Roles of short-chain fatty acids in kidney diseases

OBJECTIVE: In kidney diseases, uncontrolled blood pressure, inflammation, oxidative stress, imbalanced immunity response, and metabolic dysfunction were associated with the progressive deterioration of renal function. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), as a group of metabolites fermented by gut microbiota exerted regulatory effects on kidney diseases through their activation of trans-membrane G protein-coupled receptors and their inhibition of histone acetylation. In this review article, we updated recent research advances that provided an opportunity to explore our understanding in physiology and function of SCFAs in kidney disease. DATA SOURCES: We performed a comprehensive search in both PubMed and Embase using “short-chain fatty acids” and “kidney” with no restrictions on publication date. STUDY SELECTION: After reading through the title and abstract for early screening, the full text of relevant studies was identified and reviewed to summarize the roles of SCFAs in kidney diseases. RESULTS: Though controversial, growing evidence suggested SCFAs appeared to have a complex but yet poorly understood communications with cellular and molecular processes that affected kidney function and responses to injury. From recent studies, SCFAs influenced multiple aspects of renal physiology including inflammation and immunity, fibrosis, blood pressure, and energy metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: The roles of intestinal SCFAs in kidney diseases were exciting regions in recent years; however, clinical trials and animal experiments in kidney diseases were still lacked. Thus, more research would be needed to obtain better understanding of SCFAs’ potential effects in kidney diseases.