AUTHOR=Luo Shulu , Li Weiran , Li Qianqian , Zhang Mengqi , Wang Xun , Wu Shuyi , Li Yan 

TITLE=Causal effects of gut microbiota on the risk of periodontitis: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1160993

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1160993

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>The oral cavity and the gut tract are interconnected, and both contain abundant natural microbiota. Gut microbiota may interact with oral flora and participate in the development of periodontitis. However, the specific role of certain gut microbiota taxa for periodontitis has not been investigated. Mendelian Randomization is an ideal method to explore causal relationships avoiding reverse causality and potential confounding factors. Thus, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian Randomization study to comprehensively reveal the potential genetic causal effect of gut microbiota on periodontitis.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>SNPs strongly associated with 196 gut microbiota taxa (18,340 individuals) were selected as instrument variables, and periodontitis (17,353 periodontitis cases and 28,210 controls) was used as the outcome. The causal effect was analyzed via random effect inverse variance-weighted, weighted median, and MR-Egger. The sensitivity analyses were conducted using Cochran’s Q tests, funnel plots, leave-one-out analyses, and MR-Egger intercept tests.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Nine gut microbiota taxa (<italic>Prevotella</italic> 7, <italic>Lachnospiraceae</italic> UCG-008, <italic>Enterobacteriales</italic>, <italic>Pasteurellales</italic>, <italic>Enterobacteriaceae</italic>, <italic>Pasteurellaceae</italic>, <italic>Bacteroidales</italic> S24.7 group, <italic>Alistipes</italic>, and <italic>Eisenbergiella</italic>) are predicted to play a causal role in enhancing the risk of periodontitis (<italic>p</italic>&lt; 0.05). Besides, two gut microbiota taxa (<italic>Butyricicoccus</italic> and <italic>Ruminiclostridium</italic> 6) have potentially inhibitive causal effects on the risk of periodontitis (<italic>p</italic>&lt; 0.05). No significant estimation of heterogeneity or pleiotropy is detected.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Our study demonstrates the genetic causal effect of 196 gut microbiota taxa on periodontitis and provides guidance for the clinical intervention of periodontitis.</p></sec>