Bariatric Surgery Reverses ORG and Exhibits a Distinct Transcriptomic Profile Compared to Weight Loss Through a Low-Fat Diet

TL;DR

Bariatric surgery reverses obesity-related kidney disease more effectively than a low-fat diet, with distinct effects on kidney cells and gene activity.

Contribution

This is the first evidence showing bariatric surgery fully reverses obesity-related glomerulopathy beyond weight loss effects.

Findings

Bariatric surgery caused greater and faster weight loss compared to a low-fat diet.

Bariatric surgery fully reversed kidney disease histology, while a low-fat diet only partially improved it.

Bariatric surgery altered gene activity related to mitochondria, oxidative stress, and immune responses in kidney cells.

Abstract

Weight loss is central to treating obesity-related kidney disease, yet the renal effects of a low-fat diet (LFD) versus bariatric surgery (BS) remain incompletely understood. This study compared their impact on obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG). Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks to induce obesity. Eight rats were sacrificed (the HFD group), eight switched to LFD for 10 weeks, and twelve underwent sleeve gastrectomy. Body weight, albuminuria, renal histology, and transcriptomic profiles were analyzed. Weight loss was modest in the LFD group (−1.6%) but substantial after BS (−13.2%), occurring 2.1 times faster. Albuminuria decreased in both interventions compared to HFD (LFD: 7228 ± 514 ng/mL; BS: 6242 ± 418 ng/mL; HFD: 10,384 ± 1168 ng/mL; p < 0.01) and correlated strongly with weight loss (R2 = 0.78). The glomerular area was reduced in both groups, but only BS achieved complete histological resolution of ORG. Tubular cells in BS-treated rats showed megamitochondria and cristae disruption, while LFD induced milder alterations. Transcriptomics revealed suppression of mitochondrial maintenance genes and upregulation of oxidative stress and immunometabolic pathways. Immune-related genes upregulated in BS clustered into pro-inflammatory/chemotactic and regulatory modules. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first piece of evidence that BS fully reverses ORG, highlighting renal effects beyond weight loss alone.

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