Genetic insights into the gut microbiota and risk of facial skin aging: A Mendelian randomization study

BackgroundEmerging observational studies showed an association between dyslipidemia and aging. However, it remains unclear whether this association is causal, particularly in the case of Asians, which are aging more rapidly than other continents. Given the visible manifestations of aging often include changes in facial appearance, the objective of this study is to assess the causal relationship between dyslipidemia and facial aging in East Asian populations.MethodsSNPs related to dyslipidemia in East Asian people such as Total cholesterol (TC), High‐density‐lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), Low‐density‐lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and Triglyceride (TG) along with outcomes data on facial aging, were extracted from public genome‐wide association studies (GWAS). A two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was then performed using publicly available GWAS data to investigate the potential causal relationship. The effect estimates were primarily calculated using the fixed‐effects inverse variance weighted (IVW) method.ResultsTotally, 88 SNPs related to HDL among 70657 East Asian participants in GWAS. Based on the primary causal effects model using MR analyses with the IVW method, high HDL level was demonstrated as significantly related to the risk of facial aging (OR, 1.060; 95% CI, 1.005–1.119, p = 0.034), while high TC level (OR, 0.995; 95% CI, 0.920–1.076, p = 0.903), high LDL level (OR, 0.980, 95% CI, 0.924–1.041, p = 0.515), as well as high TG level (OR, 0.999, 95% CI, 0.932–1.071, p = 0.974), showed no significant correlation with facial aging.ConclusionsThe two‐sample MR analysis conducted in this study revealed a positive causal relationship between high HDL levels and facial aging. In contrast, facial aging demonstrated no significant correlation with high levels of TC, LDL, or TG. Further large‐sample prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and to provide appropriate recommendations regarding nutrition management to delay the aging process among old patients in East Asia.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Causal relationship between dyslipidemia and risk of facial aging: Insights from Mendelian randomization in East Asian populations

Deng,

Li,

Luo

et al. 2024

“…9 Research has already demonstrated that certain gut microbiota are closely associated with facial skin aging and acne. 10,11 Additionally, studies have shown that inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis may influence each other through shared genetic mechanisms and tissue expression pathways. 12 However, the relationship between the gut microbiota and the skin microbiota still requires further investigation.…”

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confidence: 99%

Gut microbiota, skin microbiota, and alopecia areata: A Mendelian randomization study

Li,

Zhao,

Chen

et al. 2024

BackgroundObservational studies have shown an association between skin microbiota and alopecia areata (AA), but the causal connection remains ambiguous.MethodsWe obtained data on skin microbiota and AA from summary statistics of Genome‐Wide Association Studies and applied statistical methods from Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess causal relationships. Additionally, we investigated whether the skin microbiota acts as a mediator in the pathway from gut microbiota to AA.ResultsIn the MR analysis of KORA FF4 and AA, the inverse‐variance weighting method indicated that Corynebacterium (odds ratio [OR] = 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70–0.96, p = 0.02) and asv037 (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.76–0.99, p = 0.05) exerted protective effects, while Betaproteobacteria (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01–1.44, p = 0.03), asv015 (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.05–1.54, p = 0.02), and Burkholderiales (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04–1.38, p = 0.01) were identified as risk factors in AA. In the MR analysis of PopGen and AA, asv001 (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01–1.24, p = 0.04), asv054 (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01–1.25, p = 0.03), and asv059 (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02–1.27, p = 0.02) were found to potentially increase the risk in AA. Furthermore, in the influence of gut microbiota on AA, the skin microbiota did not act as a mediator.ConclusionOur analysis suggests potential causal relationships between certain skin microbiota and AA, revealing insights into its pathogenesis and potential intervention strategies.

Antibody immune responses and causal relationships in four immune skin diseases: Evidence from Mendelian randomization and Bayesian Weighting (Antibody Responses in Skin Diseases: MR & Bayesian)

Li,

Chen,

et al. 2024

BackgroundRecent studies increasingly suggest that microbial infections and the immune responses they elicit play significant roles in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory skin diseases. This study uses Mendelian randomization (MR) and Bayesian weighted Mendelian randomization (BWMR) to explore the causal relationships between immune antibody responses and four common skin diseases: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD), rosacea, and vitiligo.MethodsWe utilized summary statistics from genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) for antibody responses to 13 infectious pathogens and four skin diseases. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected as instrumental variables (IVs) to assess causal relationships using multiple MR methods, including inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR Egger, and weighted median. BWMR was also employed to confirm findings and address potential pleiotropy.ResultsThe IVW analysis identified significant associations between specific antibody responses and the skin diseases studied. Key findings include protective associations of anti‐Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) IgG seropositivity and Helicobacter pylori UREA antibody levels with psoriasis and AD. anti‐chlamydia trachomatis IgG seropositivity, anti‐polyomavirus 2 IgG seropositivity, and varicella zoster virus glycoprotein E and I antibody levels were negatively associated with rosacea, while EBV Elevated levels of the early antigen (EA‐D) antibody levels and HHV‐6 IE1B antibody levels were positively associated with rosacea. H. pylori Catalase antibody levels were protectively associated with vitiligo, whereas anti‐herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV‐2) IgG seropositivity was positively associated with vitiligo. The BWMR analysis confirmed these associations.ConclusionThis study underscores the significant role of H. pylori and other pathogens in these skin diseases, suggesting both protective and exacerbating effects depending on the specific condition. Understanding these pathogen‐immune interactions can lead to the development of more effective, personalized treatments and preventative strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life.