Related Experiment Videos
Suggestive associations between genetically predicted gut microbiota and endometriosis: a two-sample Mendelian
Liyun Liao1, Zhixiang Zhou1, Xiaoyang Ye1
1Gynecology, Xiangshan First People's Hospital Medical and Health Group, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, 315700, PR China.
Journal of Medical Microbiology
|July 1, 2026
Summary
This study used Mendelian randomization to investigate gut bacteria and endometriosis risk. While some associations were found, no definitive causal links between gut microbiota and endometriosis were established after correction for multiple testing.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Endometriosis affects 10-20% of reproductive-age women.
- Emerging evidence suggests a link between gut microbiota and endometriosis, but observational studies face limitations like confounding and reverse causation.
- Robust causal evidence for gut microbiota's role in endometriosis is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore potential Mendelian randomization (MR)-based associations between genetically predicted gut microbiota composition and endometriosis risk.
- To address the gap in understanding genetically predicted gut microbial associations with endometriosis.
- To investigate causal relationships using a two-sample MR framework.
Main Methods:
- Utilized genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for 119 bacterial genera (MiBioGen consortium) and endometriosis (FinnGen).
- Selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables for each genus, applying linkage disequilibrium clumping and weak instrument exclusion.
- Employed inverse-variance weighting (IVW) as the primary analysis, supported by complementary methods, with Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) correction applied across all genera.
Main Results:
- Seven bacterial genera showed nominally significant associations with endometriosis risk (P<0.05) using IVW.
- Specific genera like *Olsenella* and *Anaerotruncus* were directionally associated with increased risk, while others suggested reduced risk.
- None of the identified associations survived FDR correction (all FDR-adjusted P=0.731), indicating no statistically significant causal links after accounting for multiple testing.
Conclusions:
- The study provides exploratory and suggestive MR evidence for potential associations between specific gut microbial genera and endometriosis.
- No definitive causal evidence was established, as no associations remained significant after multiple testing correction.
- Results are hypothesis-generating and necessitate replication in larger, ancestry-matched cohorts to confirm potential links between gut microbiota and endometriosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics
Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
01:22Introduction to the Human Microbiota
Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...
01:18Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiota
The human gut microbiome includes a diverse array of microbial species, including beneficial commensals and opportunistic pathogens, which interact to support host health. These microbes contribute to essential functions such as nutrient metabolism, immune system modulation, and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. However, disruptions to this equilibrium—referred to as dysbiosis—can have widespread physiological consequences.Dysbiosis is often characterized by reduced microbial...
01:11Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
01:22Gut-Brain Axis
The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication system that connects the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This interaction is mediated through multiple pathways, including the vagus nerve, hormonal signals, immune responses, and chemical messengers produced by gut microbes.Microbial Contributions to Brain FunctionGut microbiota contributes significantly to brain function by producing neuroactive compounds. These include neuroactive compounds that influence neurotransmitters such as...