Characterization of gut dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and chronic kidney disease: a comparative study

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 15481 - 15
• Main Authors: Dissayabutra, Thasinas, Chuaypen, Natthaya, Somnark, Pornjira, Boonkaew, Bootsakorn, Udomkarnjananun, Suwasin, Kittiskulnam, Piyawan, Charoenchittang, Pimpisa, Prombutara, Pinidphon, Tangkijvanich, Pisit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 03.05.2025; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 692/4020; 692/4022; 692/699; Acetic acid; Adult; Aged; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - genetics; Case-Control Studies; CKD; CoA transferase; Comparative studies; Digestive system; Dysbacteriosis; Dysbiosis; Dysbiosis - microbiology; Fatty acid-binding protein; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins - blood; Fatty Liver - metabolism; Fatty Liver - microbiology; Feces - microbiology; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gastrointestinal tract; Gene expression; Gut microbiome; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Intestinal microflora; Intestine; Kidney diseases; Kidneys; Leaky gut; Liver diseases; Male; MASLD; Metabolism; Microbiota; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Pathogenesis; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - metabolism; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic - microbiology; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; rRNA; SCFAs; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); SCFAs; Dysbiosis; MASLD; Gut microbiome; CKD; Leaky gut
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-00237-6

The mechanistic role of gut microbiota in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly recognized. Despite their close association, comparative data regarding gut dysbiosis in these disorders are limited. This study included 22 healthy controls and 180 patients (90 MASLD, 60 CKD, and 30 both diseases with sex- and age-matched). Fecal bacterial 16 S ribosomal RNA sequencing and butyryl-CoA: acetate CoA transferase (BCoAT) gene expression were analyzed. Plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), representing intestinal barrier dysfunction, was assessed using the ELISA method. Our data showed that alpha and beta diversities of gut microbiota differed between MASLD and healthy controls. However, only beta diversities were different between CKD and healthy individuals. The MASLD and CKD groups displayed fewer SCFA-producing genera, particularly Bifidobacterium , than healthy controls. Fecal BCoAT levels were inversely correlated with eGFR and I-FABP levels. Patients with CKD had significantly enriched pathogenic bacteria, reduced BCoAT, and increased I-FABP levels versus MASLD. Combining significant bacterial genera discriminated MASLD from CKD with high diagnostic accuracy (AUC of 0.90). Among patients with both diseases, gut microbial alterations showed mixed characteristics of MASLD and CKD. These data highlighted the shared and distinct gut dysbiosis and related biomarkers, which could provide a better understanding of MASLD and CKD pathogenesis.