The role of the gut microbiome in eye diseases

Zysset-Burri, Denise C.; Morandi, Sophia C; Herzog, Elio L.; Berger, Lieselotte Erika; Zinkernagel, Martin

doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101117

Cited by 47 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 140 publications

(167 reference statements)

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“… 97 Indeed, it was recently pointed out that compositional and functional alterations of the gut microbiome, in interaction with the immune system, were associated with ocular diseases. 98–101 Moreover, it was shown that a healthy gut microbiome strengthens the ocular mucosal immune barrier through increasing immune effectors such as IgA and complement in the tear film of mice. Evidence suggests that the OSM is in a symbiotic relationship with the immune system and plays a role in the education, function, and induction of the immune system.…”

Section: The Os Microbiome In the Context Its Host’s Immunity And Tea...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Ocular Surface Microbiome: What Can It Tell Us?

Peter

Morandi

Herzog

et al. 2023

OPTH

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While pathogens of the eye have been studied for a very long time, the existence of resident microbes on the surface of healthy eyes has gained interest only recently. It appears that commensal microbes are a normal feature of the healthy eye, whose role and properties are currently the subject of extensive research. This review provides an overview of studies that have used 16s rRNA gene sequencing and whole metagenome shotgun sequencing to characterize microbial communities associated with the healthy ocular surface from kingdom to genus level. Bacteria are the primary colonizers of the healthy ocular surface, with three predominant phyla: Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria , and Firmicutes , regardless of the host, environment, and method used. Refining the microbial classification to the genus level reveals a highly variable distribution from one individual and study to another. Factors accounting for this variability are intriguing - it is currently unknown to what extent this is attributable to the individuals and their environment and how much is artifactual. Clearly, it is technically challenging to accurately describe the microorganisms of the ocular surface because their abundance is relatively low, thus, permitting substantial contaminations. More research is needed, including better experimental standards to prevent biases, and the exploration of the ocular surface microbiome’s role in a spectrum of healthy to pathological states. Outcomes from such research include the opportunity for therapeutic interventions targeting the microbiome.

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Section: The Os Microbiome In the Context Its Host’s Immunity And Tea...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Ocular Surface Microbiome: What Can It Tell Us?

Peter

Morandi

Herzog

et al. 2023

OPTH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The indispensable functions carried out by the gut microbiota for the human host highlight its profound importance [19] . Integral to numerous host functions, the human gut microbiota contributes signi cantly to nutritional metabolism, immune system modulation, protection against pathogens, and the maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity [20] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between age-related macular degeneration and the gut microbiota: A two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis

He,

Nie

2024

Preprint

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Objective To assess any potential associations between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the gut microbiota. Methods Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed on summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of the gut microbiota and AMD. The gut microbiota was considered the exposure. Instrumental variables (IVs) were identified from a GWAS involving 7,738 participants. The GWAS for AMD from European cohorts served as the outcome dataset, comprising 8,931 AMD patients and 348,936 controls. The primary analysis employed the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, with sensitivity analysis conducted to assess the robustness and reliability of the MR analysis results. Results IVW revealed significant associations between specific microbial families/genera and AMD. Notably, the family Peptococcaceae (OR=1.176, 95% CI 1.012 to 1.366, P=0.004), genus Parasutterella (OR=1.167, 95% CI 1.011 to 1.347, P=0.035), and genus Faecalibacterium (OR=1.247, 95% CI 1.071 to 1.451, P=0.034) demonstrated positive causal associations with AMD, while the class Melainabacteria(OR=0.886, 95% CI 0.789 to 0.995, P=0.041) and family Rikenellaceae (OR=0.844, 95% CI 0.726 to 0.981, P=0.027) showed negative causal associations. Sensitivity analysis did not reveal evidence of reverse causality, pleiotropy, or heterogeneity. Conclusion Utilizing MR, we conducted a comprehensive assessment to investigate the causal effect of 412 gut microbiota species spanning from the phylum to the genus level on AMD. Our study revealed significant positive associations between specific genetic variants related to the family Peptococcaceae, genus Parasutterella, and genus Faecalibacterium and an increased risk of AMD. Our findings provide strong evidence supporting a protective role of certain genetic variants related to the class Melainabacteria and family Rikenellaceae against AMD. These results highlight a potential causal relationship between several gut microbiota taxa and AMD. However, future studies employing MR in larger cohorts and incorporating functional analyses are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which genetic variants related to the gut microbiota influence the development of AMD.

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“…The gut–eye axis has been brought into attention of researchers, and studies investigating the role of the intestinal microbiome in various ocular diseases other than dry eye have been performed, including age-related macular degeneration, retinal artery occlusion, central serous chorioretinopathy, and uveitis. 11 Currently, dry eye treatment follows two-a-stepwise approach from simple to complex, from least invasive to most invasive, as first advocated by the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society Dry Eye Workshop published in 2007 12 and then updated in the form of an algorithm in the Dry Eye Workshop II report one decade afterward. 13 The Asia Dry Eye Society more recently proposed a slightly different approach, 14 employing the protocol of tear film–oriented therapy based on tear-film dynamics by Yokoi et al, 15 which was first adopted by the Dry Eye Society of Japan in 2015.…”

Section: The Gut Microbiomementioning

confidence: 99%

The Conjunctival Microbiome and Dry Eye: What We Know and Controversies

Shih,

Tong

2024

Eye &Amp; Contact Lens: Science &Amp; Clinical Practice

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Dry eye disease is a common multifactorial condition that may be idiopathic or associated with autoimmune conditions, such as Sjogren syndrome. Commensal microorganisms modify immune responses, so it is relevant to understand how they modify such immune-mediated diseases. Microbiota in the gut regulate inflammation in the eye, and conversely, severe inflammation of the ocular surface results in alteration of gut microbiome. The conjunctiva microbiome can be analyzed using 16S or shotgun metagenomics. The amount of microbial DNA in ocular surface mucosa relative to human DNA is limited compared with the case of the intestinal microbiome. There are challenges in defining, harvesting, processing, and analyzing the microbiome in the ocular surface mucosa. Recent studies have shown that the conjunctiva microbiome depends on age, presence of local and systemic inflammation, and environmental factors. Microbiome-based therapy, such as the use of oral probiotics to manage dry eye disease, has initial promising results. Further longitudinal studies are required to investigate the alteration of the conjunctival microbiome after local therapy and surgery.

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The role of the gut microbiome in eye diseases

Cited by 47 publications

References 140 publications

Investigating the Ocular Surface Microbiome: What Can It Tell Us?

Investigating the Ocular Surface Microbiome: What Can It Tell Us?

Association between age-related macular degeneration and the gut microbiota: A two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis

The Conjunctival Microbiome and Dry Eye: What We Know and Controversies

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