Characteristics of the gastrointestinal microbiota in paired live kidney donors and recipients. Issue 5 (5th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chan, Samuel; Morrison, Mark; Hawley, Carmel M.; Campbell, Scott B.; Francis, Ross S.; Isbel, Nicole M.; Pascoe, Elaine M.; Johnson, David W.
• Is Part Of: Nephrology. Volume 26:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 471
• Page End: 478
• Publication Date: 2021-02-05
• Subjects: gastrointestinal microbiota -- immunosuppressive agents -- kidney failure -- kidney transplantation -- transplant donors -- transplant recipients; Nephrology -- Periodicals; Kidneys -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Nephrologists -- Periodicals; 616.61; 616.61
• DOI: 10.1111/nep.13853
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1320-5358

Abstract

Abstract: Background: There are few studies that have examined whether dysbiosis occurs in kidney donors and transplant recipients following kidney transplant surgery. Aim: To ascertain whether changes occur in the gastrointestinal microbiota of the kidney donor and recipient following kidney transplantation. Methods: Kidney transplant recipients and their donors were prospectively enrolled in a pilot study to collect one faecal sample prior to, and another faecal sample between four to eight weeks following surgery. Gastrointestinal microbiota richness, Shannon diversity measures and functional assessments of kidney donors and recipients were analysed via metagenomic sequencing. Results: The study included 12 donors (median age 56 years, 6 females) and 12 recipients (median age 51 years, 3 females). Donor microbiota showed no significant changes in gastrointestinal microbiota richness, Shannon diversity, or functional assessments before and after nephrectomy. Recipient microbiota was altered post‐transplant, reflected in reductions of the mean (±SD) richness values (156 ± 46.5 to 116 ± 38.6, p = 0.002), and Shannon diversity (3.57 ± 0.49 to 3.14 ± 0.52, p = 0.007), and a dramatic increase in Roseburia spp. abundance post‐transplant (26‐fold increase from 0.16 ± 0.0091 to 4.6 ± 0.3; p = 0.006; FDR = 0.12). Functionally, the post‐transplant microbial community shifted towards those taxa using the glycolysis pathway (1.2‐fold increase; p = 0.02; FDR = 0.26) for energy metabolism, while those functions involved with reactive oxygen species degradation decreased (2.6‐fold; p = 0.006; FDR = 0.14). Conclusion: Live donor kidney transplantation and standard care post‐transplant result in significant alterations in gut microbiota richness, diversity, composition and functional parameters in kidney transplant recipients but not in their kidney donors. SUMMARY AT A GLANCE: This small study looks at gastrointestinal microbiota pre‐ and post‐living donor kidney transplantation in both the recipients and their donors. Faecal samples were analysed before, and 4–8 weeks following surgery. Kidney transplantation resulted in significant alterations in gut microbiota richness, diversity, composition and functional parameters in the recipients but not the kidney donors.