Scientists from Bonn University Hospital have shown that some vitamin B2 derivatives can reduce chronic kidney inflammation in mice. The research was published in the journal Nature Communication.
In glomerulonephritis, a chronic inflammation of the kidneys, these organs are subject to attacks by the human immune system. Drugs that suppress the immune system can help slow the disease. But they are ineffective in some cases, and long-term kidney damage can lead to kidney failure.
In a new study, scientists found that substances produced by the body from vitamins B2 and B9 can activate MAIT immune cells. They are normally found in mucosal tissues where they are responsible for rapid response to infections. In mice lacking MAIT cells, glomerulonephritis progressed very rapidly, and a large proportion of these cells, on the contrary, protected the kidneys from damage.
The scientists then conducted an experiment on mice that showed that administering an artificially produced vitamin B2 derivative to the animals reduced inflammation in the kidneys by activating MAIT cells. Scientists admit that the protective effect is not strong enough to completely prevent glomerulonephritis. However, vitamin B2 derivatives can complement existing treatments, increasing their effectiveness or reducing the required dose of immunosuppressive drugs.
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