Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024 Aug 6;14:1404745. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1404745. eCollection 2024.
Recent studies have shown that gut microbiota may be related to the occurrence of brain tumors, but direct evidence is lacking. This study used the Mendelian randomization study (MR) method to explore the potential causal link between gut microbiota and brain tumors.
We analyzed the genome-wide association data between 211 gut microbiota taxa and brain tumors, using the largest existing gut microbiota Genome-Wide Association Studies meta-analysis data (n=13266) and combining it with brain tumor data in the IEU OpenGWAS database. We use inverse-variance weighted analysis, supplemented by methods such as Mendelian randomization-Egger regression, weighted median estimator, simple mode, and weighted mode, to assess causality. In addition, we also conducted the Mendelian randomization-Egger intercept test, Cochran's Q test, and Mendelian randomization Steiger directionality test to ensure the accuracy of the analysis. Quality control includes sensitivity analysis, horizontal gene pleiotropy test, heterogeneity test, and MR Steiger directionality test.
Our study found that specific gut microbial taxa, such as order Lactobacillales and family Clostridiaceae1, were positively correlated with the occurrence of brain tumors, while genus Defluviitaleaceae UCG011 and genus Flavonifractor were negatively correlated with the occurrence of brain tumors. The Mendelian randomization-Egger intercept test showed that our analysis was not affected by pleiotropy (P>0.05).
This study reveals for the first time the potential causal relationship between gut microbiota and brain tumors, providing a new perspective for the prevention and treatment of early brain tumors. These findings may help develop new clinical intervention strategies and point the way for future research.
最近的研究表明，肠道微生物群可能与脑瘤的发生有关，但直接证据尚缺乏。本研究采用孟德尔随机化研究（MR）方法，探讨肠道微生物群与脑瘤之间潜在的因果关系。
我们分析了 211 种肠道微生物群与脑瘤之间的全基因组关联数据，使用了现有的最大的肠道微生物群全基因组关联研究荟萃分析数据（n=13266），并将其与 IEU OpenGWAS 数据库中的脑瘤数据相结合。我们采用逆方差加权分析，并辅以孟德尔随机化-Egger 回归、加权中位数估计、简单模式和加权模式等方法，评估因果关系。此外，我们还进行了孟德尔随机化-Egger 截距检验、Cochran's Q 检验和孟德尔随机化 Steiger 方向检验，以确保分析的准确性。质量控制包括敏感性分析、水平基因多效性检验、异质性检验和 MR Steiger 方向检验。
本研究发现，特定的肠道微生物类群，如目 Lactobacillales 和科 Clostridiaceae1，与脑瘤的发生呈正相关，而属 Defluviitaleaceae UCG011 和属 Flavonifractor 与脑瘤的发生呈负相关。孟德尔随机化-Egger 截距检验表明，我们的分析不受多效性影响（P>0.05）。
本研究首次揭示了肠道微生物群与脑瘤之间的潜在因果关系，为早期脑瘤的预防和治疗提供了新视角。这些发现可能有助于开发新的临床干预策略，并为未来的研究指明方向。
