Transcriptome-wide Mendelian randomization exploring dynamic CD4+ T cell gene expression in colorectal cancer development.

ABSTRACT: Recent research suggests higher circulating lymphocyte counts may protect against colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of specific lymphocyte subtypes and activation states remain unclear. CD4+ T cells-a highly dynamic lymphocyte subtype-undergo gene expression changes upon activation that are critical to their effector function. Previous studies using bulk tissue have limited our understanding of their role in CRC risk to static associations. We applied Mendelian randomization (MR) and genetic colocalisation to evaluate causal relationships of gene expression on CRC risk across multiple CD4+ T cell subtypes and activation states. Genetic proxies were obtained from single-cell transcriptomic data, allowing us to investigate the causal effect of expression of 1,805 genes across CD4+ T

SUBMITTER: Deslandes B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12571111 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature