Allergic rhinitis (AR), a prevalent chronic inflammatory condition triggered by immunoglobulin E (IgE), involves pivotal roles of immune and metabolic factors in its onset and progression. However, the intricacies and uncertainties in clinical research render current investigations into their interplay somewhat inadequate.
To elucidate the causal relationships between immune cells, metabolites, and AR, we conducted a mediation Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Leveraging comprehensive publicly accessible summary-level data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), this study employed the two-sample MR research method to investigate causal relationships among 731 immune cell phenotypes, 1400 metabolite levels, and AR. Additionally, employing the mediation MR approach, the study analyzed potential mediated effect of metabolites in the relationships between immune cells and AR. Various sensitivity analysis methods were systematically employed to ensure the robustness of the results.
Following false discovery rate (FDR) correction, we identified three immune cell phenotypes as protective factors for AR: Naive CD8br %CD8br (odds ratio (OR): 0.978, 95% CI = 0.966–0.990, P = 4.5×10–4), CD3 on CD39+ activated Treg (OR: 0.947, 95% CI = 0.923–0.972, P = 3×10–5), HVEM on CD45RA- CD4+ (OR: 0.967, 95% CI = 0.948–0.986, P = 4×10–5). Additionally, three metabolite levels were identified as risk factors for AR: N-methylhydroxyproline levels (OR: 1.219, 95% CI = 1.104–1.346, P = 9×10–5), N-acetylneuraminate levels (OR: 1.133, 95% CI = 1.061–1.211, P = 1.7×10–4), 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl-gpc (18:0/20:4) levels (OR: 1.058, 95% CI = 1.029–1.087, P = 5×10–5). Mediation MR analysis indicated a causal relationship between Naive CD8br %CD8br and N-methylhydroxyproline levels, acting as a protective factor (OR: 0.971, 95% CI = 0.950–0.992, P = 8.31×10–3). The mediated effect was -0.00574, accounting for 26.1% of the total effect, with a direct effect of -0.01626. Naive CD8+ T cells exert a protective effect on AR by reducing N-methylhydroxyproline levels.
Our study, delving into genetic information, has substantiated the intricate connection between immune cell phenotypes and metabolite levels with AR. This reveals a potential pathway to prevent the onset of AR, providing guiding directions for future clinical investigations.