1
|
Wen C, Chen L, Jia D, Liu Z, Lin Y, Liu G, Zhang S, Gao B. Recent advances in the application of Mendelian randomization to chronic kidney disease. Ren Fail 2024; 46:2319712. [PMID: 38522953 PMCID: PMC10913720 DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2024.2319712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition influenced by both genetic and environmental factors and has been a focus of extensive research. Utilizing Mendelian randomization, researchers have begun to untangle the complex causal relationships underlying CKD. This review delves into the advances and challenges in the application of MR in the field of nephrology, shifting from a mere summary of its principles and limitations to a more nuanced exploration of its contributions to our understanding of CKD. METHODS Key findings from recent studies have been pivotal in reshaping our comprehension of CKD. Notably, evidence indicates that elevated testosterone levels may impair renal function, while higher sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels appear to be protective, predominantly in men. Surprisingly, variations in plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels seem unaffected by genetically induced changes in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), suggesting an independent pathway for renal function impairment. RESULTS Furthermore, lifestyle factors such as physical activity and socioeconomic status emerge as significant influencers of CKD risk and kidney health. The relationship between sleep duration and CKD is nuanced; short sleep duration is linked to increased risk, while long sleep duration does not exhibit a clear causal effect. Additionally, lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, and mental wellness activities, play a crucial role in kidney health. New insights also reveal a substantial causal connection between both central and general obesity and CKD onset, while no significant links were found between genetically modified LDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels and kidney function. CONCLUSION This review not only presents the recent achievements of MR in CKD research but also illuminates the path forwards, underscoring critical unanswered questions and proposing future research directions in this dynamic field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chaofan Wen
- Department of Urology and Surgery, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Lanlan Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Dan Jia
- Department of Urology and Surgery, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ziqi Liu
- Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yidan Lin
- Herberger Institute for Design and Arts, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Guan Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China
| | - Baoshan Gao
- Department of Urology and Surgery, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Elmas A, Spehar K, Do R, Castellano JM, Huang KL. Associations of Circulating Biomarkers with Disease Risks: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7376. [PMID: 39000484 PMCID: PMC11242355 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Circulating biomarkers play a pivotal role in personalized medicine, offering potential for disease screening, prevention, and treatment. Despite established associations between numerous biomarkers and diseases, elucidating their causal relationships is challenging. Mendelian Randomization (MR) can address this issue by employing genetic instruments to discern causal links. Additionally, using multiple MR methods with overlapping results enhances the reliability of discovered relationships. Here, we report an MR study using multiple methods, including inverse variance weighted, simple mode, weighted mode, weighted median, and MR-Egger. We use the MR-base resource (v0.5.6) from Hemani et al. 2018 to evaluate causal relationships between 212 circulating biomarkers (curated from UK Biobank analyses by Neale lab and from Shin et al. 2014, Roederer et al. 2015, and Kettunen et al. 2016 and 99 complex diseases (curated from several consortia by MRC IEU and Biobank Japan). We report novel causal relationships found by four or more MR methods between glucose and bipolar disorder (Mean Effect Size estimate across methods: 0.39) and between cystatin C and bipolar disorder (Mean Effect Size: -0.31). Based on agreement in four or more methods, we also identify previously known links between urate with gout and creatine with chronic kidney disease, as well as biomarkers that may be causal of cardiovascular conditions: apolipoprotein B, cholesterol, LDL, lipoprotein A, and triglycerides in coronary heart disease, as well as lipoprotein A, LDL, cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B in myocardial infarction. This Mendelian Randomization study not only corroborates known causal relationships between circulating biomarkers and diseases but also uncovers two novel biomarkers associated with bipolar disorder that warrant further investigation. Our findings provide insight into understanding how biological processes reflecting circulating biomarkers and their associated effects may contribute to disease etiology, which can eventually help improve precision diagnostics and intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdulkadir Elmas
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Kevin Spehar
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ron Do
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Joseph M. Castellano
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Kuan-Lin Huang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Elmas A, Spehar K, Do R, Castellano JM, Huang KL. Associations of Circulating Biomarkers with Disease Risks: a Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.06.30.24309729. [PMID: 39006413 PMCID: PMC11245069 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.30.24309729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Background Circulating biomarkers play a pivotal role in personalized medicine, offering potential for disease screening, prevention, and treatment. Despite established associations between numerous biomarkers and diseases, elucidating their causal relationships is challenging. Mendelian Randomization (MR) can address this issue by employing genetic instruments to discern causal links. Additionally, using multiple MR methods with overlapping results enhances the reliability of discovered relationships. Methods Here we report an MR study using multiple methods, including inverse variance weighted, simple mode, weighted mode, weighted median, and MR Egger. We use the MR-base resource (v0.5.6)1 to evaluate causal relationships between 212 circulating biomarkers (curated from UK Biobank analyses by Neale lab and from Shin et al. 2014, Roederer et al. 2015, and Kettunen et al. 2016)2-4 and 99 complex diseases (curated from several consortia by MRC IEU and Biobank Japan). Results We report novel causal relationships found by 4 or more MR methods between glucose and bipolar disorder (Mean Effect Size estimate across methods: 0.39) and between cystatin C and bipolar disorder (Mean Effect Size: -0.31). Based on agreement in 4 or more methods, we also identify previously known links between urate with gout and creatine with chronic kidney disease, as well as biomarkers that may be causal of cardiovascular conditions: apolipoprotein B, cholesterol, LDL, lipoprotein A, and triglycerides in coronary heart disease, as well as lipoprotein A, LDL, cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B in myocardial infarction. Conclusions This Mendelian Randomization study not only corroborates known causal relationships between circulating biomarkers and diseases but also uncovers two novel biomarkers associated with bipolar disorder that warrant further investigation. Our findings provide insight into understanding how biological processes reflecting circulating biomarkers and their associated effects may contribute to disease etiology, which can eventually help improve precision diagnostics and intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdulkadir Elmas
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Kevin Spehar
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ron Do
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Joseph M. Castellano
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kuan-lin Huang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Liu H, Yao X, Wang L, Liu J, Li X, Fu X, Liu J, Dong S, Wang Y. The causal relationship between 5 serum lipid parameters and diabetic nephropathy: a Mendelian randomization study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1358358. [PMID: 38863932 PMCID: PMC11165179 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1358358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Serum lipids were found to be correlated with chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Here, we aimed to research the potential causal associations between five serum lipid parameters and the risk of diabetic nephropathy using several Mendelian Randomization methods. Methods Genetic data was obtained from the UK Biobank datasets. Causal effects were estimated using multiple MR methods. Heterogeneity and pleiotropy tests were performed. Results MR analysis revealed that HDL-C and TG exhibited causal associations with diabetic nephropathy (P<0.05). Similar trends were not observed for other lipid parameters. Conclusions Our research has suggested links between HDL-C, TG and diabetic nephropathy. The findings could contribute to further elucidation of the disease etiology. Strengths and limitations of this study This article only uses Mendel randomization method to analyze the relationship between blood lipids and diabetes nephropathy, which is more convincing when combined with population data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongzhou Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Endocrinology, First Hospital of Handan City, Handan, Hebei, China
| | - Xinxia Yao
- Medical-Education Collaboration and Medical Education Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Linlin Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojing Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaomin Fu
- Clinics of Cadre, Department of Outpatient, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Clinics of Cadre, Department of Outpatient, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Song Dong
- Department of Endocrinology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhan Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kang MK, Lee D, Oh MS, Lee JS, Jeong HY, Shin JH, Yoon BW, Park JM. Association of high-estimated glomerular filtration rate with the severity of ischemic stroke during non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants therapy: a nationwide cohort study. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1277855. [PMID: 38107638 PMCID: PMC10722199 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1277855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim While the relationship between impaired kidney function and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) is well established, there is limited research exploring the association between an elevated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the efficacy of NOACs, especially concerning the outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to examine the association between higher-than-normal eGFR and the severity of AIS during the use of NOACs using a nationwide multicenter stroke registry in Korea. Material and methods This study utilized data from the Korean Stroke Registry (KSR) database, examining information from 2,379 patients with AIS, who had atrial fibrillation (AF) and a history of utilizing NOACs prior to hospitalization due to incident stroke occurring between 2016 and 2021. Patients with a history involving two or more types of anticoagulants or one or more forms of antiplatelet agents were excluded. Baseline characteristics, medical history, medication usage, CHADS2-VASc score, and the anticoagulation and risk factors in atrial fibrillation (ATRIA) score were evaluated. Renal function was assessed using eGFR levels and calculated with the Cockcroft-Gault equation. The severity of stroke was measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale as an outcome. For sensitivity analysis, further evaluation was performed using eGFR levels according to the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) study equation. Results The mean age of subjects was 76.1 ± 8.9 years. The moderate-to-severe stroke severity group exhibited an elevation in creatinine levels. The eGFR of 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m2 group was associated with a decreased risk of moderate-to-severe stroke severity [hazard ratio (HR)] (0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.61, 0.98], p = 0.031) compared to the eGFR≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2 group. An increment of 10 units in eGFR was marginally associated with an increased risk of moderate-to-severe stroke severity (HR: 1.03, 95% CI [1.00, 1.07], p = 0.054). Conclusion The study revealed that individuals with eGFR ≥ 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 had an association linked to an increased risk of moderate-to-severe stroke severity. Our study suggests that patients taking NOACs with higher-than-normal eGFR levels may have an increased severity of AIS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Kyoung Kang
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurology, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongwhane Lee
- Department of Neurology, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Sun Oh
- Department of Neurology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Sung Lee
- Clinical Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Yeong Jeong
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hwan Shin
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Woo Yoon
- Department of Neurology, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Moo Park
- Department of Neurology, Uijeongbu Eulji Medical Center, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wu S, Kong M, Song Y, Peng A. Ethnic disparities in bidirectional causal effects between serum uric acid concentrations and kidney function: Trans-ethnic Mendelian randomization study. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21108. [PMID: 37908715 PMCID: PMC10613891 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Researchers have investigated the causal effect between serum uric acid (SUA) concentrations and kidney function for decades, but studies produced inconsistent results. This study aimed to clarify the bidirectional causal effects between SUA concentrations and kidney function and to explore the potential ethnic disparities by conducting a trans-ethnic Mendelian randomization study in European, African, and Asian ancestries. Materials and methods The summary-level data for this study were obtained from the Global Urate Genetics Consortium, CKDGen Consortium, UK Biobank, and Japan Biobank for different outcomes and exposures, respectively. The traits of kidney function were estimated glomerular filtration rate from serum creatinine (eGFRcr), estimated glomerular filtration rate from cystatin C (eGFRcys), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Using the multiplicative random-effects inverse variance weighting mode, our primary analysis produced robust results despite heterogeneity. Additionally, we performed the Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier test to eliminate the horizontal pleiotropy and obtain accurate results. Results Our findings revealed that elevated SUA concentrations had causal effects on declined eGFRcys, BUN, and a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease in European ancestries and eGFRcr in Asian ancestries. Additionally, the causal effects of declined eGFRcr and elevated BUN concentrations on elevated SUA concentrations were observed in both European and Asian ancestries. However, no bidirectional causal effect was found between SUA concentrations and eGFRcr among African ancestries. Conclusions This trans-ethnic Mendelian randomization study confirmed the bidirectional causal effects between SUA concentrations and kidney function and highlighted the importance of considering ethnic disparities in clinical treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yaxiang Song
- Center for Nephrology and Clinical Metabolomics and Division of Nephrology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Ai Peng
- Center for Nephrology and Clinical Metabolomics and Division of Nephrology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Adi M, Ghanbari F, Downie ML, Hung A, Robinson-Cohen C, Manousaki D. Effects of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels on Renal Function: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 108:1442-1451. [PMID: 36510827 PMCID: PMC10413421 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Observational studies investigating the role of vitamin D in renal function have yielded inconsistent results. OBJECTIVE We tested whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) serum levels are associated with renal function, and inversely, whether altered renal function causes changes in 25(OH)D, using Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS In this two-sample MR study, we used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with 25(OH)D in 443 734 Europeans and evaluated their effects on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk and progression in genome-wide association studies totaling over 1 million Europeans. To control for pleiotropy, we also used SNPs solely in DHCR7, CYP2R1, and GC, all genes with known roles in vitamin D metabolism. We performed a reverse MR, using SNPs for the above indices of renal function to study causal effects on 25(OH)D levels. RESULTS We did not find robust evidence supporting effects of 25(OH)D on eGFR, BUN, and CKD or its progression. Our inverse variance weighted MR demonstrated a 0.56 decrease in standardized log-transformed 25(OH)D (95% CI -0.73, -0.41; P = 2.89 × 10-12) per unit increase in log-transformed eGFR. Increased BUN was associated with increased 25(OH)D (β = 0.25, 95% CI 0.15, 0.36; P = 4.12 × 10-6 per unit increase in log-transformed BUN). Finally, genetically predicted CKD conferred a 0.05 increase in standardized log-transformed 25(OH)D level (95% CI 0.04, 0.06; P = 1.06 × 10-13). Other MR methods confirmed the findings of the main analyses. CONCLUSION Genetically predicted CKD, increased BUN, and decreased eGFR are associated with increased 25(OH)D levels, but we found no causal effect of 25(OH)D on renal function in Europeans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manel Adi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T1J4, Canada
| | - Faegheh Ghanbari
- Research Center of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3TAC5, Canada
| | - Mallory L Downie
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London NW32PF, UK
| | - Adriana Hung
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Veterans Administration Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | | | - Despoina Manousaki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T1J4, Canada
- Research Center of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3TAC5, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T1C5, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lv Z, Cui J, Zhang J. Associations between serum urate and telomere length and inflammation markers: Evidence from UK Biobank cohort. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1065739. [PMID: 36591268 PMCID: PMC9797991 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1065739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Hyperuricemia and gout have become gradually more common. The effect of serum urate on organism aging and systematic inflammation is not determined. This study aims to evaluate whether serum urate is causally associated with cellular aging markers and serum inflammation markers. Methods A Mendelian randomization study was performed on summary-level data from the largest published genome-wide association studies. Single nucleotide polymorphisms with a genome-wide significance level were selected as instrumental variables for leukocyte telomere length (LTL), and serum soluble makers of inflammation (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and IGF-1). Standard inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary statistical method. The weighted median, MR-Egger regression, and MR-PRESSO methods were used for sensitivity analysis. Results An inverse causal association of genetically predicted serum urate levels and LTL was found using IVW method (OR: 0.96, 95%CI 0.95, 0.97; β=-0.040; SE=0.0072; P=4.37×10-8). The association was also supported by MR results using MR-Egger method and weighted median method. The MR-PRESSO analysis and leave-one-out sensitivity analysis supported the robustness of the combined results. In terms of other aging-related serum biomarkers, there was no evidence supporting a causal effect of serum urate on CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, or IGF-1 levels. Conclusions Serum urate levels are negatively associated with telomere length but are not associated with serum soluble indicators of inflammation. Telomere length may be a critical marker that reflects urate-related organismal aging and may be a mechanism in the age-related pathologies and mortality caused by hyperuricemia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhengtao Lv
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiarui Cui
- School of Rehabilitation and Health Preservation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Jiarui Cui, ; Jiaming Zhang,
| | - Jiaming Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Jiarui Cui, ; Jiaming Zhang,
| |
Collapse
|