The causal effects between gut microbiota and hemorrhagic stroke: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Neurology
• Genetics

Background:

• Gut microbiota composition may be altered following intracerebral hemorrhage.
• The causal relationship between gut microbiota and hemorrhagic stroke remains unclear.
• Mendelian Randomization (MR) is a robust method for inferring causality by minimizing confounding factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential causal relationship between gut microbiota and hemorrhagic stroke using MR.
• To identify specific gut bacteria that may influence the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Main Methods:

• Utilized univariable and multivariable MR analyses on large-scale summary statistics from the MiBioGen and FinnGen consortia.
• Employed various MR methods including inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO to assess causal associations.
• Conducted sensitivity analyses (Cochran's Q, MR-Egger, leave-one-out) to test for heterogeneity and pleiotropy.

Main Results:

• Identified a protective effect of Actinobacteria (phylum) against hemorrhagic stroke (OR, 0.80; p=0.025).
• Found potential protective effects from Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group (genus) (OR, 0.81; p=0.039).
• Highlighted Dorea (genus) (OR, 1.77; p=0.001), Eisenbergiella (genus) (OR, 1.24; p=0.013), and Lachnospiraceae UCG008 (genus) (OR, 1.28; p=0.041) as potential risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Established a significant causal relationship between gut microbiota and hemorrhagic stroke.
• Suggests that targeting gut microbiota could be a novel strategy for preventing, monitoring, and treating hemorrhagic stroke.
• Highlights the potential for modulating gut microbiota to better understand and manage hemorrhagic stroke mechanisms.