Causal association of gut microbes and blood metabolites with acne identified through systematic mendelian randomization

Abstract Acne is a prevalent inflammatory disease in dermatology, and its pathogenesis may be associated with inflammation, immunity, and other mechanisms. It commonly manifests in young individuals and frequently imposes a heavy economic, physical, and psychological burden on patients. Gut microbes...

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Main Authors: Xin He, Zhongyi Zhang, Hengyu Jiang, Hui Luo, Qianrong Gan, Kebo Wei, Ying Liu, Yuesi Qin, Min Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78603-z
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author Xin He
Zhongyi Zhang
Hengyu Jiang
Hui Luo
Qianrong Gan
Kebo Wei
Ying Liu
Yuesi Qin
Min Xiao
author_facet Xin He
Zhongyi Zhang
Hengyu Jiang
Hui Luo
Qianrong Gan
Kebo Wei
Ying Liu
Yuesi Qin
Min Xiao
author_sort Xin He
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Acne is a prevalent inflammatory disease in dermatology, and its pathogenesis may be associated with inflammation, immunity, and other mechanisms. It commonly manifests in young individuals and frequently imposes a heavy economic, physical, and psychological burden on patients. Gut microbes and blood metabolites, as significant immune and inflammatory regulators in the body, have been hypothesized to form the “neurocutaneous axis.” Nonetheless, the precise causal relationships among the gut microbes, circulating blood metabolites, and acne development have yet to be elucidated. This study employed bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to probe the causal impacts of 412 distinct gut microbes and 249 blood metabolites on acne. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are closely associated with gut microbes and blood metabolites, were utilized as instrumental variables. This approach was taken to discern whether these elements serve as pathogenic or protective factors in relation to acne. Furthermore, a mediation analysis encompassing gut microbes, blood metabolites, and acne was conducted to explore potential correlations between gut microbes and blood metabolites, as well as their cumulative effects on acne. This was done to substantiate the notion of causality. Bidirectional two-sample MR analysis revealed 8 gut bacteria, 6 bacterial metabolic abundance pathways determined by birdshot, and 8 blood metabolites significantly associated with acne. The mediation MR analysis revealed 2 potential causal relationships, namely, Bifidobacterium-DHA-Acne and Bifidobacterium-Degree of Unsaturation-Acne. This study identified gut microbes and blood metabolites that are causally associated with acne. A potential causal relationship between gut microbes and blood metabolites was obtained via mediation analysis. These insights pave the way for the identification of new targets and the formulation of innovative approaches for the prevention and treatment of acne.
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spelling doaj-art-054a5280e74e45df8f32904d971944da2024-11-10T12:21:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111210.1038/s41598-024-78603-zCausal association of gut microbes and blood metabolites with acne identified through systematic mendelian randomizationXin He0Zhongyi Zhang1Hengyu Jiang2Hui Luo3Qianrong Gan4Kebo Wei5Ying Liu6Yuesi Qin7Min Xiao8Chengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medicine HospitalChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengdu Integrated TCM and Western Medicine HospitalHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineAbstract Acne is a prevalent inflammatory disease in dermatology, and its pathogenesis may be associated with inflammation, immunity, and other mechanisms. It commonly manifests in young individuals and frequently imposes a heavy economic, physical, and psychological burden on patients. Gut microbes and blood metabolites, as significant immune and inflammatory regulators in the body, have been hypothesized to form the “neurocutaneous axis.” Nonetheless, the precise causal relationships among the gut microbes, circulating blood metabolites, and acne development have yet to be elucidated. This study employed bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to probe the causal impacts of 412 distinct gut microbes and 249 blood metabolites on acne. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are closely associated with gut microbes and blood metabolites, were utilized as instrumental variables. This approach was taken to discern whether these elements serve as pathogenic or protective factors in relation to acne. Furthermore, a mediation analysis encompassing gut microbes, blood metabolites, and acne was conducted to explore potential correlations between gut microbes and blood metabolites, as well as their cumulative effects on acne. This was done to substantiate the notion of causality. Bidirectional two-sample MR analysis revealed 8 gut bacteria, 6 bacterial metabolic abundance pathways determined by birdshot, and 8 blood metabolites significantly associated with acne. The mediation MR analysis revealed 2 potential causal relationships, namely, Bifidobacterium-DHA-Acne and Bifidobacterium-Degree of Unsaturation-Acne. This study identified gut microbes and blood metabolites that are causally associated with acne. A potential causal relationship between gut microbes and blood metabolites was obtained via mediation analysis. These insights pave the way for the identification of new targets and the formulation of innovative approaches for the prevention and treatment of acne.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78603-zGut microbesBlood metabolitesAcneMendelian randomizationMediation analysis
spellingShingle Xin He
Zhongyi Zhang
Hengyu Jiang
Hui Luo
Qianrong Gan
Kebo Wei
Ying Liu
Yuesi Qin
Min Xiao
Causal association of gut microbes and blood metabolites with acne identified through systematic mendelian randomization
Scientific Reports
Gut microbes
Blood metabolites
Acne
Mendelian randomization
Mediation analysis
title Causal association of gut microbes and blood metabolites with acne identified through systematic mendelian randomization
title_full Causal association of gut microbes and blood metabolites with acne identified through systematic mendelian randomization
title_fullStr Causal association of gut microbes and blood metabolites with acne identified through systematic mendelian randomization
title_full_unstemmed Causal association of gut microbes and blood metabolites with acne identified through systematic mendelian randomization
title_short Causal association of gut microbes and blood metabolites with acne identified through systematic mendelian randomization
title_sort causal association of gut microbes and blood metabolites with acne identified through systematic mendelian randomization
topic Gut microbes
Blood metabolites
Acne
Mendelian randomization
Mediation analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78603-z
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