Gut Microbiome and Atherosclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Background: According to recent studies, atherosclerosis and gut microbiota are related. Nevertheless, it has been discovered that the gut microbiota varies across studies, with its function still being debated, and such relationships not proven to be causal. Thus, our study aimed to identify the ke...

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Main Authors: Yue Li, Yunxian Chen, Zhe Li, Yanrong Li, Yicai Chen, Liangqiu Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IMR Press 2024-01-01
Series:Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.imrpress.com/journal/RCM/25/2/10.31083/j.rcm2502041
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author Yue Li
Yunxian Chen
Zhe Li
Yanrong Li
Yicai Chen
Liangqiu Tang
author_facet Yue Li
Yunxian Chen
Zhe Li
Yanrong Li
Yicai Chen
Liangqiu Tang
author_sort Yue Li
collection DOAJ
description Background: According to recent studies, atherosclerosis and gut microbiota are related. Nevertheless, it has been discovered that the gut microbiota varies across studies, with its function still being debated, and such relationships not proven to be causal. Thus, our study aimed to identify the key gut microbiota taxa (GM taxa) at different taxonomic levels, namely, the phylum, class, order, family, and genus, to investigate any potential causal links to atherosclerosis. Methods: We employed summary data from the MiBioGen consortium on the gut microbiota to conduct a sophisticated two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Pertinent information regarding atherosclerosis statistics was acquired from the FinnGen Consortium R8 publication. To assess causality, the utilized principal analytical technique was the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method. Supplementary to IVW, additional MR methodologies were employed, including weighted median, MR-Egger, weighted methods, and simple mode. Sensitivity analyses involved the application of Cochrane’s Q-test, MR-Egger intercept test, MR-PRESSO global test, and leave-one-out analysis. Results: Finally, after performing an MR study on the risk of 211 GM taxa on atherosclerosis, we discovered 20 nominal links and one strong causal link. Firmicutes (phylum ID: 1672) (odds ratio (OR) = 0.852 (0.763, 0.950), p = 0.004) continued to be connected with a lower incidence of coronary atherosclerosis, even after Bonferroni correction. Conclusions: Based on the discovered data, it was established that the phylum Firmicutes exhibits a causal relationship with a reduced occurrence of coronary atherosclerosis. This investigation could potentially provide novel insights into therapeutic objectives for atherosclerosis by focusing on the gut microbiota.
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spelling doaj.art-3376c89157db4c05abc8d025994fd2fa2024-02-29T06:14:30ZengIMR PressReviews in Cardiovascular Medicine1530-65502024-01-012524110.31083/j.rcm2502041S1530-6550(23)01177-8Gut Microbiome and Atherosclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization StudyYue Li0Yunxian Chen1Zhe Li2Yanrong Li3Yicai Chen4Liangqiu Tang5Department of Cardiology, Yue Bei People's Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, 512099 Shaoguan, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Yue Bei People's Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, 512099 Shaoguan, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, 518071 Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Yue Bei People's Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, 512099 Shaoguan, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Yue Bei People's Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, 512099 Shaoguan, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Yue Bei People's Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, 512099 Shaoguan, Guangdong, ChinaBackground: According to recent studies, atherosclerosis and gut microbiota are related. Nevertheless, it has been discovered that the gut microbiota varies across studies, with its function still being debated, and such relationships not proven to be causal. Thus, our study aimed to identify the key gut microbiota taxa (GM taxa) at different taxonomic levels, namely, the phylum, class, order, family, and genus, to investigate any potential causal links to atherosclerosis. Methods: We employed summary data from the MiBioGen consortium on the gut microbiota to conduct a sophisticated two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Pertinent information regarding atherosclerosis statistics was acquired from the FinnGen Consortium R8 publication. To assess causality, the utilized principal analytical technique was the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method. Supplementary to IVW, additional MR methodologies were employed, including weighted median, MR-Egger, weighted methods, and simple mode. Sensitivity analyses involved the application of Cochrane’s Q-test, MR-Egger intercept test, MR-PRESSO global test, and leave-one-out analysis. Results: Finally, after performing an MR study on the risk of 211 GM taxa on atherosclerosis, we discovered 20 nominal links and one strong causal link. Firmicutes (phylum ID: 1672) (odds ratio (OR) = 0.852 (0.763, 0.950), p = 0.004) continued to be connected with a lower incidence of coronary atherosclerosis, even after Bonferroni correction. Conclusions: Based on the discovered data, it was established that the phylum Firmicutes exhibits a causal relationship with a reduced occurrence of coronary atherosclerosis. This investigation could potentially provide novel insights into therapeutic objectives for atherosclerosis by focusing on the gut microbiota.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/RCM/25/2/10.31083/j.rcm2502041coronary atherosclerosiscerebral atherosclerosisintestinal microbiotaphylum firmicutes
spellingShingle Yue Li
Yunxian Chen
Zhe Li
Yanrong Li
Yicai Chen
Liangqiu Tang
Gut Microbiome and Atherosclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine
coronary atherosclerosis
cerebral atherosclerosis
intestinal microbiota
phylum firmicutes
title Gut Microbiome and Atherosclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study
title_full Gut Microbiome and Atherosclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study
title_fullStr Gut Microbiome and Atherosclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study
title_full_unstemmed Gut Microbiome and Atherosclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study
title_short Gut Microbiome and Atherosclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study
title_sort gut microbiome and atherosclerosis a mendelian randomization study
topic coronary atherosclerosis
cerebral atherosclerosis
intestinal microbiota
phylum firmicutes
url https://www.imrpress.com/journal/RCM/25/2/10.31083/j.rcm2502041
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AT yunxianchen gutmicrobiomeandatherosclerosisamendelianrandomizationstudy
AT zheli gutmicrobiomeandatherosclerosisamendelianrandomizationstudy
AT yanrongli gutmicrobiomeandatherosclerosisamendelianrandomizationstudy
AT yicaichen gutmicrobiomeandatherosclerosisamendelianrandomizationstudy
AT liangqiutang gutmicrobiomeandatherosclerosisamendelianrandomizationstudy