The association between genetically predicted systemic inflammatory regulators and endometriosis: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Yufeng Liu, Yuhong Liu, Wangshu Li, Xiaoxia Sun
Medicine · 2024 · vol. 103(29) , pp. e38972 · doi:10.1097/md.0000000000038972 · PMID:39029049 · PMC11398771 · W4400860830
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This Mendelian randomization study found that genetically predicted higher IL-6 levels increase endometriosis risk, while higher PDGF-BB levels decrease risk.

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Abstract

Elevated levels of various cellular inflammatory markers have been observed in patients with endometriosis (EMs). However, a causal relationship between these markers and EMS has not been firmly established. This study aimed to assess the causality between cellular inflammatory markers and the onset of EMS using a bidirectional Mendelian randomization approach. Genetic associations for EMs were derived from the largest and most recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 1937 EMS cases and 245,603 controls of European ancestry. Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with 41 cellular cytokines and other systemic inflammatory regulators were identified from 8293 Finnish participants. Estimates were obtained using inverse-variance weighted, with sensitivity analyses conducted using MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR-PRESSO. Among the 41 systemic inflammatory regulators included in the analysis, none were associated with the risk of EMs. Elevated levels of IL-6 were associated with an increased risk of EMs (OR = 1.351, 95%CI = 1.015-1.797). Conversely, genetically predicted elevated levels of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) were associated with a reduced risk of EMs (OR = 0.856, 95%CI = 0.742-0.987). Genetically predicted elevations in IL-6 may contribute to an increased risk of EMs, while elevated PDGF-BB levels appear protective, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for EMs. Other systemic inflammatory regulators seem unrelated to EMs risk, potentially representing downstream effects or consequences of shared factors between inflammation and EMs.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Genome-Wide Association Study Genome-Wide Association Study Genome-Wide Association Study Genome-Wide Association Study Genome-Wide Association Study Genome-Wide Association Study Genome-Wide Association Study Genome-Wide Association Study Mendelian Randomization Analysis Mendelian Randomization Analysis

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Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (44)

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