A Mendelian randomization analysis reveals the role of the skin microbiota in systemic lupus erythematosus

Through genetic approaches, our study has illustrated specific skin microbiotas that may influence SLE, potentially facilitating earlier detection and enhancing the efficacy of treatment alternatives for patients with SLE. Key points • This is the first study to uncover the potential causal relationship between skin microbiota and SLE using MR analysis. • The study has identified a potential causal relationship between 10 skin microbiotas and SLE. • A series of sensitivity analyses and BWMR were conducted to validate the robustness of our findings.