A new study has found that a tiny molecule made by gut bacteria may play a hidden role in causing kidney failure in people with diabetes.
The molecule, called corisin, is made by bacteria in the intestines and can travel to the kidneys, where it causes inflammation, scarring, and damage.
Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Mie University in Japan made this discovery.
They studied blood samples from patients with diabetes and found higher levels of corisin in those with kidney damage. They also saw the same results in mice.
Corisin is a small peptide made by Staphylococcus bacteria in the gut. It can attach to a protein in the blood called albumin, which helps carry it through the bloodstream.
Once it reaches the kidneys, corisin breaks off and starts to damage the kidney cells. This damage leads to inflammation and scarring, which can result in kidney failure over time.
“We believe corisin is a hidden cause of kidney damage in diabetes,” said Professor Isaac Cann from the University of Illinois. “Blocking this molecule could be a new way to protect the kidneys.”
To test this, researchers gave mice a special antibody to block corisin. The treatment slowed down the kidney damage and reduced scarring. While this antibody is not yet approved for people, it could lead to new treatments in the future.
Corisin appears to make kidney cells age faster and die, which creates scar tissue. This fibrosis leads to kidney failure, a serious problem for many people with diabetes.
“Right now, we have no treatment that can stop or reverse kidney scarring,” said Dr. Taro Yasuma, the lead author of the study. “If we can stop corisin, we may be able to slow down this process.”
The research team is now planning to test the antibody in larger animals like pigs, and hopes it could one day help people with diabetes. The universities have already filed a joint invention disclosure for the antibody.
The study was published in the journal Nature Communications and supported by several Japanese science organizations and the Charles and Margaret Levin Family Foundation.
“Blocking corisin could improve the quality of life for many patients,” said Dr. Cann.
The study is published in Nature Communications.
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