Intestinal dysbacteriosis leads to kidney stone disease

The formation and physicochemical properties of kidney stones (KSs) are closely associated with diet. In view of the differences in ethnicity and dietary composition between Chinese and Western populations, the present study aimed to investigate the association between intestinal dysbacteriosis and KSs in China. The current study examined the differences in intestinal microbes between the KS disease (KSD) and the healthy control (HLT) groups, and statistically significant differences based on 16s rRNA gene amplicons were identified using a Student's t-test or one-way ANOVA. In addition, the calcium oxalate KS (COKS), uric acid KS (UAKS) and carbonate apatite KS(CCKS) groups were compared with a non-parametric statistical test. Determination of bacterial abundance was performed via the analysis of 16s rRNA marker gene sequences using next-generation sequencing. Firmicutes (F) and Bacteroides (B) levels were significantly higher in the KSD group compared with the HLT group (B/F=0.67 vs. 0.08; P<0.001), as were the overall levels of B (6.19-fold higher compared with the HLT group; 22.2 vs. 3.6%; P<0.001). The Prevotella-9 abundance levels in the KSD group were 4.65-fold higher compared with those in the HLT group (8.8 vs. 1.9%; P<0.001). The levels of Blautia and Lachnoclostridium were significantly decreased in the KSD group (13.3 vs. 6.0%; and 5.0 vs. 7.9%; both P<0.05). Moreover, Prevotella-9 levels were higher in non-calciferous KSs (UAKS) compared with calciferous KSs (COKS and CCKS). Therefore, the findings of the present study indicated a key association between specific KS components and intestinal flora, providing a theoretical basis for new treatment methods for KSs. Moreover, differences and interactions between these bacteria could initially predict specific types of urolithiasis.