An increasing amount of evidence suggests that GM plays a crucial part in regulating metabolism (23), immune system function (24), and intestinal permeability (25). It has been found to have a strong correlation with the onset and progression of several chronic multifactorial illnesses, such as psoriasis. This has led to the emergence of the gut-skin axis as a novel concept (10). When interacting with the host, GM generates a diverse array of metabolites. Among these, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the final products resulting from anaerobic fermentation of indigestible carbohydrates, such as dietary fiber, by gut microorganisms. The primary SCFAs produced are acetate, propionate, and butyrate (26). SCFAs not only serve as an energy source for colonic epithelial cells but also regulate glucose and lipid metabolism to control energy expenditure, maintain the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, and affect immune system and inflammatory responses (27). Notably, butyrate exhibits anti-inflammatory effects that contribute to preserving epithelial barrier function and preventing colitis (11). It additionally mitigates oxidative stress, modulates the equilibrium between Th17/Treg cells, and participates in the control of many inflammatory mediators including IL-6, IL-10, and IL-18 (7). Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is another metabolite synthesized by GM. It is derived through the conversion of trimethylamine, which is generated through the metabolic breakdown of choline, betaine, and carnitine by hepatic flavin monooxygenase. TMAO is involved in cholesterol metabolism and promotes atherosclerosis and plaque formation. Elevated concentrations of TMAO in the bloodstream have been identified as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and are directly correlated with the incidence and mortality of acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and other serious cardiovascular complications (11, 28).
Based on available information, notable disparities in the diversity and composition of GM have been observed between persons with psoriasis and those without the condition. These discrepancies are defined by a state of dysbiosis, wherein there is a decrease in beneficial microorganisms and an increase in potentially detrimental ones (7). Multiple research studies have reported an elevation in Firmicutes and a decline in Bacteroidetes phyla in the GM of individuals with psoriasis in comparison to healthy individuals (29), which was also observed in our study. The ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B ratio) is considered as an important indicator of GM status. Research has shown that F/B ratio is positively correlated with the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (30), which measures the severity of psoriasis lesions. In addition, an imbalance in this ratio has been linked to various comorbidities including cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and insulin resistance (10).
An alteration in GM can lead to a reduction in butyrate synthesis, thereby exacerbating the inflammatory response observed in psoriasis. Moreover, an increased F/B ratio may result in elevated production of TMAO, which could potentially increase the risk of cardiovascular complications and have adverse effects on the prognosis for patients with psoriasis. Furthermore, the dysregulation of GM can cause the periodic release of certain wall components, including lipopolysaccharides and lipoteichoic acid. These components have been proven to be potent pro-inflammatory agents that disrupt the integrity of the intestinal barrier and enhance gut permeability, ultimately contributing to the development of a condition known as "leaky gut syndrome" (31). This situation leads to the translocation of bacteria into the systemic circulation and induce the overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, promoting an inflammatory state in the body and aggravates psoriasis (32).
Based on the possible mechanisms mentioned above, we can reasonably explain the findings of our MR analysis in this study. Eubacterium fissicatena, also known as Faecalicatena fissicatena, is a member of the phylum Firmicutes with limited previous research. It has been reported that in a dextran sulfate sodium salt-induced colitis mouse model, E. Fissicatena is enriched in the intestines of mice with colitis. This enrichment was shown to exhibit a positive correlation with pro-inflammatory markers, while displaying a negative correlation with anti-inflammatory markers (33). E. Fissicatena shows a strong association with inflammatory cells in the colon, as well as disease activity index score and histology score, which reflect the activity and severity of colitis (34, 35). The abundance of E. Fissicatena is elevated in obese mice induced by high-fat diet, which is strongly linked to the development of obesity and associated metabolic abnormalities. The inflammatory environment resulting from obesity is believed to accelerate the deterioration of ulcerative colitis (34). Additionally, a significant increase in the abundance of E. Fissicatena has been reported in individuals diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome, which exhibits a strong association with serum TMAO levels (28). This correlation may contribute to the observed elevated cardiovascular risk among individuals with psoriasis. Similarly, it has been found that Lactococcus proportion in the gut positively correlates with body weight, adiposity index, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and the expression of genes related to intestinal inflammation (36). The abundance of Lactococcus is positively associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α, while exhibiting a negative correlation with the anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 (37). These bacterial genera may conduce to the progression of psoriasis by facilitating inflammatory reactions.
Butyricicoccus, which is noted for its ability to produce butyrate, has notably reduced abundance in GM of patients with IBD compared to healthy individuals, as well as in active Crohn's disease patients compared to non-active patients (38). Its reduced activity is closely associated with impaired intestinal epithelial barrier integrity (39) as well as weight-related indicators such as waist circumference and body mass index, and blood lipid parameters including low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and total cholesterol (40). Recent research highlights the importance of Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum in producing high concentrations of butyrate that play a protective role against colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (38).
Conflicting findings have been reported regarding the genus Faecalibacterium and Prevotella. While several studies have demonstrated an increase in the abundance of Faecalibacterium in the gut microbiome of psoriasis patients (41, 42), a significant decrease has been observed in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, which is known as one of the major producers of butyrate (43). The reduction has been found in both IBD and psoriasis vulgaris, with a more pronounced effect seen in patients with both conditions, supporting the existence of the gut-skin axis (43, 44). As for Prevotella, although its high abundance has been identified in mice exhibiting a severe psoriasis-like phenotype (45), multiple studies have consistently reported decreased levels of Prevotella among psoriasis patients, suggesting that it may possess anti-inflammatory properties that enhance intestinal barrier function and reduce cecal inflammatory markers (46, 47).
The inconsistent outcomes could possibly be ascribed to the diverse immune effects observed in different species within the same genus. Studies have identified at least two phylotypes of F. prausnitzii, and the potential influence of other phylogroups and species within the genus cannot be disregarded due to variations in relative population abundance across different diseases (42). Likewise, Prevotella copri, a bacterium that has been found to decrease in psoriasis but rise in other inflammatory conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis, has recently demonstrated its ability to stimulate colonic Th17 cells and induce arthritis in SKG mice. Conversely, another species belonging to the identical genus, Prevotella histicola, has been shown to inhibit collagen-induced arthritis in transgenic mice that express genes associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, it can be inferred that the immunomodulatory effects of GM vary depending on the species involved and, in certain cases, may even differ based on the specific strain (48). The data we have obtained on the abundance of GM is restricted to the genus level due to the inherent limitations in resolution of 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Further investigations are required to confirm the specific roles played by different species.
This study possesses multiple notable benefits. To the best of our current understanding, this work is the first to employ MR analysis in order to explore the potential causal association between GM and psoriasis. The utilization of MR analysis is a pertinent methodology for examining causal relationships, as it effectively addresses the issue of potential confounding factors. On the contrary, case-control studies have limitations in establishing the temporal sequence between the colonization of GM and the beginning of psoriasis due to the collection of fecal samples after the manifestation of the illness. In addition, the genetic variables utilized in this study were obtained from the most extensive GWAS meta-analysis currently accessible, ensuring the strength and dependability of the instruments applied in the research. Furthermore, we have discovered the existence of horizontal pleiotropy and mitigated its impact by the use of MR-PRESSO and MR-Egger regression intercept term tests, which signifies the robustness and reliability of our findings from a statistical standpoint.
Our study also has some limitations. Given that the majority of participants in the GWAS meta-analysis are of European descent, caution should be exercised when generalizing results to individuals of non-European ancestry, and potential biases due to population stratification may still exist. Additionally, in order to incorporate more genetic variations as IVs for sensitivity analysis and horizontal pleiotropy testing, SNPs in the analysis had a relatively low significance threshold (P < 1×10–5).