Characteristics of tongue coating microbiota in diabetic and non-diabetic kidney patients receiving hemodialysis.

Background: Tongue-coating microbiota, especially known as the tongue microbiome, holds significant value as both a prospective clinical diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target, which plays a crucial role in the oral microecological health. However, there is limited understanding of the composition and function of tongue coating microbiota in chronic kidney disease patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods: Thirty-one non-diabetic hemodialysis patients (nonDM_HD), 29 diabetic hemodialysis patients (DM_HD) and 33 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. Swabs from tongue coating were collected. The 16S rDNA (V3-V4 region) was sequenced to scrutinize the tongue-coating bacterial microbiome difference.

Results: Both nonDM_HD and DM_HD showed distinct bacterial communities of oral microbiota compared to HC. The abundance of Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcaceae G1, Ligilactobacillus and Abiotrophia showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in DM_HD and nonDM_HD compared to HC, while Haemophilus, Lachnoanaerobaculum, Peptostreptococcaceae G1, Peptostreptococcus showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) respectively. Veillonella, Lactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus etc. may serve as potential biomarkers for DM_HD. While Streptococcus, Ruminococcaceae G1, Actinobacillus, Abiotrophia can be considered alternative biomarkers for nonDM_HD. Moreover, the enriched Haemophilus, Actinomyces, Lachnoanaerobaculum were prominent features of the tongue coating microbiota in HC, which could be used as the potential therapeutic targets of chronic kidney disease. Network analysis revealed a less complex interaction relationship among the tongue coating bacterial microbiota of nonDM_HD and DM_HD. Furthermore, correlations were identified between the microbiome composition and clinical parameters of the individuals.

Conclusion: In conclusion, deciphering the tongue coating microbiota of kidney patients undergoing hemodialysis will helpful in assessing the role of oral microbiota in pathobiology and development of kidney disease, which is expected to become a potential biomarkers and adjuvant therapeutic target.