Causal associations between gut microbiota with intervertebral disk degeneration, low back pain, and sciatica: a...

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Genetics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Gut microbiota alterations are suspected in intervertebral disk diseases.
• The causal link between gut microbiota and intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD), low back pain (LBP), and sciatica remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota, its metabolic pathways, and the risk of IVDD, LBP, and sciatica.
• To identify potential microbial targets for intervention in intervertebral disk diseases.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
• Integrated genetic variation data for gut microbiota taxa and metabolic pathways from MiBioGen and Dutch Microbiome Project.
• Employed FinnGen consortium data for disease outcomes (IVDD, LBP, sciatica).
• Performed sensitivity analyses to ensure result robustness.

Main Results:

• Initial analysis identified 46 microbial taxa and 33 metabolic pathways causally associated with IVDD, LBP, and sciatica.
• After rigorous statistical correction (weighted median, MR-PRESSO, FDR), the genus *Eubacterium coprostanoligenes* group showed a stable causal effect on IVDD.
• Sensitivity analyses confirmed the absence of horizontal pleiotropy, heterogeneity, or reverse causation.

Conclusions:

• Specific gut microbial taxa and their metabolic pathways are causally implicated in the development of IVDD, LBP, and sciatica.
• These findings highlight the gut microbiota as a potential target for novel therapeutic strategies for intervertebral disk diseases.
• The study offers novel insights into the mechanistic role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of spinal disorders.