Causal relationship between skin microbiota and Hidradenitis suppurativa: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Background: Data from observational and clinical studies indicate an association between skin microbiota and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). However, the causal relationship between skin microbiota and HS remains to be elucidated.

Methods: We obtained data on skin microbiota and HS from summary statistics of genome-wide association studies and applied Mendelian randomization (MR) statistical methods to assess causality. Specifically, we employed both full MR and inverse MR methods, utilizing five statistical approaches, including inverse variance weighting, to evaluate causality. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses were conducted to validate the MR findings.

Results: Inverse variance weighted analysis revealed that the order Burkholderiales (OR = 0.922, 95% CI 0.855-0.994, P = 0.033), the genus Enhydrobacter (OR = 0.897, 95% CI 0.815-0.986, P = 0.025), ASV037 (OR = 0.926, 95% CI 0.863-0.995, P = 0.036), and ASV016 (OR = 0.932, 95% CI 0.870-0.998, P = 0.043) exhibited a protective effect against HS. Conversely, ASV022 (OR = 1.098, 95% CI 1.027-1.175, P = 0.007) was identified as a risk factor.

Conclusion: Our analysis suggests a possible causal relationship between specific skin microbiota and HS. These findings shed light on the potential pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions.