| Theme |
Genome medicine and novel therapeutic targets of kidney diseases |
| Title |
Comprehensive genetic approach and tonsillar microbiome analysis for IgA nephropathy |
| Author |
Hiroki Yamaguchi |
Division of Clinical Nephrology and Rheumatology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences |
| Author |
Shin Goto |
Division of Clinical Nephrology and Rheumatology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences |
| Author |
Ichiei Narita |
Division of Clinical Nephrology and Rheumatology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences |
| [ Summary ] |
Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of primary glomerular disease. The mucosal immune response in the tonsils has been estimated to be involved in the development of the condition. Particularly in Japan, tonsillectomies for clinical remission have been widely performed. However, the etiology of IgAN and the scientific rationales for tonsillectomies has not been established. A number of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for IgAN have been published. The results of these studies have demonstrated that substantial IgAN risk loci are shared with other autoimmune disorders and contribute to the regulation of mucosal immune responses to pathogens. Recently, genetic analysis technologies such as next-generation sequencing have been developed. By using these high through-put sequencing platforms, we have investigated the tonsillar microbiome of IgAN patients to explore the possible bacterial composition specific to IgAN. Although we have not detected any specificity for IgAN in terms of bacterial composition, further studies of the relationship between the mucosal immune response system and bacterial cultures residing in the tonsils are required to reveal mechanisms associated with the development of IgAN. |