Exploring the potential link between gut microbiota and chronic kidney disease in causality: A 2-sample Mendelian...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Genetics
• Nephrology

Background:

• Growing evidence links gut microbiota (GM) to chronic kidney disease (CKD) susceptibility.
• The causal relationship between GM and CKD remains unclear, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential causal relationship between gut microbiota and chronic kidney disease using Mendelian randomization.
• To identify specific gut microbiota taxa that may causally influence CKD risk or protection.

Main Methods:

• Applied a two-way, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.
• Utilized publicly available Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) databases for GM and CKD.
• Conducted sensitivity analyses to assess heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy.

Main Results:

• Identified 10 gut microbiota taxa, including Porphyromonadaceae and Dorea, as potential risk factors for CKD.
• Found five gut microbiota taxa, such as Prevotellaceae, to be potential protective factors against CKD.
• Reverse MR indicated potential links between CKD and three microbiota, including Senegalimassilia.

Conclusions:

• Established a causal association between 15 gut microbiota types and CKD.
• Highlighted the bidirectional relationship, with CKD also showing causal links to three GM types.
• Findings suggest novel avenues for CKD prevention and early detection through targeted microbiota modulation.