Association between gut microbiota and adrenal disease: a two-sample Mendelian randomized study

Some observational studies and clinical experiments suggest a close association between gut microbiota and metabolic diseases. However, the causal effects of gut microbiota on adrenal diseases, including Adrenocortical insufficiency, Cushing syndrome, and Hyperaldosteronism, remain unclear.

This study conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis using summary statistics data of gut microbiota from a large-scale genome-wide association study conducted by the MiBioGen Consortium. Summary statistics data for the three adrenal diseases were obtained from the FinnGen study. The study employed Inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO methods to assess the causal relationship between gut microbiota and these three adrenal diseases. Additionally, a reverse Mendelian randomization analysis was performed for bacteria found to have a causal relationship with these three adrenal diseases in the forward Mendelian randomization analysis. Cochran's Q statistic was used to test for heterogeneity of instrumental variables.

The IVW test results demonstrate that class Deltaproteobacteria, Family Desulfovibrionaceae, and Order Desulfovibrionales exhibit protective effects against adrenocortical insufficiency. Conversely, Family Porphyromonadaceae, Genus Lachnoclostridium, and Order MollicutesRF9 are associated with an increased risk of adrenocortical insufficiency. Additionally, Family Acidaminococcaceae confers a certain level of protection against Cushing syndrome. In contrast, Class Methanobacteria, Family Lactobacillaceae, Family Methanobacteriaceae, Genus. Lactobacillus and Order Methanobacteriales are protective against Hyperaldosteronism. Conversely, Genus Parasutterella, Genus Peptococcus, and Genus Veillonella are identified as risk factors for Hyperaldosteronism.

This two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis revealed a causal relationship between microbial taxa such as Deltaproteobacteria and Desulfovibrionaceae and Adrenocortical insufficiency, Cushing syndrome, and Hyperaldosteronism. These findings offer new avenues for comprehending the development of adrenal diseases mediated by gut microbiota.