Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
Murine Model of Thoracic Aortic Dissection Induced by Oral β-Aminopropionitrile and Subcutaneous Angiotensin II Infusion
Published on: May 16, 2025
Causal effects of gut microbiome on aortic dissection: A mendelian randomization study
Yu Tian1, Furong Hao2, Guangyang Xu3
1Vascular Surgery Department, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China; School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Introduction:
Aortic Dissection (AD) is a severe vascular disease with high mortality. While its progression is rapid, the development of AD is a chronic disease process. The gut microbiome may play a crucial role in this process. This study aims to explore the potential causal association between gut microbiome and AD using Mendelian Randomization (MR).
Methods:
This study employed a two-sample MR approach using Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data from the Finnish population to investigate the causal association between gut microbiota and AD. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with 473 gut microbiota taxa were selected as instrumental variables, and various MR methods were applied to evaluate the causal effects. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the results, and a reverse MR analysis was performed to validate the directionality of the associations.
Results:
The MR analysis confirmed that Actinomycetales, Bacillales A, Lawsonibacter sp002161175, Prevotella sp002933775, Saccharomonospora, Acidaminococcus fermentans, CAG-110, CAG-177 sp002451755, CAG-177 sp003514385, and Eisenbergiella sp900066775 may exert protective effects, whereas koll11, Magnetospirillum A, Poseidoniaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacteroides eggerthii, CAG-269 sp002372935, and Dorea phocaeense may increase the risk of AD. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings.
Conclusion:
This study provides new insights into the role of gut microbiome in AD, identifying specific taxa that may serve as protective or risk factors. Further research is needed to validate these findings in broader populations.
Insights
This study explored the gut microbiome
Area of Science:
- Microbiome Research
- Vascular Disease Genetics
- Human Health and Disease
Background:
- Aortic Dissection (AD) is a life-threatening vascular condition with a high mortality rate.
- The gut microbiome's role in the chronic development of AD is increasingly recognized.
- Understanding the gut microbiome's influence is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies for AD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential causal relationship between specific gut microbiota and Aortic Dissection (AD).
- To identify gut microbial taxa that may confer a protective effect or increase the risk of AD.
- To leverage Mendelian Randomization (MR) for robust causal inference in AD etiology.
Main Methods:
- A two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach was utilized.
- Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data from a Finnish population was analyzed.
- Instrumental variables were derived from Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with 473 gut microbial taxa.
Main Results:
- Several gut bacteria, including Actinomycetales and Prevotella sp002933775, showed a potential protective association with AD.
- Other taxa, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacteroides eggerthii, were identified as potential risk factors for AD.
- Sensitivity analyses confirmed the reliability and robustness of the identified associations.
Conclusions:
- This research highlights specific gut microbial taxa as potential modulators of Aortic Dissection (AD) risk.
- The findings suggest novel avenues for understanding AD pathogenesis and potential microbiome-targeted interventions.
- Further validation in diverse populations is recommended to confirm these gut microbiome-AD associations.
