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Ji R, Zhi Y. Causal relationship between eosinophilic esophagitis and inflammatory bowel disease: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1374107. [PMID: 38720886 PMCID: PMC11076662 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1374107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are immune-mediated gastrointestinal diseases with overlapped pathogenesis and are sometimes concurrently diagnosed, but their causal relationship remains unclear. We investigated the causal relationship between EoE and IBD and its subtypes via a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Methods MR analyses were performed using summary data of a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on individuals of European ancestry. Independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms correlated with EoE (from a GWAS meta-analysis containing 1,930 cases and 13,634 controls) and IBD (from FinnGen GWASs containing 9,083 IBD, 2,033 CD, and 5,931 UC cases, and GWASs of IBD genetic consortium containing 12,882 IBD, 6,968 UC, and 5,956 CD cases) were selected as instruments. We applied the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary analysis followed by several sensitivity analyses. For the forward MR study, estimates from IVW methods were subsequently meta-analyzed using a random-effect model. Results Our results suggested a causal effect of EoE on IBD [pooled odds ratio (OR), 1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-1.13] and EoE on UC (pooled OR, 1.09, 95% CI, 1.04-1.14). No causal link between EoE and CD was observed (pooled OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.96-1.16). The reverse MR analyses revealed no causal effect of IBD (and its subtypes) on EoE. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of primary results. Conclusions Our findings provided evidence of a suggestive causal effect of EoE on IBD (specifically on UC) in the European population. Increased awareness of concurrent or subsequent IBD in patients with EoE is called for. Still, the present evidence is not adequate enough and ought to be validated by further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuxiang Zhi
- Department of Allergy, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Fang J, Cao Y, Ni J. Circulating inflammatory biomarkers and risk of intracranial aneurysm: a Mendelian randomization study. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:17. [PMID: 38173028 PMCID: PMC10763118 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01609-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intracranial aneurysm (IA) accounts for a substantial source of non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, with inflammation postulated as a potential factor in its pathogenesis. The present study aims at evaluating the association between circulating inflammatory cytokines and risk of IA under a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design. METHODS For primary analysis, summary statistics of inflammatory regulators was obtained from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) comprising 8293 Finnish participants. Summary data of IA were extracted from a GWAS which comprised 7495 cases and 71,934 controls in European descent. For targeted analysis, summary statistics were extracted from two proteomic studies, which recruit 3301 and 5368 European participants, respectively. Summary data of IA were acquired from FinnGen study with 5342 cases and 342,673 controls. We employed inverse variance weighted (IVW) method as main approach, with sensitivity analyses using weighted median, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO methods. Reverse MR analyses were conducted to minimize bias from reverse causality. RESULTS No causation of cytokines with IA subtypes was identified in both primary and targeted analysis after Bonferroni correction. In primary analysis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor basic (bFGF) levels were suggestively associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) [VEGF → aSAH: OR = 1.15, 95%CI 1.04-1.26, P = 0.005; bFGF → aSAH: OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.42-0.92, P = 0.02]. Statistical significance failed to replicate in targeted analysis. Instead, suggestive protective effects for aSAH were identified in FGF-9 (FGF-9 → aSAH: OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.62-0.89, P = 0.001) and FGF-16 (FGF-16 → aSAH: OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.97, P = 0.017). Furthermore, reverse analyses identified suggestive effect of unruptured IA on RANTES, MIF, GRO-alpha, FGF-16, and FGF-19. Result remained robust after applying sensitivity tests. CONCLUSIONS No causality of inflammatory biomarkers on the risk of IA subtypes was identified. Future large-scale studies are in need to evaluate the temporal dynamics of cytokines in conjunction with IA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxun Fang
- Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No 1, Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yuze Cao
- Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No 1, Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jun Ni
- Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No 1, Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
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Zhang Q, Wu G, Zhang X, Zhang J, Jiang M, Zhang Y, Ding L, Wang Y. Vascular endothelial growth factor and risk of malignant brain tumor: A genetic correlation and two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Front Oncol 2023; 13:991825. [PMID: 36910644 PMCID: PMC9995857 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.991825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the risk of malignant brain tumors has always been a concern in the medical field. However, the causal inferences from published observational studies on this issue may be affected by confounders, coinheritability and reverse causality. We aimed to investigate the causal relationship between VEGF and different types of malignant brain tumors. Methods Using publicly available summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of VEGF (n=16,112) and different types of malignant brain tumors (n=174,097-174,646), we adopted a standard two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) to estimate potential causal associations of circulating VEGF levels and the risk of malignant brain tumors. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was used as the primary analysis method to estimate causality. MR-Egger regression, weighted median (WM), penalty weighted median (PWM), MR robust adjusted profile score (MR.RAPS) and causal analysis using summary effect estimates (CAUSE) methods were used in sensitivity analyses to verify the robustness of the findings. Meanwhile, we applied the MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) test and PhenoScanner tool to identify and remove potential horizontal pleiotropic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Additionally, linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) analysis was conducted to assess the coinheritability of exposure and outcome. Results A total of 6 (VEGF), 12 (malignant brain tumor), 13 (brain glioblastoma) and 12 (malignant neoplasm of meninges) SNPs were identified as valid instrumental variables. No evidence supported a causal relationship between circulating VEGF levels and the risk of malignant brain tumors (forwards: odds ratio (OR) = 1.277, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.812~2.009; reversed: β = 0.005, 95% CI, -0.029~0.038), brain glioblastoma (forwards: OR (95% CI) = 1.278(0.463~3.528); reversed: β = 0.010, 95% CI, -0.002~0.022) and malignant neoplasm of meninges (forwards: OR (95% CI) = 0.831(0.486~1.421); reversed: β = 0.010, 95% CI, -0.030~0.050) using the main IVW method. Outliers and pleiotropy bias were not detected by sensitivity analyses and pleiotropy-robust methods in any estimates. LDSC failed to identify genetic correlations between VEGF and different types of malignant brain tumors. Conclusions Our findings reported no coinheritability and failed to provide evidence for causal associations between VEGF and the risk of different types of malignant brain tumors. However, certain subtypes of VEGF for which genetic predictors have not been identified may play a role and need to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoyun Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guangheng Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Mengyang Jiang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiqiang Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lixiang Ding
- Department of Spine, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Youxin Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Wu A, Zhao C, Mou S, Li S, Cui X, Zhang R. Integrated analysis identifies the IL6/JAK/STAT signaling pathway and the estrogen response pathway associated with the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1046765. [DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1046765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveWe intended to identify the potential key biomarker and pathways that correlated with infiltrating immune cells during the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms (IA), to develop a diagnostic model, and to predict therapeutic drugs.MethodsThree datasets containing intracranial aneurysm tissue samples and normal artery control samples from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were included. Gene-set variation analysis(GSVA) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were conducted to find the significant differentially expressed pathways in IA formation. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and the multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the characteristic genes in the IL6/JAK/STAT signaling pathway (ISP) and the estrogen response pathway (ERP). A diagnostic model was constructed. xCell was used to identify immune cell types in IA pathogenesis. We used the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) algorithm to explore the correlations between the key modules and the four traits. Potential therapeutic drugs were investigated in Enrichr and Drugbank database.ResultsThe ISP is significant positively correlated with IA onset. The biological function of the ISP is positively correlated with that of the ERP, and is significantly associated with immune cells activities. CSF2RB, FAS, IL6, PTPN1, STAT2, TGFB1 of the ISP gene set and ALDH3A2, COX6C, IGSF1, KRT18, MICB, NPY1R of the ERP gene set were proved to be the characteristic genes. The STAT2 gene can be the potential biomarker of IA onset. The immune score of IA samples was significantly higher than the controls. The STAT2 gene expression is associated with infiltration of immune cells. The WGCNA results were consistent with our finds. Acetaminophen can be a potential therapeutic drug for IA targeting STAT2.ConclusionsWe identified that the ISP was one of the most significant positively correlated pathways in IA onset, and it was activated in this process concordant with the ERP and immune responses. Except for beneficial effects, complex and multiple roles of estrogen may be involved in IA formation. STAT2 could be a potential biomarker and a promising therapeutic target of IA pathogenesis.
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Zhang Q, Zhang X, Zhang J, Wang B, Tian Q, Meng X, Zhang J, Jiang M, Zhang Y, Zheng D, Wu L, Wang W, Wang B, Wang Y. Vascular endothelial growth factor and the risk of venous thromboembolism: a genetic correlation and two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Thromb J 2022; 20:67. [DOI: 10.1186/s12959-022-00427-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) has always been one of the concerns in the medical field. However, the causal inferences from published observational studies on this issue may be affected by confounders or reverse causality. We performed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) to infer the associations between VEGF and VTE.
Methods
Summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for VEGF and VTE were obtained from published meta-analysis studies and the FinnGen consortium, respectively. Independent genetic variables significantly associated with exposure were selected as instrumental variables. Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) and five robust MR analytical approaches were conducted to estimate the genetic correlations and causal inference. The MR-Egger intercept, Cochran’s Q, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) were performed to evaluate the horizontal pleiotropy, heterogeneities, and stability of these genetic variants on outcomes. Notably, replication analyses were performed using different subgroups of VTE.
Results
LDSC failed to identify genetic correlations between VEGF and VTE. Based on 9 SNPs, the circulating VEGF level was positively related to the risk of VTE using inverse variance weighting (IVW) method (odds ratio (OR) = 1.064, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.009–1.122). Reverse MR analyses showed that genetic liability for VTE was not associated with increased VEGF level (β = -0.021, 95% CI, -0.087-0.045). Pleiotropy-robust methods indicated no bias in any estimates.
Conclusions
Our findings failed to detect coheritability between VEGF and VTE. The suggestive positive effect of the higher VEGF level on the VTE risk may have clinical implications, suggesting that VEGF as a possible predictor and therapeutic target for VTE prevention need to be further warranted.
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Dugue R, Schnall R, Liu M, Brickman AM, Pavol M, Porra T, Gutierrez J. Uncontrolled HIV and inflammation is associated with intracranial saccular aneurysm presence. AIDS 2022; 36:991-996. [PMID: 35184070 PMCID: PMC9167221 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study biomarkers of inflammation in cerebrovascular disease, exploring modifiable and non-modifiable biochemical and clinical risk factors associated with the presence of intracranial saccular aneurysms (ISAs) in an HIV-positive cohort. DESIGN A cross-sectional community-based study was used to study blood biomarkers of inflammation as predictors of cerebrovascular disease, specifically the presence of ISAs in persons with HIV. Potential biochemical and clinical predictors of ISA presence were identified. METHODS Time of flight magnetic resonance angiography and magnetic resonance imaging data identified the presence of ISAs in an HIV-positive cohort. Quantitative assays for neuroinflammatory biomarkers were performed on plasma blood samples. Lasso regression models were used to identify neuroinflammatory biomarkers and clinical risk factors associated with ISAs. RESULTS Eight of 72 participants had radiographically identified ISAs. ISAs were more common in non-Hispanic black participants (18.5% vs. 0% presence in nonblack patients). Participants with well controlled HIV (defined as CD4+ count >200 cells/ml and undetectable viral load at time of magnetic resonance imaging) had lower odds of ISAs (odds ratio: 0.19, 95% confidence interval 0.05-0.79) independent of age, sex, ethnicity and vascular risk factors. Macrophage inflammatory protein-1 p, an HIV- suppressive factor detected in participant blood samples, was inversely associated with aneurysm presence. CONCLUSION Well controlled HIV is associated with fewer ISAs. The identification of non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors contributing to ISA formation may provide valuable insight to impact clinical practice and inform the pathophysiology underlying ISA formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachelle Dugue
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca Schnall
- School of Nursing, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Minghua Liu
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam M. Brickman
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marykay Pavol
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tiffany Porra
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Jose Gutierrez
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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Giotta Lucifero A, Baldoncini M, Brambilla I, Rutigliano M, Savioli G, Galzio R, Campero A, Lawton MT, Luzzi S. Gene Polymorphisms Increasing the Risk of Intracranial Aneurysms: Interleukin-6 -174G>C and -572G>C (Part II). ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2021; 92:e2021420. [PMID: 35441611 PMCID: PMC9179066 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v92is4.12669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Introduction The interleukin-6 (IL-6), a proinflammatory cytokine, supports the adaptive immune response and regulates inflammatory processes. The -174 G>C and -572 G>C promoter polymorphisms of the IL-6 gene take part in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and influence the clinical presentation of subarachnoid hemorrhage. This meta-analysis purposes to evaluate whether and which IL-6 allelic variations are related to a risk of IAs formation. Methods A PRISMA-based literature search was performed on the PubMed/Medline and Web of Science databases. The keywords used were "interleukin-6," "IL-6," "polymorphism," "interleukin-6 genotype," combined with "intracranial aneurysms" and "subarachnoid hemorrhage." Only human case-control studies, with a study (IAs) and a control group, written in English, and published in the last 15 years were selected. A meta-analysis was performed, estimating odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals in fixed- or random-effects models, as applicable. Statistical analysis was conducted with RevMan 5.0 software. Results 9 studies were eligible. No associations were found between -174 G>C polymorphisms and IAs susceptibility. Notable results were reported by the analysis of -572G>C polymorphisms. -572GG/GC/CC genotypes were strongly related to IAs occurrence with a statistical significance of p=0.03, p=0.0009, and p=0.00001, respectively. Conclusion A higher incidence of -572G>C promoter polymorphisms were demonstrated in the IAs group, highlighting the pivotal role of inflammatory genes in the natural history of brain aneurysms. Additional studies are required considering the racial heterogenicity and the need to widen the population sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Giotta Lucifero
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Matias Baldoncini
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Hospital San Fernando, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ilaria Brambilla
- Pediatric Clinic, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Monica Rutigliano
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Gabriele Savioli
- Emergency Medicine and Surgery, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Renato Galzio
- Neurosurgery Unit, Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy
| | - Alvaro Campero
- Servicio de Neurocirugia, Universidad Nacional de Tucuman, Argentina,Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Padilla, San Miguel de Tucuman, Tucuman, Argentina
| | - Michael T. Lawton
- Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI), United States
| | - Sabino Luzzi
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy,Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
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