The influence of mutant lactobacilli on serum creatinine and urea nitrogen concentrations and renal pathology in 5/6 nephrectomized rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the capacity of mutant lactobacilli to remove creatinine (Cr) and urea nitrogen (UN) via the gastrointestinal tract and its effects on renal pathology in the 5/6 nephrectomized rat model of chronic renal failure.


METHODS
Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a Sham group, a Model group, a wide-type Lactobacilli group (L.B group), and a Mutant Lactobacilli group (Mut-L.B group). The rats in the Model, LB and Mut-L.B groups underwent 5/6 nephrectomy. Eight weeks after administration, 24-h urine, orbital blood and digestive secretions were collected to analyze Cr and UN levels. Pathological changes in nephridial tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome staining, and the expression of TGF-β1 and FN was detected by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in urinary Cr and UN levels among the Sham, L.B and Mut-L.B groups (p > .05), while serum and digestive Cr and UN levels were significantly decreased in the Mut-L.B group (p < .01). Furthermore, renal tubular injury and interstitial fibrosis were significantly reduced and TGF-β1 and FN expression was decreased (p < .05) in the Mut-L.B group.


CONCLUSIONS
Mutant lactobacilli decreased serum Cr and UN levels, reduced the expression of TGF-β1 and FN in renal tissues and alleviated renal interstitial injury and fibrosis in a rat model of chronic renal failure in a mechanism that may involve decomposition and not just excretion of small molecule toxins in the gastrointestinal tract.
a Division of Nephrology , Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Eastern Hospital, Taipei Medical University Ningbo Medical Center , Ningbo , PR China.
Fang
F
Wang
b Division of Nephrology , The Second Xiangya Hospital, Research Institute of Nephrology, Central South University , Changsha , PR China.
Yun-Sheng
YS
Jiang
c Division of Health Management Center , Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha , PR China.
Fang
F
Liu
D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D048668:Lactobacillus delbrueckii / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009392:Nephrectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D003404:Creatinine
5/6 Nephrectomy; Lactobacillus bacteria; creatinine; fibrosis; urea nitrogen