Dataset Information

Exploring causal correlations between inflammatory cytokines and intervertebral disc degeneration: A Mendelian randomization.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Inflammatory cytokines have been reported to be related to intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) in several previous studies. However, it remains unclear about the causal relationship between inflammatory cytokines and IVDD. This study employs Mendelian randomization (MR) to analyze the causal link between inflammatory cytokines and the risk of IVDD.

Method

We used genetic variants associated with inflammatory cytokines from a meta-analysis of genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 8293 Finns as instrumental variables and IVDD data were sourced from the FinnGen consortium. The main analytical approach utilized Inverse-Variance Weighting (IVW) with random effects to assess the causal relationship. Additionally, complementary methods such as MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, weighted mode, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier were employed to enhance the robustness of the final results.

Result

We found interferon-gamma (IFN-γ, p = 2.14 × 10-6, OR = 0.870, 95% CI = 0.821-0.921), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b, p = 0.012, OR = 0.951, 95% CI = 0.914-0.989), interleukin-4 (IL-4, p = 0.034, OR = 0.946, 95% CI = 0.899-0.996), interleukin-18 (IL-18, p = 0.028, OR = 0.964, 95% CI = 0.934-0.996), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF, p = 0.010, OR = 0.919, 95% CI = 0.861-0.980), and Stromal cell-derived factor 1a (SDF1a, p = 0.014, OR = 1.072, 95% CI = 1.014-1.134) were causally associated with risk of IVDD.

Conclusion

Our MR analyses found a potential causal relationship between six inflammation cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1b, IL-4, IL-18, SDF1a, and GCSF) and altered IVDD risk.

SUBMITTER: Xu T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11237178 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Exploring causal correlations between inflammatory cytokines and intervertebral disc degeneration: A Mendelian randomization.

Xu Tao T Chen Guangzi G Li Jian J Zhang Yingchi Y

JOR spine 20240710 3

<h4>Background</h4>Inflammatory cytokines have been reported to be related to intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) in several previous studies. However, it remains unclear about the causal relationship between inflammatory cytokines and IVDD. This study employs Mendelian randomization (MR) to analyze the causal link between inflammatory cytokines and the risk of IVDD.<h4>Method</h4>We used genetic variants associated with inflammatory cytokines from a meta-analysis of genome-wide association ...[more]

PMID: 38993524

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Project description:Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a global health concern, with inflammation significantly contributing to its pathogenesis. It is crucial to understand the relationship between inflammatory cytokines and CHD. This study investigates the causal correlations between circulating inflammatory cytokines and CHD using Mendelian randomization (MR), assessing both causative and resultant roles of these cytokines in CHD. In this bidirectional MR analysis, we used genetic data from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 60,801 CHD cases and 123,504 controls of European ancestry. We derived inflammatory cytokine data from a GWAS summary of 14,824 participants. The primary analytical approach was the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method, supported by MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode analyses. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochrane Q test, and horizontal pleiotropy was evaluated through the MR-Egger intercept and the MR-PRESSO global test, ensuring robustness against potential pleiotropic bias. This study pinpointed several cytokines as key upstream influencers on the risk of CHD, including eotaxin (CCL11) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.18, P = .003), C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.05-1.25, P = .002), macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01-1.17, P = .020), Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01-1.29, P = .038), Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3LG) (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.09-1.44, P = .001), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01-1.24, P = .026), and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80-0.99, P = .029). Conversely, T-cell surface glycoprotein CD5 (CD5) (beta: -0.15, 95% CI: -0.29 to -0.01, P = .042) were identified as downstream factors impacted by CHD. No evidence of heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was detected across all results, and a leave-one-out analysis substantiated the robustness of these findings. These findings suggest that CCL11, CCL20, CSF1, FGF21, FLT3LG, NT-3, and LIF may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of CHD. Additionally, CHD may impact the expression of CD5. Additional research is needed to explore the potential of these biomarkers in the prevention and treatment of CHD.

Project description:BackgroundAlthough previous studies have suggested a possible association between bone mineral density (BMD) and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), the causal relationship between them remains unclear. Evidence from accumulating studies indicates that they might mutually influence one another. However, observational studies may be affected by potential confounders. Meanwhile, Mendelian randomization (MR) study can overcome these confounders to assess causality.ObjectivesThis Mendelian randomization (MR) study aimed to explore the causal effect of bone mineral density (BMD) on intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).MethodsSummary data from genome-wide association studies of bone mineral density (BMD) and IDD (the FinnGen biobank) have been acquired. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was utilized as the primary MR analysis approach. Weighted median, MR-Egger regression, weighted mode, and simple mode were used as supplements. The Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) and MR-Egger regression were performed to assess horizontal pleiotropy. Cochran's Q test evaluated heterogeneity. Leave-one-out sensitivity analysis was further conducted to determine the reliability of the causal relationship. Multivariate MR (MVMR) analyses used multivariable inverse variance-weighted methods to individually and jointly adjust for four potential confounders, body mass index (BMI), Type2 diabetes, hyperthyroidism and smoking. A reverse MR analysis was conducted to assess potential reverse causation.ResultsIn the univariate MR analysis, femoral neck bone mineral density (FNBMD), heel bone mineral density (eBMD), lumbar spine bone mineral density (LSBMD), and total body bone mineral density (TB BMD) had a direct causal effect on intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) [FNBMD-related analysis: OR(95%CI) = 1.17 (1.04 to 1.31), p = 0.008, eBMD-related analysis: OR(95%CI) = 1.06 (1.01 to 1.12), p = 0.028, LSBMD-related analysis: OR(95%CI) = 1.20 (1.10 to 1.31), p = 3.38E-7,TB BMD-related analysis: OR(95%CI) = 1.20 (1.12 to 1.29), p = 1.0E-8]. In the MVMR analysis, it was revealed that, even after controlling for confounding factors, heel bone mineral density (eBMD), lumbar spine bone mineral density (LSBMD), and total body bone mineral density (TB BMD) still maintained an independent and significant causal association with IDD(Adjusting for heel bone mineral density: beta = 0.073, OR95% CI = 1.08(1.02 to 1.14), P = 0.013; Adjusting for lumbar spine bone mineral density: beta = 0.11, OR(95%CI) = 1.12(1.02 to 1.23), P = 0.03; Adjusting for total body bone mineral density: beta = 0.139, OR95% CI = 1.15(1.06 to 1.24), P = 5.53E - 5). In the reverse analysis, no evidence was found to suggest that IDD has an impact on BMD.ConclusionsThe findings from our univariate and multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis establish a substantial positive causal association between BMD and IDD, indicating that higher bone mineral density may be a significant risk factor for intervertebral disc degeneration. Notably, no causal effect of IDD on these four measures of bone mineral density was observed. Further research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms governing this causal relationship.

Dataset Information

Exploring causal correlations between inflammatory cytokines and intervertebral disc degeneration: A Mendelian randomization.

Background

Method

Result

Conclusion

Publications

Exploring causal correlations between inflammatory cytokines and intervertebral disc degeneration: A Mendelian randomization.

Similar Datasets

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