Skin Microbiota and Pathological Scars: A Bidirectional Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Microbiology
• Genetics

Background:

• Pathological scars (PSs) arise from abnormal skin repair, inflammation, and fibrosis, impacting millions globally.
• The role of skin microbiota (SM) in skin inflammation and healing is recognized, but its specific connection to PSs is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate potential causal relationships between skin microbiota (SM) and two common types of pathological scars: hypertrophic scars (HSs) and keloids.

Main Methods:

• A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using genetic data for SM, HSs, and keloids.
• The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method served as the primary analysis, supplemented by other MR techniques.
• False discovery rate (FDR) correction was applied to manage multiple testing.

Main Results:

• The family Moraxellaceae and order Pseudomonadales showed a significant protective effect against keloids.
• The class Betaproteobacteria and genus Bacteroides suggested a protective role for HSs and keloids, respectively.
• Limited evidence indicated that the order Actinomycetales may increase keloid risk, while keloids might negatively impact the class Gammaproteobacteria.

Conclusions:

• This study provides evidence supporting causal links between specific components of the skin microbiota and the development of pathological scars.
• These findings lay the groundwork for future research into microorganism-skin interactions and potential clinical applications for scar management.