Investigating the uncertain causal link between gut microbiota and glaucoma: A genetic correlation and Mendelian...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Microbiome research
• Genetics

Background:

• Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
• Gut microbiota (GM) has been associated with glaucoma, but causality is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential association and causal link between gut microbiota and glaucoma.
• To emphasize cautious interpretation of the gut-eye axis in glaucoma.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) framework.
• Performed genetic correlation analysis (LDSC) and colocalization.
• Analyzed European summary-level data from MiBioGen and FinnGen.

Main Results:

• Identified potential associations between specific microbial taxa (e.g., Erysipelotrichaceae, Senegalimassilia) and glaucoma subtypes.
• Mendelian randomization did not establish a definitive causal relationship between GM and glaucoma.
• Reverse MR analysis and genetic correlation analyses showed no significant causal effect of glaucoma on GM or consistent correlations.

Conclusions:

• While associations exist, the relationship between gut microbiota and glaucoma is complex and not definitively causal.
• Further research is needed to clarify potential causal links in the gut-eye axis.
• Gut microbiota is unlikely to be a predominant causal factor in glaucoma.