Mendelian randomization unveils genetic causal relationships between viral infections and systemic sclerosis.

ABSTRACT: This study uses Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the potential causal relationships between viral infections, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), SARS-CoV-2, cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), influenza A virus, and hepatitis B virus, and the risk of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Summary-level data on viral exposures and SSc outcomes were obtained from public genome-wide association studies (GWAS) databases. Causality was assessed using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median methods. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to enhance the reliability and robustness of our findings. Genetically predicted anti-EBV viral capsid antigen IgG levels (OR = 3

SUBMITTER: Cheng T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12219147 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature