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Li C, Shu P, Shi T, Chen Y, Mei P, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Du X, Wang J, Zhang Y, Liu B, Sheng Z, Chan S, Dan Z. Predicting the potential deterioration of Barrett's esophagus based on gut microbiota: a Mendelian randomization analysis. Mamm Genome 2024; 35:399-413. [PMID: 38886201 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-024-10042-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is one of the most malignant tumors in the digestive system. To make thing worse, the scarcity of treatment options is disheartening. However, if detected early, there is a possibility of reversing the condition. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of relevant early screening methods. Considering that Barrett's esophagus (BE), a precursor lesion of EAC, has been confirmed as the only known precursor of EAC. Analyzing which BE cases will progress to EAC and understanding the processes and mechanisms involved is of great significance for early screening of such patients. Considering the significant alterations in the gut microbiota of patients with BE and its potential role in the progression to EAC, this study aims to analyze the relationship between BE, EAC, and GM to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This study utilized comprehensive statistical data on gut microbiota from a large-scale genome-wide association meta-analysis conducted by the MiBioGen consortium (n = 18,340). Subsequently, we selected a set of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that fell below the genome-wide significance threshold (1 × 10-5) as instrumental variables. To investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and BE and EAC, we employed various MR analysis methods, including Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW), MR-Egger regression, weighted median (WM), and weighted mean. Additionally, we assessed the level of pleiotropy, heterogeneity, and stability of genetic variations through MR-Egger intercept test, MR-PRESSO, Cochran's Q test, and "leave-one-out" sensitivity analysis. Furthermore, we conducted reverse MR analysis to identify the causal relationships between gut microbiota and BE and EAC. The results from the Inverse Variance-Weighted (IVW) analysis indicate that Alistipes (P = 4.86 × 10-2), Lactobacillus (P = 2.11 × 10-2), Prevotella 7 (P = 4.28 × 10-2), and RuminococcaceaeUCG004 (P = 4.34 × 10-2) are risk factors for Barrett's esophagus (BE), while Flavonifractor (P = 8.81 × 10-3) and RuminococcaceaeUCG004 (P = 4.99 × 10-2) are risk factors for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). On the other hand, certain gut microbiota genera appear to have a protective effect against both BE and EAC. These include Eubacterium (nodatum group) (P = 4.51 × 10-2), Holdemania (P = 1.22 × 10-2), and Lactococcus (P = 3.39 × 10-2) in the BE cohort, as well as Eubacterium (hallii group) (P = 4.07 × 10-2) and Actinomyces (P = 3.62 × 10-3) in the EAC cohort. According to the results of reverse MR analysis, no significant causal effects of BE and EAC on gut microbiota were observed. Furthermore, no significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy was detected in the instrumental variables. We have established a causal relationship between the gut microbiota and BE and EAC. This study holds profound significance for screening BE patients who may be at risk of deterioration, as it can provide them with timely medical interventions to reverse the condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conghan Li
- First Clinical Medical College (First Affiliated Hospital), Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Panyin Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Lane, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, China
| | - Taiyu Shi
- First Clinical Medical College (First Affiliated Hospital), Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Yuerong Chen
- First Clinical Medical College (First Affiliated Hospital), Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Ping Mei
- Department of Radiology, Anqing Municipal Hospital, Anqing, Anhui Province, 246000, China
| | - Yizhong Zhang
- College of Anesthesia, Wannan Medical College, No. 22 Wenchang West Road, Yijiang District, Wuhu City, 241002, Anhui, China
| | - Yan Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Xinyan Du
- First Clinical Medical College (First Affiliated Hospital), Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Jianning Wang
- First Clinical Medical College (First Affiliated Hospital), Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Yixin Zhang
- First Clinical Medical College (First Affiliated Hospital), Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Bin Liu
- First Clinical Medical College (First Affiliated Hospital), Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Zhijin Sheng
- Department of Physical Education, College of Humanistic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Shixin Chan
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218, Jixi Road, Shushan District, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Zhangyong Dan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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Zhang Z, Zhang G, Huang Z, Shi Y, Wang D. Application of Mendelian randomization to assess host gene-gut microbiota correlations in patients with esophageal cancer. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1309596. [PMID: 38179450 PMCID: PMC10764629 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1309596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Increasing evidence suggests that esophageal cancer (ESCA) may be correlated with gut flora. However, their causal connection remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate potential causal linkages and gene-gut microbiome associations between the gut microbiota and ESCA using Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods We analyzed the data using genome-wide association studies. The exposure factor and outcome variable were the gut microbiota and ESCA, respectively. The MR-Egger method, weighted median, inverse-variance weighted method, heterogeneity test, sensitivity analysis, and multiplicity analysis were used for the MR analysis. And it was validated using an external dataset. Further meta-analysis was performed to validate the robustness of this relationship. Finally, we annotated single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gut microbiota that were causally associated with ESCA to explore possible host gene-gut microbiota correlations in patients with ESCA. Results We identified four species with potential associations with ESCA. Three of these species had a negative causal relationship with ESCA (odds ratio (OR): 0.961; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.923-0.971; p = 0.047 for Romboutsia; OR: 0.972; 95% CI: 0.921-0.961; p = 0.018 for Lachnospira; OR: 0.948; 95% CI: 0.912-0.970; p = 0.032 for Eubacterium). A positive causal relationship was observed between one bacterial group and ESCA (OR: 1.105; 95% CI: 1.010-1.072; p = 0.018 for Veillonella). External datasets show the same trend. This is further supported by meta-analysis. None of the data showed pleiotropy, and leave-one-out analysis indicated the reliability of these findings. The gut microbiomes of patients with ESCA may correlate with the 19 identified genes. Conclusion Our data indicate a potential causal link between these four gut bacteria and ESCA and identify a correlation between host genes and gut microbiota in ESCA, offering novel therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhu Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Guodong Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhulan Huang
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Longgang District Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital of Shenzhen City, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yamin Shi
- Department of Foreign Languages, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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Feng K, Ren F, Xing Z, Zhao Y, Yang C, Liu J, Shang Q, Wang X, Wang X. Microbiome and its implications in oncogenesis: a Mendelian randomization perspective. Am J Cancer Res 2023; 13:5785-5804. [PMID: 38187050 PMCID: PMC10767327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The human microbiome, an intricate ecological network, has garnered significant attention due to its potential implications in oncogenesis. This paper delves into the multifaceted relationships between the microbiome, its metabolites, and cancer development, emphasizing the human intestinal tract as the primary microbial habitat. Highlighting the potential causative associations between microbial disturbances and cancer progression, we underscore the role of specific bacterial strains in various cancers, such as stomach and colorectal cancer. Traditional causality assessment methods, like randomized controlled trials (RCTs), have limitations. Therefore, we advocate using Mendelian Randomization (MR) as a powerful alternative to study causal relationships, leveraging genetic variants as instrumental variables. With the proliferation of genome-wide association studies, MR harnesses genetic variations to infer causality, which is especially beneficial when addressing confounders like diet and lifestyle that can skew microbial research. We systematically review MR's application in understanding the microbiome-cancer nexus, emphasizing its strengths and challenges. While MR offers a unique perspective on causality, it faces hurdles like horizontal pleiotropy and weak instrumental variable bias. Integrating MR with multi-omics data, encompassing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, holds promise for future research, potentially heralding groundbreaking discoveries in microbiology and genetics. This comprehensive review underscores the critical role of the human microbiome in oncogenesis and champions MR as an indispensable tool for advancing our understanding in this domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Feng
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing 100021, China
| | - Fei Ren
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing 100021, China
| | - Zeyu Xing
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing 100021, China
| | - Yifan Zhao
- School of Engineering, RMIT UniversityBundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Chenxuan Yang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing 100021, China
| | - Jiaxiang Liu
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing 100021, China
| | - Qingyao Shang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing 100021, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing 100021, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing 100021, China
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