Vitamin D is involved in the effects of the intestinal flora and its related metabolite TMAO on perirenal fat and kidneys in mice with DKD

This study investigated the impact of vitamin D on perirenal adipose tissue (PRAT), gut microbiota, and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in mice with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Different concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D3 were administered to DKD mice, and various analyses were performed, including 16S rRNA sequencing, qPCR, histological staining, and immunofluorescence. Results showed that 1,25-(OH)2D3 improved gut dysbiosis, reduced kidney damage, decreased fat infiltration, and downregulated TLR4/NF-κB expression. Serum TMAO levels were positively correlated with urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR). Vitamin D stimulated the expression of PGC1α and UCP-1 in PRAT, while TMAO downregulated VDR expression in PRAT and kidneys. The study concludes that vitamin D's protective effects in DKD may involve modulating gut microbiota, TMAO, and PRAT.

Xiaodi Zheng, Yuhong Huang, Mengxue Yang, Lulu Jin, Xuemeng Zhang, Rui Zhang, Yueyue Wu, Cuili Yan, Yuan Gao, Miao Zeng, Fei Li, Xue Zhou, Neng Zhang, Jun Liu, Bingbing Zha