Project description:BackgroundAlthough relevant research has unveiled the intricate connections between immune cells and the occurrence and prognosis of esophageal cancer (EC), the specific impact of immune cell phenotypes on EC remains unclear.MethodsWe employed bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis to explore the causal relationship between immune cell phenotypes and EC. The summary data for immune cell phenotypes and EC are both sourced from the GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Study) database. Sensitivity analysis was conducted on the results, utilizing a combination of MR-Egger and MR-Presso to assess horizontal pleiotropy, employing Cochran's Q test to evaluate heterogeneity.ResultsWe identified 24 immunophenotypes with potential causal relationships to EC. Our results are presented based on the panel results from flow cytometry detection, categorized into B-cell panel, TBNK panel, cDC panel, Maturation stages of T-cell panel, Monocyte panel, and Myeloid cell panel. In the reverse MR analysis, we found a potential negative correlation between EC and IgD + CD38dim B cell Absolute Count (OR = 0.94, 95% CI, 0.88-0.99, P = 0.023).ConclusionThis study has unveiled the causal relationship between immune cell phenotypes and EC, providing new insights for the exploration of immunotherapy targets in subsequent EC research and for the assessment of EC prognosis.
Project description:In the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT), selenium supplementation (causing a median 114 μg/L increase in circulating selenium) did not lower overall prostate cancer risk, but increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer and type 2 diabetes. Mendelian randomization analysis uses genetic variants to proxy modifiable risk factors and can strengthen causal inference in observational studies. We constructed a genetic instrument comprising 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms robustly (P < 5 × 10-8) associated with circulating selenium in genome-wide association studies. In a Mendelian randomization analysis of 72 729 men in the PRACTICAL Consortium (44 825 case subjects, 27 904 control subjects), 114 μg/L higher genetically elevated circulating selenium was not associated with prostate cancer (odds ratio [OR] = 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89 to 1.13). In concordance with findings from SELECT, selenium was weakly associated with advanced (including high-grade) prostate cancer (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 0.98 to 1.49) and type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 0.97 to 1.43; in a type 2 diabetes genome-wide association study meta-analysis with up to 49 266 case subjects and 249 906 control subjects). Our Mendelian randomization analyses do not support a role for selenium supplementation in prostate cancer prevention and suggest that supplementation could have adverse effects on risks of advanced prostate cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Project description:IntroductionDespite the abundance of research indicating the participation of immune cells in prostate cancer development, establishing a definitive cause-and-effect relationship has proven to be a difficult undertaking.MethodsThis study employs Mendelian randomization (MR), leveraging genetic variables related to immune cells from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS), to investigate this association. The primary analytical method used in this study is inverse variance weighting (IVW) analysis. Comprehensive sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy of the results.ResultsThe study identifies four immune cell traits as causally contributing to prostate cancer risk, including CD127- CD8+ T cell %CD8+ T cell (OR = 1.0042, 95%CI:1.0011-1.0073, p = 0.0077), CD45RA on CD39+ resting CD4 regulatory T cell (OR = 1.0029, 95%CI:1.0008-1.0050, p = 0.0065), CD62L- Dendritic Cell Absolute Count (OR = 1.0016; 95%CI:1.0005-1.0026; p = 0.0039), CX3CR1 on CD14+ CD16- monocyte (OR = 1.0024, 95%CI:1.0007-1.0040, p = 0.0060). Additionally, two immune cell traits are identified as causally protective factors: CD4 on monocyte (OR = 0.9975, 95%CI:0.9958-0.9992, p = 0.0047), FSC-A on plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell (OR = 0.9983, 95%CI:0.9970-0.9995, p = 0.0070). Sensitivity analyses indicated no horizontal pleiotropy.DiscussionOur MR study provide evidence for a causal relationship between immune cells and prostate cancer, holding implications for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Project description:BackgroundTumour-promoting inflammation is a "hallmark" of cancer and conventional epidemiological studies have reported links between various inflammatory markers and cancer risk. The causal nature of these relationships and, thus, the suitability of these markers as intervention targets for cancer prevention is unclear.MethodsWe meta-analysed 6 genome-wide association studies of circulating inflammatory markers comprising 59,969 participants of European ancestry. We then used combined cis-Mendelian randomization and colocalisation analysis to evaluate the causal role of 66 circulating inflammatory markers in risk of 30 adult cancers in 338,162 cancer cases and up to 824,556 controls. Genetic instruments for inflammatory markers were constructed using genome-wide significant (P < 5.0 x 10-8) cis-acting SNPs (i.e. in or ±250 kb from the gene encoding the relevant protein) in weak linkage disequilibrium (LD, r2 < 0.10). Effect estimates were generated using inverse-variance weighted random-effects models and standard errors were inflated to account for weak LD between variants with reference to the 1000 Genomes Phase 3 CEU panel. A false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected P-value ("q-value") < 0.05 was used as a threshold to define "strong evidence" to support associations and 0.05 ≤ q-value < 0.20 to define "suggestive evidence". A colocalisation posterior probability (PPH4) > 70% was employed to indicate support for shared causal variants across inflammatory markers and cancer outcomes.ResultsWe found strong evidence to support an association of genetically-proxied circulating pro-adrenomedullin concentrations with increased breast cancer risk (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.10-1.29, q-value=0.033, PPH4=84.3%) and suggestive evidence to support associations of interleukin-23 receptor concentrations with increased pancreatic cancer risk (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.20-1.69, q-value=0.055, PPH4=73.9%), prothrombin concentrations with decreased basal cell carcinoma risk (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.53-0.81, q-value=0.067, PPH4=81.8%), macrophage migration inhibitory factor concentrations with increased bladder cancer risk (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.23, q-value=0.072, PPH4=76.1%), and interleukin-1 receptor-like 1 concentrations with decreased triple-negative breast cancer risk (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.88-0.97, q-value=0.15), PPH4=85.6%). For 22 of 30 cancer outcomes examined, there was little evidence (q-value ≥ 0.20) that any of the 66 circulating inflammatory markers examined were associated with cancer risk.ConclusionOur comprehensive joint Mendelian randomization and colocalisation analysis of the role of circulating inflammatory markers in cancer risk identified potential roles for 5 circulating inflammatory markers in risk of 5 site-specific cancers. Contrary to reports from some prior conventional epidemiological studies, we found little evidence of association of circulating inflammatory markers with the majority of site-specific cancers evaluated.
Project description:BackgroundPrevious studies have highlighted the crucial role of immune cells in lung cancer development; however, the direct link between immunophenotypes and lung cancer remains underexplored.MethodsWe applied two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, using genetic variants as instruments to determine the causal influence of exposures on outcomes. This method, unlike traditional randomized controlled trials (RCTs), leverages genetic variants inherited randomly at conception, thus reducing confounding and preventing reverse causation. Our analysis involved three genome-wide association studies to assess the causal impact of 731 immune cell signatures on lung cancer using genetic instrumental variables (IVs). We initially used the standard inverse variance weighted (IVW) method and further validated our findings with three supplementary MR techniques (MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR-PRESSO) to ensure robustness. We also conducted MR-Egger intercept and Cochran's Q tests to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy. Additionally, reverse MR analysis was performed to explore potential causality between lung cancer subtypes and identified immunophenotypes, using R software for all statistical calculations.ResultsOur MR analysis identified 106 immune signatures significantly associated with lung cancer. Notably, we found five suggestive associations across all sensitivity tests (P<0.05): CD25 on IgD- CD24- cells in small cell lung carcinoma (ORIVW =0.885; 95% CI: 0.798-0.983; P IVW =0.022); CD27 on IgD+ CD24+ cells in lung squamous cell carcinoma (ORIVW =1.054; 95% CI: 1.010-1.100; P IVW =0.015); CCR2 on monocyte cells in lung squamous cell carcinoma (ORIVW =0.941; 95% CI: 0.898-0.987; P IVW =0.012); CD123 on CD62L+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells (ORIVW =0.958; 95% CI: 0.924-0.992; P IVW =0.017) as well as on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (ORIVW =0.958; 95% CI: 0.924-0.992; P IVW =0.017) in lung squamous cell carcinoma.ConclusionThis study establishes a significant genomic link between immune cells and lung cancer, providing a robust basis for future clinical research aimed at lung cancer management.
Project description:ObjectivesOsteosarcoma (OS) is the primary bone tumor originating from transformed mesenchymal cells. It is unclear whether associations between specific circulating immune cells and OS are causal or due to bias. To clarify whether predicted genetically altered circulating immune cells are associated with OS development, we performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.MethodsThe genetic variants strongly associated with immune cell traits as instrumental variables (IVs) were used to perform MR analyses. The effect of specific immune cells on OS risk was measured using the summary statistics from the genome-wide association studies (GWAS).ResultsOur findings indicate that CD80 on CD62L+ myeloid dendritic cell and CD28-CD4-CD8- T-cell absolute count are positively associated with OS (CD80 on CD62L+ myeloid dendritic cell, OR: 3.41 [95% CI: 1.40 to 8.31], p = 0.007; CD28-CD4-CD8- T-cell absolute count, OR: 4.49 [95% CI: 1.29 to 15.62], p = 0.018). It is also found that CD20 has a negative effect on CD24+CD27+ B cell on OS (OR: 0.32 [95% CI: 0.14 to 0.72], p = 0.006) and a similar impact on IgD+ CD38- B cell on OS (OR: 0.19 [95% CI: 0.05 to 0.68], p = 0.011).ConclusionsThese findings illustrate that the genetic predisposition to specific immune cells can exert a causal effect on OS risk, which confirms the crucial role played by immunity in OS development. Particularly, the causal association between immune cells and OS underscores the evidence for exploring the new treatment strategy for OS in the future.
Project description:Objectives Though type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been known as a metabolic disease caused by multiple factors, the etiology remains insufficiently understood. Here, we aimed to figure out whether circulating immune cell profiles causally impact T2D liability. Methods We applied one genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics of blood traits in 563,085 participants from the Blood Cell Consortium and another GWAS of flow cytometric profile of lymphocyte subsets comprising 3,757 Sardinians to identify genetically predicted blood immune cells. We also obtained GWAS summary statistics in 898,130 individuals from the DIAGRAM Consortium to evaluate genetically predicted T2D. We primarily used inverse variance weighted (IVW) and weighted median methods to perform Mendelian randomization analyses and sensitivity analyses to evaluate heterogeneity and pleiotropy. Results For circulating blood leukocyte and its subpopulations, the increase of genetically predicted circulating monocyte count was causally correlated with a higher risk of T2D [odds ratio (OR) = 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02–1.10, p = 0.0048]. For lymphocyte subsets, CD8+ T cell and CD4+ CD8dim T cell count were identified with causal effect on T2D susceptibility (CD8+ T cell: OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.03–1.17, p = 0.0053; CD4+ CD8dim T cell: OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01–1.08, p = 0.0070). No pleiotropy was determined. Conclusions These findings demonstrated that higher circulating monocyte and T-lymphocyte subpopulation predicted increased T2D susceptibility, which confirmed the immunity predisposition for T2D. Our results may have the potential to provide new therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and treatment of T2D.
Project description:Urticaria is characterized by transient itchy symptoms on the skin, usually accompanied by swelling, which is caused by mast cell activation leading to increased vascular permeability and dilation of the dermis. Urticaria involves recurrent activation of mast cells, T cells, eosinophils, and other immune cells around lesioned venules, with complex regulatory systems affecting mast cell functions, potentially contributing to urticaria pathogenesis. The direct causal relationship between immune cells and urticaria is currently unclear. To address this, our study utilized a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis, employing instrumental variables (IVs) associated with immune cells and urticaria, to investigate this causal relationship. First, by utilizing Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) data, we identified 31 immunophenotypes associated with urticaria risk, with 18 increasing and 13 decreasing the risk. Through rigorous criteria, we identified 4 immunophenotypes that have a strong causal relationship with urticaria. Notably, HLA DR+ CD4+AC, CD45 on CD8br, and HLA DR on plasmacytoid dendritic cells were associated with an increased risk, while CD8dim NKT %lymphocyte was identified as a protective factor. Sensitivity analyses, including the MR-Egger intercept test, scatter plots, funnel plots, and leave-one-out analysis, supported the robustness of the findings. Reverse MR analysis suggested an inverse causal effect of urticaria on CD8dim NKT %lymphocyte, reinforcing the potential bidirectional nature of the relationship between urticaria and immune cell phenotypes. Our research substantiates the bidirectional causal relationship between immune cells and urticaria, thus benefiting for urticaria-targeted therapy development.