AUTHOR=Tian Yu , Gu Chaoqun , Yan Feng , Gu Yifeng , Feng Yangkun , Chen Jie , Sheng Jiayi , Hu Lei , Jiang Peng , Guo Wei , Feng Ninghan 

TITLE=Alteration of Skin Microbiome in CKD Patients Is Associated With Pruritus and Renal Function

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.923581

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2022.923581

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=Dysbiotic gut microbiome in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients has been extensively explored in recent years. Skin microbiome plays a crucial role in patients with skin diseases or even systemic disorders. Pruritus is caused by the retention of uremic solutes in the skin. Until now, no studies have investigated the role of skin microbiome in CKD and its association with pruritus. Here, we aim to examine the bacterial profile of skin microbiome in CKD and whether it is correlated to pruritus. 105 CKD patients and 38 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Skin swab was used to collect skin samples at the antecubital fossa of participants. Bacterial 16S rRNA genes V3-V4 region was sequenced on NovaSeq platform. On the day of skin sample collection, renal function was assessed and numeric rating scale was used to measure pruritus severity. PCoA revealed a significant difference in bacterial composition between the groups of CKD and HC. A depletion of bacterial diversity was observed in CKD patients. Akkermansia, Albimonas, Escherichia-Shigella etc. showed significant higher abundance in CKD patients, whereas Flavobacterium, Blastomonas, Lautropia etc. significantly declined in patients. Escherichia Shigella achieved an acceptable diagnostic biomarker with AUC value of 0.784 in receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. In addition, CKD patients with pruritus (P-CKD) had a different bacterial community comparing to those without pruritus (nonP-CKD) and HC group. Several bacterial genera showing significant difference between P-CKD and nonP-CKD/HC, such as Oribacterium significantly declined in P-CKD patients than that in HC group, and Methylophaga significantly increased in P-CKD patients comparing to HC subjects. Escherichia -Shigella was positively associated with the levels of pruritus severity, BUN, uric acid, urine protein; Oribacterium was negatively associated with pruritus severity, whereas positively associated with estimated glomeruar filtration rate (eGFR) and 24-hour urine volume. The dysbiotic of skin microbiome in CKD patients and its association with pruritus and renal function shed a light on skin probiotics.