Genetic association between gut microbiota and the risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 2024-07, Vol.357, p.171-178
• Main Authors: Cao, Fangzheng, Zhang, Houwen, Xu, Bin, Li, Chunrong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gastrointestinal Microbiome - genetics; Genome-Wide Association Study; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - epidemiology; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - microbiology; Guillain-Barré syndrome; Gut microbiota; Humans; Mendelian randomization; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Risk Factors; Ruminococcus - genetics
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.011

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disease that typically develops after a previous gastrointestinal (GI) infection. However, the exact association between Gut Microbiota (GM) and GBS still remains unknown due to various challenges. This study aimed to investigate the potential causal association between GM and GBS by using a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (TSMR) analysis. Utilizing the largest available genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis from the MiBioGen consortium (n = 13,266) as a foundation, we conducted a TSMR to decipher the causal relationship between GM and GBS. Various analytical methods were employed, including the inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-PRESSO, MR-Egger, and weighted median. The heterogeneity of instrumental variables (IVs) was assessed using Cochran's Q statistics. The analysis identified three microbial taxa with a significantly increased risk association for GBS, including Ruminococcus gnavus group (OR = 1.40, 95 % CI: 1.07–1.83), Ruminococcus gauvreauii group (OR = 1.51, 95 % CI: 1.02–2.25), and Ruminococcaceae UCG009 (OR = 1.42, 95 % CI: 1.02–1.97), while Eubacterium brachy group (OR = 1.44, 95 % CI: 1.10–1.87) and Romboutsia (OR = 1.67, 95 % CI: 1.12–2.47) showed a suggestively causal association. On the other hand, Ruminococcaceae UCG004 (OR = 0.61, 95 % CI: 0.41–0.91) had a protective effect on GBS, while Bacilli (OR = 0.60, 95 % CI: 0.38–0.96), Gamma proteobacteria (OR = 0.63, 95 % CI: 0.41–0.98) and Lachnospiraceae UCG001 (OR = 0.69, 95 % CI: 0.49–0.96) showed a suggestively protective association for GBS. The MR analysis suggests a potential causal relationship between specific GM taxa and the risk of GBS. However, further extensive research involving diversified populations is imperative to validate these findings. •The association between Gut Microbiota (GM) and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) remains unknown due to various challenges;•This is the first study to identify the causal effects of GM on GBS through Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis;•Our results may provide new evidence for potential causal relationship between specific GM taxa and the risk of GBS.