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Causal associations between gut microbiota and regional cortical structure: a Mendelian randomization study
Maochao Zhou1, Song Chen1, Yan Chen1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|January 10, 2024
Summary
Specific gut bacteria, like Mollicutes and Tenericutes, may causally influence brain structure, particularly the orbitofrontal cortex. This Mendelian randomization study supports a gut-brain axis impacting cortical development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Observational studies suggest links between gut microbiota and central nervous system diseases.
- Causal relationships and mechanisms between gut microbiota and brain health remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential causal effects of gut microbiota on cortical surface area (SA) and thickness (TH) using Mendelian randomization.
- To explore the gut-brain axis's influence on brain structure.
Main Methods:
- Utilized genome-wide association study summary statistics from the MiBioGen Consortium for 196 gut microbial taxa.
- Analyzed data from the ENIGMA Consortium (56,761 individuals) to assess associations between genetically predicted gut microbiota and cortical SA/TH.
- Employed inverse-variance weighted analysis as the primary Mendelian randomization method, with MR Egger regression, MR-PRESSO, and Cochran's Q test for robustness.
Main Results:
- Genetically predicted higher abundance of class Mollicutes was associated with greater medial orbitofrontal cortex SA.
- Higher abundance of phylum Tenericutes was linked to increased SA in both the medial and lateral orbitofrontal cortex.
- No significant evidence of heterogeneity or pleiotropy was detected.
Conclusions:
- Specific gut microbes may causally impact cortical structure in brain regions relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders.
- Findings support a role for the gut-brain axis in influencing cortical development, especially in the orbitofrontal cortex.
