Fecal microbiota transplantation is a promising therapy for kidney diseases
Kidney diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), pose growing global public health challenges. With the emergence and expanding understanding of the “microbiota–gut–kidney axis,” increasing evidence indicates that intestinal barrier disruption, abnormal microbia...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1628722/full |
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| author | Jiawei Zhang Jiawei Zhang Xiangge Ren Xiangge Ren Bing Li Bing Li Zhifen Zhao Zhifen Zhao Shoudao Li Shoudao Li Wensheng Zhai Wensheng Zhai |
| author_facet | Jiawei Zhang Jiawei Zhang Xiangge Ren Xiangge Ren Bing Li Bing Li Zhifen Zhao Zhifen Zhao Shoudao Li Shoudao Li Wensheng Zhai Wensheng Zhai |
| author_sort | Jiawei Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Kidney diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), pose growing global public health challenges. With the emergence and expanding understanding of the “microbiota–gut–kidney axis,” increasing evidence indicates that intestinal barrier disruption, abnormal microbial metabolite production, and intestinal mucosal immune dysregulation play critical roles in the pathogenesis of various kidney diseases. Therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiota through probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and natural products has shown potential for slowing kidney disease progression. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a direct method of reconstructing gut microbial communities, has demonstrated promise in CKD by targeting mechanisms such as inhibition of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), attenuation of inflammation and immune activation, and restoration of intestinal barrier integrity. Although FMT has not yet been applied to AKI, its use in CKD subtypes, such as diabetic nephropathy, IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, has shown encouraging preclinical and preliminary clinical results. This review systematically summarizes the current research on FMT in the context of kidney disease, evaluates its therapeutic mechanisms and feasibility, and highlights its limitations. Most studies remain in the preclinical stage, while available clinical trials are limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous designs, and lack of standardization. To enhance the translational potential of FMT in nephrology, future studies should incorporate artificial intelligence for personalized intervention strategies and establish standardized protocols to ensure safety, efficacy, and reproducibility. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-52a83a6bdf1e4d79af23f30770da8d67 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-52a83a6bdf1e4d79af23f30770da8d672025-08-20T02:41:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-07-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16287221628722Fecal microbiota transplantation is a promising therapy for kidney diseasesJiawei Zhang0Jiawei Zhang1Xiangge Ren2Xiangge Ren3Bing Li4Bing Li5Zhifen Zhao6Zhifen Zhao7Shoudao Li8Shoudao Li9Wensheng Zhai10Wensheng Zhai11The Pediatric Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaCollege of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaThe Pediatric Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaCollege of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaThe Pediatric Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaCollege of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaThe Pediatric Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaCollege of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaThe Pediatric Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaCollege of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaThe Pediatric Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaCollege of Pediatrics, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaKidney diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), pose growing global public health challenges. With the emergence and expanding understanding of the “microbiota–gut–kidney axis,” increasing evidence indicates that intestinal barrier disruption, abnormal microbial metabolite production, and intestinal mucosal immune dysregulation play critical roles in the pathogenesis of various kidney diseases. Therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiota through probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and natural products has shown potential for slowing kidney disease progression. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a direct method of reconstructing gut microbial communities, has demonstrated promise in CKD by targeting mechanisms such as inhibition of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), attenuation of inflammation and immune activation, and restoration of intestinal barrier integrity. Although FMT has not yet been applied to AKI, its use in CKD subtypes, such as diabetic nephropathy, IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, has shown encouraging preclinical and preliminary clinical results. This review systematically summarizes the current research on FMT in the context of kidney disease, evaluates its therapeutic mechanisms and feasibility, and highlights its limitations. Most studies remain in the preclinical stage, while available clinical trials are limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous designs, and lack of standardization. To enhance the translational potential of FMT in nephrology, future studies should incorporate artificial intelligence for personalized intervention strategies and establish standardized protocols to ensure safety, efficacy, and reproducibility.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1628722/fullacute kidney injurychronic kidney diseasegut microbiotamicrobial-derived metabolitesfecal microbiota transplantation |
| spellingShingle | Jiawei Zhang Jiawei Zhang Xiangge Ren Xiangge Ren Bing Li Bing Li Zhifen Zhao Zhifen Zhao Shoudao Li Shoudao Li Wensheng Zhai Wensheng Zhai Fecal microbiota transplantation is a promising therapy for kidney diseases Frontiers in Medicine acute kidney injury chronic kidney disease gut microbiota microbial-derived metabolites fecal microbiota transplantation |
| title | Fecal microbiota transplantation is a promising therapy for kidney diseases |
| title_full | Fecal microbiota transplantation is a promising therapy for kidney diseases |
| title_fullStr | Fecal microbiota transplantation is a promising therapy for kidney diseases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fecal microbiota transplantation is a promising therapy for kidney diseases |
| title_short | Fecal microbiota transplantation is a promising therapy for kidney diseases |
| title_sort | fecal microbiota transplantation is a promising therapy for kidney diseases |
| topic | acute kidney injury chronic kidney disease gut microbiota microbial-derived metabolites fecal microbiota transplantation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1628722/full |
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