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Resistant starch supplementation effects on plasma indole 3-acetic acid and aryl hydrocarbon receptor mRNA expression in hemodialysis patients: Randomized, double blind and controlled clinical trial

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Gut microbiota imbalance is linked to high uremic toxins production such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in chronic kidney disease patients. This toxin can activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated transcription factor involved with inflammation. Strategies to restore gut microbiota balance can be associated with reduced production of IAA and its deleterious effects. This study aimed to evaluate prebiotic resistant starch (RS) supplementation effects on IAA plasma levels and AhR mRNA expression in CKD patients on hemodialysis (HD).

Methods:

This randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated forty-two stable HD patients allocated in RS (n=22) or placebo (n=20) groups. Patients received, alternately, cookies and sachets containing 16 g/day of RS (Hi-Maize 260®) or manioc flour for four weeks. Fasting pre-dialysis blood samples were collected and IAA plasma levels measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and processed for AhR and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) mRNA expression analyzes by quantitative real-time PCR. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, as well as food intake were also evaluated.

Results:

Thirty-one patients completed the study, 15 in the RS group and 16 in the placebo group. Although there was no significant alteration in IAA plasma levels, neither in AhR mRNA expression and NF-κB mRNA expression after RS supplementation, a positive correlation (r=0.48; p=0.03) was observed between IAA plasma levels and AhR expression at baseline.

Conclusion:

Even though prebiotic RS supplementation did not influence IAA levels or AhR expression, their positive association reinforces a possible interaction between them.

Keywords:
Prebiotics; Aryl hydrocarbon receptor; Inflammation; Chronic kidney disease; hemodialysis

RESUMO

Introdução:

O desequilíbrio da microbiota intestinal associa-se à alta produção de toxinas urêmicas tais como ácido indol-3-acético (AIA), em renais crônicos. Essa toxina ativa o receptor aril hidrocarboneto (AhR) - fator de transcrição ativado por ligante, na inflamação. Restaurar o equilíbrio da microbiota intestinal associa-se à produção reduzida de AIA e efeitos deletérios. Avaliamos os efeitos da suplementação de amido resistente prebiótico (AR) sobre AIA sérico e expressão de AhR mRNA em renais crônicos em HD.

Métodos:

Estudo clínico randomizado, duplo-cego, controlado por placebo, com 42 pacientes em HD, nos grupos AR (n = 22) ou placebo (n = 20). Os pacientes receberam, alternadamente, biscoitos e sachês com 16 g/dia de AR ou polvilho - 4 semanas. Coletamos amostras de sangue em jejum pré-diálise e medimos níveis séricos de AIA por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. Isolamos e processamos as células mononucleares do sangue periférico para avaliar expressão AhR mRNA e NF-κB por PCR quantitativo em tempo real. Avaliamos parâmetros antropométricos, bioquímicos e ingestão alimentar.

Resultados:

31 pacientes, 15 AR e 16 no placebo. Apesar de não apresentarem alteração significativa nos níveis de AIA, nas expressões de AhR ou NF-κB mRNA pós- suplementação com AR, foi verificada uma correlação positiva (r = 0,48; p = 0,03) entre AIA sérico e expressão de AhR na linha basal.

Conclusão:

Embora a suplementação com o prebiótico de AR não tenha influenciado os níveis de AIA ou a expressão de AhR, sua associação positiva reforça possível interação entre eles.

Palavras-chave:
Prebióticos; Receptor aril hidrocarboneto; Inflamação; Doença renal crônica; hemodiálise

INTRODUCTION

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor allocated in the basic helix-loop-helix subgroup of the Per-Arnt-Sim family of transcription factors, a class of proteins that are considered environmental sensors, widely expressed at central and systemic level11 Mimura J, Fujii-Kuriyama Y. Functional role of AhR in the expression of toxic effects by TCDD. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2003 Feb;1619(3):263-8.. AhR was firstly identified as a transcription factor related to the metabolism of xenobiotics, with the main activator binder being dioxins22 Poland A, Glover E, Kende AS. Stereospecific, high affinity binding of 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin by hepatic cytosol. Evidence that the binding species is receptor for induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase. J Biol Chem 1976 Aug;251(16):4936-46.. Since then, it has been extensively studied as a mediator of cellular responses against environmental toxicants. The latest findings show that in addition to dioxins, other endogenous ligands are capable of activating it, thereby associating AhR to the various physiological pathways needed to maintain homeostasis in different tissues and cell types of animals and humans33 Nguyen LP, Bradfield CA. The search for endogenous activators of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Chem Res Toxicol. 2008 Jan;21(1):102-16.

4 Bock KW. From dioxin toxicity to putative physiologic functions of the human Ah receptor in homeostasis of stem/progenitor cells. Biochem Pharmacol 2017 Jan;123:1-7.

5 Mulero-Navarro S, Fernandez-Salguero P. New trends in aryl hydrocarbon receptor biology. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2016 May;4:45.

6 Nebert DW. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR): "pioneer member" of the basichelix/loop/helix per-Arnt-sim (bHLH/PAS) family of "sensors" of foreign and endogenous signals. Prog Lipid Res. 2017;67:38-57.
-77 Pohjanvirta R. The AH receptor in biology and toxicology. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 2012.. Among those endogenous ligands are tryptophan metabolism-derived uremic toxins, such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)88 Schroeder JC, Dinatale BC, Murray IA, Flaveny CA, Liu Q, Laurenzana EM, et al. The uremic toxin 3-indoxyl sulfate is a potent endogenous agonist for the human aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Biochemistry. 2010 Jan;49(2):393-400..

Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, is present in animal foods such as meat, milk, and eggs and when it reaches the colon, tryptophan can be fermented by the microbiota and produce IAA99 Zhu W, Stevens AP, Dettmer K, Gottfried E, Hoves S, Kreutz M, et al. Quantitative profiling of tryptophan metabolites in serum, urine, and cell culture supernatants by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2011 Dec;401(10):3249-61.,1010 Ramezani A, Massy ZA, Meijers B, Evenepoel P, Vanholder R, Raj DS. Role of the gut microbiome in uremia: a potential therapeutic target. Am J Kidney Dis. 2016 Mar;67(3):483-98.. In a healthy individual, uremic toxins are easily excreted by the kidneys, but in chronic kidney disease (CKD) their clearance is impaired, and dialysis is not able to filter them because they are strongly bounded to serum albumin1111 Deltombe O, Van Biesen W, Glorieux G, Massy Z, Dhondt A, Eloot S. Exploring protein binding of uremic toxins in patients with different stages of chronic kidney disease and during hemodialysis. Toxins. 2015 Sep;7(10):3933-46..

Uremic toxins have been associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as progression of CKD1212 Motojima M, Hosokawa A, Yamato H, Muraki T, Yoshioka T. Uremic toxins of organic anions up-regulate PAI-1 expression by induction of NF-kappa B and free radical in proximal tubular cells. Kidney Int. 2003 May;63(5):1671-80.,1313 Dou L, Bertrand E, Cerini C, Faure V, Sampol J, Vanholder R, et al. The uremic solutes p-cresol and indoxyl sulfate inhibit endothelial proliferation and wound repair. Kidney Int. 2004 Feb;65(2):442-51. and higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD)1414 Schepers E, Meert N, Glorieux G, Goeman J, Van der Eycken J, Vanholder R. P-cresylsulphate, the main in vivo metabolite of p-cresol, activates leucocyte free radical production. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2007 Mar;22(2):592-6.

15 Barreto FC, Barreto DV, Liabeuf S, Meert N, Glorieux G, Temmar M, et al. European Uremic Toxin Work Group (EUTox). Serum indoxyl sulfate is associated with vascular disease and mortality in chronic kidney disease patients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Oct;4(10):1551-8.
-1616 Dou L, Sallée M, Cerini C, Poitevin S, Gondouin B, Jourde-Chiche N, et al. The cardiovascular effect of the uremic solute indole-3 acetic acid. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015 Apr;26(4):876-87.. Among the uremic toxin, IAA has been associated with the pathogenesis of CVD by stimulating the production of procoagulant tissue factors1717 Gondouin B, Cerini C, Dou L, Sallé M, Duval-Sabatier A, Pletinck A, et al. Indolic uremic solutes increase tissue factor production in endothelial cells by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway. Kidney Int. 2013 Oct;84(4):733-44. and by the activation of pro-inflammatory mechanisms1616 Dou L, Sallée M, Cerini C, Poitevin S, Gondouin B, Jourde-Chiche N, et al. The cardiovascular effect of the uremic solute indole-3 acetic acid. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015 Apr;26(4):876-87.,1818 Wu D, Nishimura N, Kuo V, Fiehn O, Shahbaz S, Van Winkle L, et al. Activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor induces vascular inflammation and promotes atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein e-/- mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2011 Jun;31(6):1260-7.. Indeed, IAA - a tryptophan metabolite - is picked up into the cell by transporters of organic anions and binds to AhR complex, activating it and triggering inflammatory signaling response trough AhR binding1919 Brito JS, Borges NA, Esgalhado M, Magliano DC, Soulage CO, Mafra D. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation in chronic kidney disease: role of uremic toxins. Nephron. 2017;137(1):1-7.. In addition, when the uremic toxins are bound to AhR, the hypoxia-induced factor 2 alpha (HIF2α) is not translocated to the nucleus and the gene erythropoietin expression is reduced leading to anemia2020 Asai H, Hirata J, Hirano A, Hirai K, Seki S, Watanabe-Akanuma M. Activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor mediates suppression of hypoxia-inducible factor-dependent erythropoietin expression by indoxyl sulfate. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2016 Jan;310(2):142-50.. It is important to notice that AhR activation also involves many physiological functions like fetal development and CD4+ T-cell differentiation1919 Brito JS, Borges NA, Esgalhado M, Magliano DC, Soulage CO, Mafra D. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation in chronic kidney disease: role of uremic toxins. Nephron. 2017;137(1):1-7..

Uremic toxin-AhR complex translocate into the nucleus and dissociates from the stabilizer protein complex to be able to form a heterodimeric complex with aryl hydrocarbon nuclear translocator inducing the production of free radicals and inflammatory cytokines2121 Motojima M, Hosokawa A, Yamato H, Muraki T, Yoshioka T. Uraemic toxins induce proximal tubular injury via organic anion transporter 1-mediated uptake. Br J Pharmacol. 2002 Jan;135(2):555-63.,2222 Enoki Y, Watanabe H, Arake R, Sugimoto R, Imafuku T, Tominaga Y, et al. Indoxyl sulfate potentiates skeletal muscle atrophy by inducing the oxidative stress-mediated expression of myostatin and atrogin-1. Sci Rep. 2016 Aug;6:32084..

Studies have suggested that supplementation of dietary fibers with prebiotic function, like resistant starch (RS), may exert a possible modulatory effect on the intestinal microbiota in CKD patients, reducing the production of uremic toxins, thereby reducing inflammation and oxidative stress2323 Sirich TL, Plummer NS, Gardner CD, Hostetter TH, Meyer TW. Effect of increasing dietary fiber on plasma levels of colon-derived solutes in hemodialysis patients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014 Sep;9(9):1603-10.

24 Vaziri ND, Liu SM, Lau WL, Khazaeli M, Nazertehrani S, Farzaneh SH, et al. High amylose resistant starch diet ameliorates oxidative stress, inflammation, and progression of chronic kidney disease. PLoS One. 2014 Dec;9(12):e114881.
-2525 Kieffer DA, Piccolo BD, Vaziri ND, Liu S, Lau WL, Khazaeli M, et al. Resistant starch alters gut microbiome and metabolomic profiles concurrent with amelioration of chronic kidney disease in rats. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2016 May;310(9):F857-71.. In addition, we recently reported that RS supplementation for 4 weeks can ameliorate uremic toxins levels, oxidative stress markers, and IL-62626 Esgalhado M, Kemp JA, Azevedo R, Paiva BR, Stockler-Pinto MB, Dolenga CJ, et al. Could resistant starch supplementation improve inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and uremic toxins levels in hemodialysis patients? A pilot randomized controlled trial. Food Funct. 2018 Dec;9(12):6508-16.. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of RS supplementation on IAA plasma levels and AhR mRNA expression in the CKD.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

STUDY POPULATION

The detailed characteristics of patients has been published elsewhere2626 Esgalhado M, Kemp JA, Azevedo R, Paiva BR, Stockler-Pinto MB, Dolenga CJ, et al. Could resistant starch supplementation improve inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and uremic toxins levels in hemodialysis patients? A pilot randomized controlled trial. Food Funct. 2018 Dec;9(12):6508-16.. Patients received a diet prescription of 1.2 to 1.4 g protein/kg/day and 30-35 kcal/kg/day, as recommended for HD patients, according to their needs. Dietary monitoring was performed by the nutritionist of the clinic and directed according to the biochemical exams of the patients. Drugs used by both groups were similar, including iron, erythropoietin, antihypertensive, and phosphorus chelators. The sample size calculation was performed using the G-Power software, with a test power of 80%, considering the CRP as the main outcome, 5% significance level (two-tailed), and 17 patients for each group.

STUDY DESIGN

This longitudinal, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted between 2016 and 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was a secondary analysis of the RS supplementation study. Blood samples from HD patients, recruited into the study previously described2626 Esgalhado M, Kemp JA, Azevedo R, Paiva BR, Stockler-Pinto MB, Dolenga CJ, et al. Could resistant starch supplementation improve inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and uremic toxins levels in hemodialysis patients? A pilot randomized controlled trial. Food Funct. 2018 Dec;9(12):6508-16. were analyzed for IAA plasma levels and AhR mRNA expression.

Briefly, patients were randomized in two groups, RS and placebo, to receive during 4 weeks the corresponding supplementation (16 g Hi-Maize 260®, Ingredion or manioc flour, Yoki). Patients received the respective supplementation in the intercalated form of cookies (1 package/day with 9 units, delivered during the dialysis session for on-site consumption) and powder (1 sachet/day for consumption on non-dialysis days). Cookies and sachets were prepared biweekly in the Laboratory of Nutrition and Dietetics of the Faculty of Nutrition - UFF, and were identical in color, appearance, size, and shape, and were packed in identical plastic packaging.

Blood collection, anthropometry, and food recall were performed at baseline and after 4 weeks of supplementation period as previously described2626 Esgalhado M, Kemp JA, Azevedo R, Paiva BR, Stockler-Pinto MB, Dolenga CJ, et al. Could resistant starch supplementation improve inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and uremic toxins levels in hemodialysis patients? A pilot randomized controlled trial. Food Funct. 2018 Dec;9(12):6508-16.. This project design was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Medicine and the Antonio Pedro University Hospital and was assigned the permit n° CAAE 47703315.6.0000.5243. This study was also registered in the Clinical Trials service of the US National Institutes of Health (clinicaltrials.gov - NCT02706808). All procedures were in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

ANALYTIC PROCEDURES AND BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSES

Fasting blood samples were obtained prior to HD procedure. The aliquots of whole blood were divided to obtain plasma and serum and for isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

To obtain plasma and serum, blood was centrifuged (15 min, 3500 rpm, 4ºC), and then stored at -80ºC until further analysis. IAA plasma levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography as previously described27. Serum levels of phosphorus, potassium, creatinine, and albumin were analyzed using Bioclin® kits (Catalog #K020, K131, K016, K040 respectively) by automatic biochemical analyzer. PBMCs were isolated and analyses of real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) were performed to evaluate the AhR and NF-κB mRNA expression according Cardozo et al.28. TaqMan gene expression assays (Applied Biosystems®) were used for detection of AhR mRNA (Hs00169233_m1), NF-κB mRNA (Hs00765730_m1), and the control gene, GAPDH (Hs02758991_g1). PCR amplification was performed with the ABI Prism 7500 (Applied Biosystems®) sequencing detection system and cycle condition standards. The expression of the levels of AhR and NF-κB was normalized as a function of the GAPDH and the level of expression was calculated using the detection delta threshold cycle (ΔΔCT) method.

In addition, routine biochemical parameters, including hemoglobin, hematocrit, urea pre and post-dialysis, were measured according to standard methods of the routine clinical laboratory in the HD clinic.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES

According to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, results were reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or median (interquartile range). Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney test was used to evaluate differences between means; Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation coefficients were used to evaluate correlations. The supplementation effect (∆) for each variable was defined as the within patient difference between the end and the baseline of RS or placebo supplementation. The tests were set with 95% confidence values (p <0.05) and were considered significant. Statistical analyzes were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.0.

RESULTS

Of the 43 HD patients selected for the study, 22 were allocated in the RS group and 20 in the placebo group. One patient died before randomization and 31 ended the supplementation period, 15 in the RS group (47% men, 56.0 ± 7.5 years; 50.0 ± 36.6 months of HD) and 16 in the placebo group (69%, 53.5 ± 11.5 years and 44.3 ± 26.4 months of HD). The reasons why patients were lost in this study have already been described2626 Esgalhado M, Kemp JA, Azevedo R, Paiva BR, Stockler-Pinto MB, Dolenga CJ, et al. Could resistant starch supplementation improve inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and uremic toxins levels in hemodialysis patients? A pilot randomized controlled trial. Food Funct. 2018 Dec;9(12):6508-16..

Clinical characteristics, and biochemical and anthropometric parameters have been previously reported; neither at baseline nor at the end of the study differences were observed. Although there was no significant change in dietary habits after the supplementation period in both groups, the group that consumed RS increased fiber intake (from 18.6 ± 7.1 to 34.4 ± 7.9, p=0.0001)2626 Esgalhado M, Kemp JA, Azevedo R, Paiva BR, Stockler-Pinto MB, Dolenga CJ, et al. Could resistant starch supplementation improve inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and uremic toxins levels in hemodialysis patients? A pilot randomized controlled trial. Food Funct. 2018 Dec;9(12):6508-16..

Furthermore, there was no significant difference in IAA plasma levels or in AhR mRNA expression in both groups after the 4-week intervention. There was a tendency to reduction of NF-κB mRNA expression in the RS group (Table 1). Nevertheless, a positive correlation (r=0.48; p=0.03) was observed between IAA plasma levels and AhR mRNA expression at baseline (patients included in both groups) (Figure 1).

Table 1
Effects of resistant starch (RS) and placebo supplementation on AhR and NF-κB mRNA expression and IAA plasma values in chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis.

Figure 1
Correlation between plasma IAA levels and AhR mRNA expression in chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis (r=0.48; p=0.03).

DISCUSSION

The present study revealed that 4 weeks with 16 g of RS supplementation was not able to reduce uremic toxin IAA plasma levels or AhR and NF-κB mRNA expression in HD patients. Nevertheless, a positive correlation was observed between IAA plasma levels and AhR mRNA expression, which reinforces the idea that higher concentrations of uremic toxins, specifically IAA, may be involved with activation of the AhR.

The present clinical trial was the first to evaluate the effect of a prebiotic, specifically RS, by the concentration of the IAA uremic toxin and the possible activation of the AhR receptor, which was identified as a major uremic toxin receptor, and could therefore play a central role in the activation of the inflammatory pathway in CKD2929 Sallée M, Dou L, Cerini C, Poitevin S, Brunet P, Burtey S. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor-activating effect of uremic toxins from tryptophan metabolism: a new concept to understand cardiovascular complications of chronic kidney disease. Toxins (Basel). 2014 Mar;6(3):934-49.. In our previous review, we discussed the AhR expression and its association with uremic toxins and inflammation in CKD patients1919 Brito JS, Borges NA, Esgalhado M, Magliano DC, Soulage CO, Mafra D. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation in chronic kidney disease: role of uremic toxins. Nephron. 2017;137(1):1-7..

To our knowledge, only one study examined the effects of fermentative soluble fiber supplementation on the inflammatory state of HD patients3030 Xie LM, Ge YY, Huang X, Zhang YQ, Li JX. Effects of fermentable dietary fiber supplementation on oxidative and inflammatory status in hemodialysis patients. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015 Jan;8(1):1363-9., and only two studies evaluated the use of RS supplementation in HD patients3131 Khosroshahi HT, Vaziri ND, Abedi B, Asl BH, Ghojazadeh M, Jing W, et al. Effect of high amylose resistant starch (HAM-RS2) supplementation on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients: a randomized clinical trial. Hemodial Int. 2018;22(4):492-500., 2626 Esgalhado M, Kemp JA, Azevedo R, Paiva BR, Stockler-Pinto MB, Dolenga CJ, et al. Could resistant starch supplementation improve inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and uremic toxins levels in hemodialysis patients? A pilot randomized controlled trial. Food Funct. 2018 Dec;9(12):6508-16..

In the Khosroshahi study3131 Khosroshahi HT, Vaziri ND, Abedi B, Asl BH, Ghojazadeh M, Jing W, et al. Effect of high amylose resistant starch (HAM-RS2) supplementation on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients: a randomized clinical trial. Hemodial Int. 2018;22(4):492-500., the RS supplementation was able to reduce significantly TNF-α, IL-6, and malondialdehyde plasma levels. Reinforcing these findings, our pilot study2626 Esgalhado M, Kemp JA, Azevedo R, Paiva BR, Stockler-Pinto MB, Dolenga CJ, et al. Could resistant starch supplementation improve inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and uremic toxins levels in hemodialysis patients? A pilot randomized controlled trial. Food Funct. 2018 Dec;9(12):6508-16. observed a reduction of IL-6 and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) plasma levels, as well as indoxyl sulfate plasma levels after four weeks of 16 g RS supplementation. Further, a positive correlation between IS and IL-6 was observed. Similar findings, such as reduction on uremic toxins’ levels and therefore inflammation and oxidative stress markers, have been found in previous CKD rat studies fed with RS2424 Vaziri ND, Liu SM, Lau WL, Khazaeli M, Nazertehrani S, Farzaneh SH, et al. High amylose resistant starch diet ameliorates oxidative stress, inflammation, and progression of chronic kidney disease. PLoS One. 2014 Dec;9(12):e114881.,2525 Kieffer DA, Piccolo BD, Vaziri ND, Liu S, Lau WL, Khazaeli M, et al. Resistant starch alters gut microbiome and metabolomic profiles concurrent with amelioration of chronic kidney disease in rats. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2016 May;310(9):F857-71.. In addition, in the present study there was a tendency in NF-kB expression reduction. Vaziri et al. (2014)2424 Vaziri ND, Liu SM, Lau WL, Khazaeli M, Nazertehrani S, Farzaneh SH, et al. High amylose resistant starch diet ameliorates oxidative stress, inflammation, and progression of chronic kidney disease. PLoS One. 2014 Dec;9(12):e114881. observed reduction of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) expression after supplementation with resistant starch 2 supplementation in nephrectomized rats. The mechanisms by which the RS can modulate the NF-kB expression is unclear; however, the hypothesis that this prebiotic can modulate the gut microbiota, reducing toxins and increasing short-chain fatty acids production may be accepted.

Previous studies have already evaluated levels of uremic toxins and their role in the pathogenesis of CKD and cardiovascular events, which are a cause of death among CKD patients. Among these toxins, IS is the main precursor of cardiovascular diseases, associated with general and cardiovascular mortality1515 Barreto FC, Barreto DV, Liabeuf S, Meert N, Glorieux G, Temmar M, et al. European Uremic Toxin Work Group (EUTox). Serum indoxyl sulfate is associated with vascular disease and mortality in chronic kidney disease patients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Oct;4(10):1551-8., and with all-cause mortality in CKD patients, particularly for those on dialysis1616 Dou L, Sallée M, Cerini C, Poitevin S, Gondouin B, Jourde-Chiche N, et al. The cardiovascular effect of the uremic solute indole-3 acetic acid. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015 Apr;26(4):876-87..

IAA and uremic toxins relationship have been explored in the CKD1616 Dou L, Sallée M, Cerini C, Poitevin S, Gondouin B, Jourde-Chiche N, et al. The cardiovascular effect of the uremic solute indole-3 acetic acid. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015 Apr;26(4):876-87.,2323 Sirich TL, Plummer NS, Gardner CD, Hostetter TH, Meyer TW. Effect of increasing dietary fiber on plasma levels of colon-derived solutes in hemodialysis patients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014 Sep;9(9):1603-10.,3232 Satoh M, Hayashi H, Watanabe M, Ueda K, Yamato H, Yoshioka T, et al. Uremic toxins overload accelerates renal damage in a rat model of chronic renal failure. Nephron Exp Nephrol. 2003;95(3):e111-18.,3333 Ramos CI, Armani RG, Canziani MEF, Dalboni MA, Dolenga CJR, Nakao LS, et al. Effect of prebiotic (fructooligosaccharide) on uremic toxins of chronic kidney disease patients: a randomized controlled trial. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2019 Nov;34(11):1876-84.. In a clinical trial, IAA was associated with an increase in mortality and cardiovascular events in CKD patients with IAA levels > 3.73 µM when compared to patients with lower levels (IAA <= 3.73 µM). To confirm such association, it was observed by cell culture that IAA induced oxidative stress by increasing ROS synthesis and inflammation via AhR / p38MAPK / NF- κB, increasing inflammatory cytokines, and activating ciclo-oxigenase-21616 Dou L, Sallée M, Cerini C, Poitevin S, Gondouin B, Jourde-Chiche N, et al. The cardiovascular effect of the uremic solute indole-3 acetic acid. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015 Apr;26(4):876-87..

Although there was no significant reduction in IAA levels in our study, Sirich et al.2323 Sirich TL, Plummer NS, Gardner CD, Hostetter TH, Meyer TW. Effect of increasing dietary fiber on plasma levels of colon-derived solutes in hemodialysis patients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014 Sep;9(9):1603-10. reported that after the intervention with 15 g of amylose-rich corn starch (Hi-maize 260) via sachets for 6 weeks the IS free plasma level was significantly reduced when compared to the control group. It is worth mentioning that although our study had a shorter intervention time (4 weeks), the amount of RS administered per day was higher (16 g). In addition, Ramos et al. did not observed reduction of IAA after supplementation with a prebiotic (FOS) in pre-dialysis patients, agreeing with our results3333 Ramos CI, Armani RG, Canziani MEF, Dalboni MA, Dolenga CJR, Nakao LS, et al. Effect of prebiotic (fructooligosaccharide) on uremic toxins of chronic kidney disease patients: a randomized controlled trial. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2019 Nov;34(11):1876-84..

In this context, reducing the concentration of uremic toxins in CKD by reestablishing the intestinal microbiota with prebiotic supplementation emerges as a non-pharmacological strategy to decrease the activation of the inflammatory cascade via activation of AhR2323 Sirich TL, Plummer NS, Gardner CD, Hostetter TH, Meyer TW. Effect of increasing dietary fiber on plasma levels of colon-derived solutes in hemodialysis patients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014 Sep;9(9):1603-10.

24 Vaziri ND, Liu SM, Lau WL, Khazaeli M, Nazertehrani S, Farzaneh SH, et al. High amylose resistant starch diet ameliorates oxidative stress, inflammation, and progression of chronic kidney disease. PLoS One. 2014 Dec;9(12):e114881.
-2525 Kieffer DA, Piccolo BD, Vaziri ND, Liu S, Lau WL, Khazaeli M, et al. Resistant starch alters gut microbiome and metabolomic profiles concurrent with amelioration of chronic kidney disease in rats. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2016 May;310(9):F857-71.. The mechanisms of action of prebiotics, specifically RS, in the human intestine are complex and several hypotheses have been proposed to explain its beneficial effects on the intestinal and systemic health of HD patients. RS is fermented in the large intestine by symbiotic bacteria (Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacterium), which have enzymatic activity capable of cleaving the α 1,4 and α 1,6 bonds of the RS resulting in the products of this fermentation, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (methane, hydrogen, carbon dioxide), organic acids (lactate, succinate, and fumarate), and alcohols (methanol and ethanol)3434 Wang AYM. Consequences of chronic inflammation in peritoneal dialysis. Semin Nephrol. 2011;31(2):159-71.. Vaziri et al.3535 Vaziri ND, Wong J, Pahl M, Piceno YM, Yuan J, DeSantis TZ, et al. Chronic kidney disease alters intestinal microbial flora. Kidney Int. 2013;83(2):308-15. reported that after RS2 supplementation there was an increase in the population of symbiotic bacteria, including Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which have anti-inflammatory potential.

The SCFAs promotes the reduction of intestinal pH, thus modulating the intestinal microbiota and reducing uremia3636 Martinez I, Kim J, Duffy PR, Schlegel VL, Walter J. Resistant starches types 2 and 4 have differential effects on the composition of the fecal microbiota in human subjects. PLoS ONE. 2010 Nov;5(11):e15046.,3737 Lange K, Hugenholtz F, Jonathan MC, Schols HA, Kleerebezem M, Smidt H, et al. Comparison of the effects of five dietary fibers on mucosal transcriptional profiles, and luminal microbiota composition and SCFA concentrations in murine colon. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2015 Aug;59(8):1590-602.. In addition, SCFAs are energetic substrates for T- regulatory lymphocytes, thereby enhancing immunity, and for the colonocytes, restoring mucosal barrier integrity3737 Lange K, Hugenholtz F, Jonathan MC, Schols HA, Kleerebezem M, Smidt H, et al. Comparison of the effects of five dietary fibers on mucosal transcriptional profiles, and luminal microbiota composition and SCFA concentrations in murine colon. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2015 Aug;59(8):1590-602.. Once this barrier is in full, it becomes more selective and does not allow the passage of uremic toxins, bacteria and their lipopolysaccharide cell wall components to bloodstream, thereby reducing inflammation present in CKD patients3838 Esgalhado M, Kemp JA, Damasceno NR, Fouque D, Mafra D. Short-chain fatty acids: a link between prebiotics and microbiota in chronic kidney disease. Future Microbiol. 2017 Nov;12(15):1413-25.. Among other effects of RS is the improvement of insulin sensibility3939 Bodinham CL, Smith L, Thomas EL, Bell JD, Swann JR, Costabile A, et al. Efficacy of increased resistant starch consumption in human type 2 diabetes. Endocr Connect. 2014 Apr;3(2):75-84. and reduction of lipid profile4040 Nichenametla SN, Weidauer LA, Wey HE, Beare TM, Specker BL, Dey M. Resistant starch type 4-enriched diet lowered blood cholesterols and improved body composition in a double-blind controlled cross-over intervention. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2014 Jun;58(6):1365-9. and adiposity3939 Bodinham CL, Smith L, Thomas EL, Bell JD, Swann JR, Costabile A, et al. Efficacy of increased resistant starch consumption in human type 2 diabetes. Endocr Connect. 2014 Apr;3(2):75-84..

Regarding the limitations of the study, the small sample size and the fact that some participants withdrew from the study may have prevented the emergence of other results with statistical significance. Furthermore, it was not possible to evaluate the expression of known receptor-activated genes such as CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1 or even perform a western blotting technique to evaluate AhR receptor and NF-kB protein.

Although these studies suggest a possible modulating effect of the intestinal microbiota in CKD patients by reducing the production of uremic toxins and with this decreasing the activation of the inflammatory cascade and lowering oxidative stress, the prebiotic action in these patients is still unclear. Indeed, this is the first evidence of the impact of prebiotic supplementation, specifically RS, on AhR expression.

CONCLUSION

In summary, data from this study suggest that supplementation with prebiotic RS does not influence IAA plasma levels nor AhR and NF-κB mRNA expression. Furthermore, the study suggests that IAA levels are positively associated with AhR activation. Further studies are needed to explore the prebiotic supplementation on uremic toxin reduction and its relationship with the possible activation of AhR in this population.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank all the patients who participated in the study and the Renalcor clinic staff for the remarkable help in this study. Additionally, we also would like to thank the Unidade de Pesquisa Clínica, Laboratório de Nutrição experimental, Laboratório de Alimentos e Dietética, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). The RS used for supplementation was kindly provided by Ingredion.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    18 May 2020
  • Date of issue
    Jul-Sep 2020

History

  • Received
    09 Jan 2020
  • Accepted
    14 Mar 2020
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