke Jiang
Xueming Zheng
Xueming Zheng
author_sort Jue Zhu
collection DOAJ
description The gut-brain-kidney axis represents a dynamic interplay among the gut microbiota, renal function, and neurological processes, emerging as a critical factor in chronic kidney disease (CKD) pathophysiology. This paper reviews recent data on the mechanisms and pathways that integrate gut-brain-kidney signaling and communication, advances in our understanding of this axis, and potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and interventions for CKD. Literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase using a combination of the keywords gut microbiota, gut microbiome, gut-brain axis, gut-kidney axis, gut-brain-kidney axis, chronic kidney disease, dysbiosis, therapy, metabolites, and neuroinflammation.” Relevant studies were selected and synthesized in this narrative review. Gut dysbiosis, characterized by microbial composition and function alterations, contributes to systemic inflammation and metabolic imbalances, exacerbating CKD progression. Uremic toxins such as indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate, derived from microbial metabolism, impair kidney function and disrupt neurocognitive health via oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, highlighting the interconnectedness of these systems. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and metabolomics have elucidated mechanisms linking gut microbiota and associated metabolites to kidney and brain health, revealing the role of microbial diversity and metabolite profiles in disease outcomes. Studies demonstrate that probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary interventions targeting the gut microbiota can modulate systemic inflammation and reduce uremic toxin levels, offering therapeutic potential. Understanding the bidirectional signaling within the gut-brain-kidney axis opens avenues for novel biomarkers and interventions in CKD management.
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spelling doaj-art-4d3085f4ec09446a83e429b931bb67432025-08-20T02:36:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-07-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.15353561535356The influence of gut microbiota on the gut-brain-kidney axis and its implications for chronic kidney diseaseJue Zhu0Yutong Fu1Yutong Fu2Chinasa Valerie Olovo3Chinasa Valerie Olovo4Jianguo Xu5Qian Wu6Wei Wei7Ke Jiang8Ke Jiang9Xueming Zheng10Xueming Zheng11Department of Nephrology, People’s Hospital of Liyang, Liyang, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, ChinaDanyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Danyang, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, ChinaDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, NigeriaDepartment of Nephrology, People’s Hospital of Liyang, Liyang, ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, People’s Hospital of Liyang, Liyang, ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, People’s Hospital of Liyang, Liyang, ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, People’s Hospital of Liyang, Liyang, ChinaDepartment of Urology, People’s Hospital of Liyang, Liyang, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, ChinaInstitute of Digestive Diseases, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, ChinaThe gut-brain-kidney axis represents a dynamic interplay among the gut microbiota, renal function, and neurological processes, emerging as a critical factor in chronic kidney disease (CKD) pathophysiology. This paper reviews recent data on the mechanisms and pathways that integrate gut-brain-kidney signaling and communication, advances in our understanding of this axis, and potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and interventions for CKD. Literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase using a combination of the keywords gut microbiota, gut microbiome, gut-brain axis, gut-kidney axis, gut-brain-kidney axis, chronic kidney disease, dysbiosis, therapy, metabolites, and neuroinflammation.” Relevant studies were selected and synthesized in this narrative review. Gut dysbiosis, characterized by microbial composition and function alterations, contributes to systemic inflammation and metabolic imbalances, exacerbating CKD progression. Uremic toxins such as indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate, derived from microbial metabolism, impair kidney function and disrupt neurocognitive health via oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, highlighting the interconnectedness of these systems. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and metabolomics have elucidated mechanisms linking gut microbiota and associated metabolites to kidney and brain health, revealing the role of microbial diversity and metabolite profiles in disease outcomes. Studies demonstrate that probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary interventions targeting the gut microbiota can modulate systemic inflammation and reduce uremic toxin levels, offering therapeutic potential. Understanding the bidirectional signaling within the gut-brain-kidney axis opens avenues for novel biomarkers and interventions in CKD management.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1535356/fullchronic kidney diseasegut-brain-kidney axisgut microbiotametabolitestherapy
spellingShingle Jue Zhu
Yutong Fu
Yutong Fu
Chinasa Valerie Olovo
Chinasa Valerie Olovo
Jianguo Xu
Qian Wu
Wei Wei
Ke Jiang
Ke Jiang
Xueming Zheng
Xueming Zheng
The influence of gut microbiota on the gut-brain-kidney axis and its implications for chronic kidney disease
Frontiers in Microbiology
chronic kidney disease
gut-brain-kidney axis
gut microbiota
metabolites
therapy
title The influence of gut microbiota on the gut-brain-kidney axis and its implications for chronic kidney disease
title_full The influence of gut microbiota on the gut-brain-kidney axis and its implications for chronic kidney disease
title_fullStr The influence of gut microbiota on the gut-brain-kidney axis and its implications for chronic kidney disease
title_full_unstemmed The influence of gut microbiota on the gut-brain-kidney axis and its implications for chronic kidney disease
title_short The influence of gut microbiota on the gut-brain-kidney axis and its implications for chronic kidney disease
title_sort influence of gut microbiota on the gut brain kidney axis and its implications for chronic kidney disease
topic chronic kidney disease
gut-brain-kidney axis
gut microbiota
metabolites
therapy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1535356/full
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