Evidence from mendelian randomization identifies several causal relationships between primary membranous nephropathy and gut microbiota

Research has showcased a correlation between disruptions in gut microbiota and primary membranous nephropathy (pMN), giving rise to the concept of the ‘gut-kidney axis’. However, the precise relationship between gut microbiota and pMN remains elusive. Hence, this study endeavors to investigate whether a causal relationship exists between gut microbiota and pMN utilizing Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. The primary method employed for MR analysis is the inverse variance weighting method, supplemented by MR-Egger and the weighted median method, to infer causality. This approach was validated within the pMN cohort across two distinct populations. At the species level, the abundance of <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> and <i>Alistipes indistinctus</i> was negatively correlated with the risk of pMN. Conversely, pMN was positively associated with <i>Bacilli</i> abundance at the class level, <i>Lachnospiraceae</i> abundance at the family level, and <i>Dialister</i> abundance at the genus level. Specifically, at the species level, pMN was positively correlated with the abundance of <i>Ruminococcus lactaris</i>, <i>Dialister invisus</i>, and <i>Coprococcus_sp_ART55_1.</i> These findings lay the groundwork for future research exploring the interplay between pMN and the gut microbiota, with substantial implications for the prevention and treatment of pMN and its associated complications.