Deciphering the causal link between gut microbiota and membranous nephropathy: insights into potential inflammatory mechanisms

Background Membranous nephropathy (MN), a leading cause of adult nephrotic syndrome and renal failure, has been linked to gut microbiota (GM) and their metabolites. However, direct causal relationships and therapeutic implications remain unclear.Methods We utilized a comprehensive GWAS dataset that...

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Main Authors: Jianbo Qing, Changqun Li, Nan Jiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Renal Failure
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2476053
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author Jianbo Qing
Changqun Li
Nan Jiao
author_facet Jianbo Qing
Changqun Li
Nan Jiao
author_sort Jianbo Qing
collection DOAJ
description Background Membranous nephropathy (MN), a leading cause of adult nephrotic syndrome and renal failure, has been linked to gut microbiota (GM) and their metabolites. However, direct causal relationships and therapeutic implications remain unclear.Methods We utilized a comprehensive GWAS dataset that encompasses GM, metabolites, and MN through two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, bidirectional MR evaluations, and detailed sensitivity tests.Results We identified strong causal associations between nine specific types of GM, including class Clostridia (OR = 1.816, 95%CI: 1.021–3.236, p = .042), class Melainabacteria (OR = 0.661, 95%CI: 0.439–0.996, p = .048), order Gastranaerophilales (OR = 0.689, 95%CI: 0.480–0.996, p = .044), genus Alistipes (OR = 0.480, 95%CI: 0.223–0.998, p = .049), genus Butyricicoccus (OR = 0.464, 95%CI: 0.216–0.995, p = .048), genus Butyrivibrio (OR = 0.799, 95%CI: 0.639–0.998, p = .048), genus Ruminococcaceae UCG003 (OR = 0.563, 95%CI: 0.362–0.877, p = .011), genus Streptococcus (OR = 0.619, 95%CI: 0.393–0.973, p = .038), and genus Oscillibacter (OR = 1.90, 95%CI: 1.06–3.40, p = .031). Additionally, the metabolite tryptophan also exhibited a significant causal influence on MN (OR = 0.852, 95%CI: 0.754–0.963, p = .010). Sensitivity and reverse MR analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. Further exploration using gutMGene database suggests that GM may influence MN by affecting the release of inflammatory factors and modulating inflammatory pathways.Conclusion This study offers a comprehensive understanding of the causal links between GM, their metabolites, and MN, which highlight potential pathways for developing new preventive and therapeutic strategies for this condition.
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spelling doaj-art-9320719b658e4930acd3a23ef3e873462025-08-20T02:38:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupRenal Failure0886-022X1525-60492025-12-0147110.1080/0886022X.2025.2476053Deciphering the causal link between gut microbiota and membranous nephropathy: insights into potential inflammatory mechanismsJianbo Qing0Changqun Li1Nan Jiao2Department of Nephrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, Shanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaBackground Membranous nephropathy (MN), a leading cause of adult nephrotic syndrome and renal failure, has been linked to gut microbiota (GM) and their metabolites. However, direct causal relationships and therapeutic implications remain unclear.Methods We utilized a comprehensive GWAS dataset that encompasses GM, metabolites, and MN through two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, bidirectional MR evaluations, and detailed sensitivity tests.Results We identified strong causal associations between nine specific types of GM, including class Clostridia (OR = 1.816, 95%CI: 1.021–3.236, p = .042), class Melainabacteria (OR = 0.661, 95%CI: 0.439–0.996, p = .048), order Gastranaerophilales (OR = 0.689, 95%CI: 0.480–0.996, p = .044), genus Alistipes (OR = 0.480, 95%CI: 0.223–0.998, p = .049), genus Butyricicoccus (OR = 0.464, 95%CI: 0.216–0.995, p = .048), genus Butyrivibrio (OR = 0.799, 95%CI: 0.639–0.998, p = .048), genus Ruminococcaceae UCG003 (OR = 0.563, 95%CI: 0.362–0.877, p = .011), genus Streptococcus (OR = 0.619, 95%CI: 0.393–0.973, p = .038), and genus Oscillibacter (OR = 1.90, 95%CI: 1.06–3.40, p = .031). Additionally, the metabolite tryptophan also exhibited a significant causal influence on MN (OR = 0.852, 95%CI: 0.754–0.963, p = .010). Sensitivity and reverse MR analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. Further exploration using gutMGene database suggests that GM may influence MN by affecting the release of inflammatory factors and modulating inflammatory pathways.Conclusion This study offers a comprehensive understanding of the causal links between GM, their metabolites, and MN, which highlight potential pathways for developing new preventive and therapeutic strategies for this condition.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2476053Membranous nephropathyGut microbiotaMetabolitesMendelian randomizationInflammation
spellingShingle Jianbo Qing
Changqun Li
Nan Jiao
Deciphering the causal link between gut microbiota and membranous nephropathy: insights into potential inflammatory mechanisms
Renal Failure
Membranous nephropathy
Gut microbiota
Metabolites
Mendelian randomization
Inflammation
title Deciphering the causal link between gut microbiota and membranous nephropathy: insights into potential inflammatory mechanisms
title_full Deciphering the causal link between gut microbiota and membranous nephropathy: insights into potential inflammatory mechanisms
title_fullStr Deciphering the causal link between gut microbiota and membranous nephropathy: insights into potential inflammatory mechanisms
title_full_unstemmed Deciphering the causal link between gut microbiota and membranous nephropathy: insights into potential inflammatory mechanisms
title_short Deciphering the causal link between gut microbiota and membranous nephropathy: insights into potential inflammatory mechanisms
title_sort deciphering the causal link between gut microbiota and membranous nephropathy insights into potential inflammatory mechanisms
topic Membranous nephropathy
Gut microbiota
Metabolites
Mendelian randomization
Inflammation
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2476053
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AT changqunli decipheringthecausallinkbetweengutmicrobiotaandmembranousnephropathyinsightsintopotentialinflammatorymechanisms
AT nanjiao decipheringthecausallinkbetweengutmicrobiotaandmembranousnephropathyinsightsintopotentialinflammatorymechanisms