Pathway mediating the effects of pine pollen and gut microbiota dysbiosis in driving allergic rhinitis

Finally, molecular docking was employed to validate the binding patterns of key ligands (pine pollen components and microbial metabolites) to hub genes.Results A total of 19 common target genes between pine pollen and AR were identified. MR analysis revealed a significant causal relationship between 9 gut microbiota and AR, among which 6 species, including Collinsella, were identified as risk factors, while 3 species, including Erysipelotrichales, were protective factors.

Cross-validation identified TNF as the sole overlapping core hub gene. Molecular docking confirmed that kaempferol, a key component of pine pollen, exhibited strong binding affinity to TNF (binding energy = −8.8 kcal/mol), whereas Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), a microbial metabolite, showed weaker binding to TNF.Conclusion TNF acts as a key molecular nexus linking environmental allergens and gut microbial dysbiosis, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the "gut‑nose axis" mechanism in AR and developing microbiota‑targeted precise intervention strategies.