by A recent study conducted by researchers from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and the University Hospital Bonn has revealed that certain derivatives of vitamin B2 may provide relief for individuals suffering from chronic kidney inflammation. The findings of this study have been published in the journal Nature Communications.
Chronic kidney inflammation, known as glomerulonephritis, encompasses various conditions that can result in the loss of renal function. Many of these conditions are caused by immune responses that harm the kidney tissue. While immunosuppressive medications can be used to treat glomerulonephritis, sometimes it is not possible to halt the self-destructive immune response. This can ultimately lead to complete renal failure, necessitating dialysis or a kidney transplant.
The research team, led by Professor Jan-Eric Turner from the Center for Internal Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and Professor Christian Kurts from the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology at the University Hospital Bonn, discovered that specific metabolites of vitamin B2 could support the treatment of these conditions.
The researchers were the first to observe the presence of mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) in healthy and inflamed human kidneys. These rare immune cells are typically found in mucosal tissues like the intestines and lungs, where they serve as sentinels against infections. They are activated by metabolites of vitamins B2 and B9, which are produced by many infectious bacteria, and subsequently trigger defense responses, explains Professor Kurts.
In the kidneys of patients with glomerulonephritis, as well as in mice with similar disease models, these rare immune cells were activated by mononuclear phagocytes, the resident immune cells in the kidneys, which produce molecules that attract MAIT cells, as detailed by Professor Turner. Mice that lacked MAIT cells or were unable to attract them through mononuclear phagocytes experienced more severe progression of glomerulonephritis. Conversely, mice with a higher number of MAIT cells showed protection.
These findings suggest that MAIT cells play a protective role in kidney health. In a therapeutic trial, the researchers treated mice with glomerulonephritis using an artificial vitamin B2 metabolite that mimicked the natural ligand. This treatment successfully alleviated the progression of the disease.
Although the protective effect was not strong enough to completely prevent experimental glomerulonephritis, Professor Kurts acknowledges, the researchers believe that it could be used as a supplementary therapy to enhance existing treatments or reduce the required dosage of glucocorticoids. However, further research and clinical trials are necessary before this becomes a viable option in therapy, notes Professor Turner.
