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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis: An Intraocular Inflammatory Mouse Model
Published on: January 12, 2022
Mendelian randomization analysis revealed a gut microbiota-eye axis in acute anterior uveitis
Yuze Mi1,2, Lu Chen1,2, Na Liao3,4
1National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Background:
Observational studies suggest that gut microbiome (GM) may contribute to acute anterior uveitis (AAU) development, but causality remains unclear. This study was conducted to test whether specific GM taxa were causally associated with AAU.
Methods:
The GM data were obtained from the DMP, which included 7738 individuals' faecal samples and an analysis of host genotype-taxa abundance associations. The AAU data were derived from the FinnGen Consortium (8624 cases and 473,095 controls). We primarily employed the inverse-variance weighted method, complemented by supplementary sensitivity analyses.
Results:
Higher abundance of Lachnospiraceae noname (OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.81-0.91, P = 5.7 × 10-8), Alistipes finegoldii (OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.78-0.96, P = 0.008), Erysipelotrichaceae (OR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.81-0.99, P = 0.037), Erysipelotrichia (OR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.81-0.99, P = 0.037), Erysipelotrichales (OR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.81-0.99, P = 0.037), and Bacteroides ovatus (OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.87-1.00, P = 0.039) predicted a lower AAU risk. Conversely, higher abundance of Bifidobacterium catenulatum (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.10, P = 0.005), Bacteroides coprocola (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.21, P = 0.014), Parabacteroides unclassified (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.03-1.22, P = 0.010), and Prevotella (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01-1.29, P = 0.029) predicted a higher AAU risk. The results also showed a reverse causation from AAU to Bifidobacterium catenulatum (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.03-1.86, P = 0.005).
Conclusion:
This study suggests that specific GM is causally associated with AAU risk, warranting more mechanistic validation and clinical trials.
Insights
This study investigated the causal link between gut microbiome (GM) and acute anterior uveitis (AAU). Certain gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium catenulatum were associated with increased AAU risk, while others like Lachnospiraceae noname were linked to lower risk.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Ophthalmology
- Genetics
Background:
- Observational studies suggest a link between gut microbiome (GM) and acute anterior uveitis (AAU).
- Causality between GM and AAU remains unclear.
- This study aimed to establish a causal association between specific GM taxa and AAU risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if specific gut bacteria are causally linked to the development of acute anterior uveitis.
- To explore the role of gut microbiome composition in AAU pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the DMP (7738 individuals) for GM analysis and the FinnGen Consortium (8624 cases, 473,095 controls) for AAU data.
- Employed inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method for Mendelian randomization analysis.
- Conducted supplementary sensitivity analyses to ensure robustness of findings.
Main Results:
- Higher abundance of Lachnospiraceae noname, Alistipes finegoldii, and Erysipelotrichaceae family taxa were associated with reduced AAU risk.
- Increased abundance of Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Bacteroides coprocola, Parabacteroides unclassified, and Prevotella were linked to higher AAU risk.
- Evidence of reverse causation was observed, with AAU potentially influencing Bifidobacterium catenulatum levels.
Conclusions:
- Specific gut microbiome compositions are causally associated with acute anterior uveitis risk.
- Findings suggest a role for gut bacteria in AAU development.
- Further mechanistic studies and clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings and explore therapeutic interventions.
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