Role of gut microbiota and inflammatory factors in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a Mendelian randomization analysis

Jiawei Ma; Zigang Zhu; Yisikandeer Yishajiang; Khaloud Mohammed Alarjani; Lei Hong; Liang Luo

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1294692

Role of gut microbiota and inflammatory factors in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a Mendelian randomization analysis

Front Microbiol. 2023 Dec 20:14:1294692. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1294692. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jiawei Ma^#^{1

2}, Zigang Zhu^#¹, Yisikandeer Yishajiang², Khaloud Mohammed Alarjani³, Lei Hong⁴, Liang Luo¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Critical Care Medicine, Jiangnan University Medical Center, Wuxi, China.
² Department of Critical Care Medicine, Aheqi County People's Hospital, Xinjiang, China.
³ Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Institute of Clinical Medicine Research, The Affiliated Suzhou Science and Technology Town Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious lung ailment marked by significant inflammation and damage in the alveoli and capillaries of the lungs. Recent research suggests a strong correlation between the onset and advancement of ARDS and an imbalance in the gut microbiota (GM).

Methods: In this investigation, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was utilized, drawing on data from publicly accessible genome-wide association studies. The primary focus was on examining the interplay between GM, inflammatory factors (IFs) and ARDS. Instrumental variables were established through genetic modifications of GM and IFs. Various statistical analysis methods including the inverse-variance weighted model, MR-Egger method and Wald ratio test were applied for comprehensive data analysis.

Results: Eight bacterial taxa within the GM demonstrated a potential causal link with development of ARDS. Notably, the phylum Actinobacteria and the genus Intestinibacter exhibited a negative association with the risk of ARDS. However, Erysipelotrichales (id. 2,148), Victivallis (id. 2,256), Ruminococcaceae UCG014 (id. 11,371), Eubacterium ruminantium group (id. 11,340), Erysipelotrichaceae (id. 2,149) and Erysipelotrichia (id. 2,147) demonstrated a positive association with ARDS risk. Additionally, the study identified a potential causal relationship between the inflammatory factors interleukin-16 and C-C motif chemokine 3 with the occurrence of ARDS.

Conclusion: This study strongly suggests that the interaction between gut microbiota (GM) and inflammatory factors (IFs) significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This underscores their crucial involvement in both the initiation and advancement of this severe lung disorder.

Keywords: Mendelian randomization; acute respiratory distress syndrome; genome-wide association studies; gut microbiota; inflammatory factors.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study received funding and support from the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (2023D01F26), Wuxi Medical Innovation Teams (CXTD2021018), Wuxi Key Medical Talents Project (ZDRC007), and scientific research project of Wuxi Municipal Health Commission (Q202221).