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Causal relationship between gut microbiota and rheumatoid arthritis: a two-sample Mendelian randomisation study
Yifan Gou1, Jingxi Zhang1, Chun'e Li1
1Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases of National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology
|October 9, 2023
Summary
This study used Mendelian randomization to investigate the causal link between gut bacteria and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Specific bacterial taxa were identified as causally associated with RA risk, offering new insights for prevention and diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease with complex etiology.
- The gut microbiota's role in RA pathogenesis is increasingly recognized but causal links remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if there is a bidirectional causal relationship between gut microbiota composition and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- To identify specific bacterial taxa causally linked to RA risk using Mendelian randomization (MR).
Main Methods:
- Utilized genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for gut microbiota (n=18,340) and RA (n=331,313).
- Employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis with Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) as the primary method.
- Validated MR findings using sensitivity analyses (weighted median, MR Egger, MR-PRESSO) to ensure robustness.
Main Results:
- Identified eight bacterial taxa positively associated with RA risk, including Alphaproteobacteria and Bacteroides.
- Identified six bacterial taxa negatively associated with RA risk, such as Desulfovibrionales and Methanobacteriales.
- Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings, with no significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy detected.
Conclusions:
- Specific gut bacterial taxa exhibit a causal association with the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
- These findings provide novel insights into the prevention and diagnosis of RA by targeting the gut microbiome.
