Exploring the correlation between gut microbiota and benign gastric tumors: A Mendelian randomization study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Microbiology
• Genetics

Background:

• Emerging research indicates a connection between stomach and gut microbiota.
• Understanding this link is crucial for identifying novel therapeutic targets for gastric conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between gut microbiota composition and benign gastric tumors using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Main Methods:

• Utilized genome-wide association studies (GWAS)-aggregated data for 211 gut microbes and benign gastric lesions.
• Employed multiple MR statistical methods (IVW, weighted median, MR-Egger, etc.) for robust analysis.
• Applied leave-one-out analysis, MR-PRESSO, and MR-Egger intercepts to ensure result validity and mitigate pleiotropy.

Main Results:

• Positive associations found between benign gastric tumors and Porphyromonadaceae, Bacilli, Lactobacillaceae, and Oxalobacteraceae.
• Negative associations (protective effect) observed with Pasteurellaceae and Peptococcaceae.
• Significant odds ratios (OR) and p-values quantify the risk or protective effect of specific microbial families/classes.

Conclusions:

• Gut microbiota composition significantly influences the risk of developing benign gastric tumors.
• Specific bacterial taxa, such as Porphyromonadaceae and Pasteurellaceae, play key roles in gastric tumor development or prevention.
• Targeting and regulating gut microbiota presents a promising avenue for reducing the incidence of benign gastric tumors.