AUTHOR=Hu Jialin , Wei Shichao , Gu Yifeng , Wang Yang , Feng Yangkun , Sheng Jiayi , Hu Lei , Gu Chaoqun , Jiang Peng , Tian Yu , Guo Wei , Lv Longxian , Liu Fengping , Zou Yeqing , Yan Feng , Feng Ninghan 

TITLE=Gut Mycobiome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Was Altered and Associated With Immunological Profiles

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.843695

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.843695

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objectives</title><p>Mounting evidence suggests that bacterial dysbiosis and immunity disorder are associated with patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the mycobiome is beginning to gain recognition as a fundamental part of our microbiome. We aim to characterize the profile of the mycobiome in the gut of CKD patients and its correlation to serum immunological profiles.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods and materials</title><p>Ninety-two CKD patients and sex–age–body mass index (BMI)–matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Fresh samples were collected using sterile containers. ITS transcribed spacer ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was performed on the samples. An immunoturbidimetric test was used to assess the serum levels of immunological features.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The CKD cohort displayed a different microbial community from that in the HC cohort according to principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). (<italic>P</italic>=0.001). The comparison of the two cohorts showed that the CKD cohort had significantly higher gut microbial richness and diversity (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). The CKD cohort had lower abundances of <italic>Candida</italic>, <italic>Bjerkandera</italic>, <italic>Rhodotorula</italic>, and <italic>Ganoderma</italic> compared to the HC cohort, while it had higher <italic>Saccharomyces</italic> (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). However, the microbial community alteration was inconsistent with the severity of kidney damage in patients, as only patients in CKD stage 1~3 had differed microbial community concerning for HCs based on PCoA (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). The serum concentration of the kappa light chain in CKD patients was positively associated with <italic>Saccharomyces</italic>, whereas the it was negatively associated with <italic>Ganoderma</italic> (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>Not only was gut mycobiome dysbiosis observed in CKD patients, but the dysbiosis was also associated with the immunological disorder. These findings suggest that therapeutic strategies targeting gut mycobiome might be effective.</p></sec>