Iron status modulates immune cell proportions to drive epigenetic age acceleration: A 2-step Mendelian randomization study.

ABSTRACT: Iron status is associated with human aging, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We aimed to estimate the causality of the association between iron status and human aging and to quantify the mediating effects of immune cells. Based on genome-wide association studies in European populations, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to evaluate the causal relationships between 6 iron status biomarkers (iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation percentage, total iron-binding capacity, liver iron content, pancreatic iron content) and 5 types of percentage of immune cells (lymphocyte, neutrophil, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil). Next, we employed a 2-step Mendelian randomization design to investigate the potential role of immune cell proportions in mediating iron homeostasi

SUBMITTER: Liu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12908782 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature