COVID-19 and the risk of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a Mendelian randomization study

Frontiers in Immunology

Immunology

Hongxi Chen¹  Ziyan Shi¹  Hongyu Zhou¹  Dongren Sun¹  Rui Wang¹  Qin Du¹ 

[1] Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guo Xuexiang, Chengdu, China;

关键词: COVID-19;    causal effect;    Mendelian randomization;    NMOSD COVID-19;    NMOSD;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fimmu.2023.1207514

 received in 2023-04-17, accepted in 2023-07-12,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAn increasing number of studies have elucidated a close nexus between COVID-19 phenotypes and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), yet the causality between them remains enigmatic.MethodsIn this study, we conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis employing summary data sourced from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) pertaining to COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalization, severity, and NMOSD. The primary MR analysis employed the Inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach, which was supplemented by MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode methods. We implemented various sensitivity analyses including Cochran’s Q test, MR-PRESSO method, MR-Egger intercept, leave-one-out analysis, and funnel plot.ResultsThe MR results demonstrated a nominal association between COVID-19 susceptibility and the risk of AQP4+ NMOSD, as evidenced by the IVW method (OR = 4.958; 95% CI: 1.322-18.585; P = 0.018). Conversely, no causal association was observed between COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalization, or severity and the increased risk of NMOSD, AQP4-NMOSD, or AQP4+ NMOSD. The comprehensive sensitivity analyses further bolstered the robustness and consistency of the MR estimates.ConclusionOur findings provide compelling evidence for a causal effect of COVID-19 phenotype on AQP4+ NMOSD, shedding new light on the understanding of the comorbidity between COVID-19 and NMOSD.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Sun, Du, Wang, Shi, Chen and Zhou