Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access

Abstract

The Causal Role of Immunophenotypes in Colorectal Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Lei Huang, Ying Huang*

Objective: We sought to explore the causal associations between immune cells and Colorectal Cancer (CRC) through the application of Mendelian Randomization (MR).

Methods: The statistical data were gathered from published Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) on immune cells, with genetic variation points being utilized as Instrumental Variables (IVs). For the two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis, both Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) and Bayesian Weighted Mendelian Randomization (BWMR) methods were employed. Additionally, sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy and robustness of the findings.

Results: The IVW analysis revealed that 37 immunophenotypes have a causal link to colorectal cancer. Additionally, the BWMR method identified 4 immune phenotypes with a causal connection to the disease’s development. In contrast, Reverse MR analysis demonstrated a significant causal relationship between colorectal cancer and 2 specific immune cells.

Conclusion: This research uncovers, for the first time, the causal link between distinct immune cell traits and the onset of colorectal cancer. It offers a fresh viewpoint for comprehending the immunological underpinnings of the disease. The insights gained are pivotal in devising precise preventive and therapeutic approaches and they bear the potential to enhance the clinical management and treatment success rates for individuals afflicted with colorectal cancer.

Published Date: 2025-04-09; Received Date: 2024-04-11