Assessing the causal association between 731 immunophenotypes and the risk of colorectal cancer: a Mendelian randomization study

Bibliographic Details
Title: Assessing the causal association between 731 immunophenotypes and the risk of colorectal cancer: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Fei Gao, Qiaoli Zhang, Fei Teng, Liling Li, Honglin Jiang, Wenna Li, Chenxi Hu, Zhongwen Lu, Yuxiang Wan, Jinchang Huang
Source: BMC Cancer, Vol 25, Iss 1, Pp 1-14 (2025)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Collection: LCC:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Subject Terms: Immunocyte, Immunocyte phenotype, Mendelian randomization, Colorectal cancer, Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, RC254-282
More Details: Abstract Background Emerging research suggested a potential role of immune cells in colorectal cancer (CRC) development. However, the causal relationship between immune phenotypes and CRC remains elusive. Hence, this two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study aimed to explore the causal association. Methods In this study, a bidirectional, two-sample MR analysis and multivariate MR was conducted, leveraging public genetic data. Four types of immune phenotypes were employed. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis was carried out to validate the robustness, heterogeneity, and horizontal pleiotropy of the results, with Bonferroni correction applied for accurate interpretation. Results It was revealed that four immune cell phenotypes were significantly associated with CRC risk. Specifically, lymphocyte % leukocyte in the T-cell/B-cell/NK-cell (TBNK) group (odds ratio (OR) = 1.0013, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0005–1.0017, P = 0.0003, P Bonferroni = 0.011) and CD3 on CM CD8br in the maturation stages of T cell group (OR = 1.0014, 95% CI: 1.0006–1.0022, P = 0.0007, P Bonferroni = 0.023) were positively correlated with the risk of CRC. Conversely, DN (CD4−CD8−) %leukocyte in the TBNK group (OR = 0.9990, 95% CI: 0.9984–0.9997, P = 0.0020, P Bonferroni = 0.063) and herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) on CD8br in the maturation stages of T cell group (OR = 0.9989, 95% CI: 0.9982–0.9997, P = 0.00431, P Bonferroni = 0.137) exhibited a negative association with the risk of CRC. This study did not detect any statistically significant impact of CRC on immune phenotypes. Conclusions This study inferred an association between immune cells and CRC risk. Nevertheless, further clinical and experimental studies are warranted to validate these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1471-2407
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1471-2407
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-025-13701-3
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/14d05b7cfbdc4df0910284846457710f
Accession Number: edsdoj.14d05b7cfbdc4df0910284846457710f
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:14712407
DOI:10.1186/s12885-025-13701-3
Published in:BMC Cancer
Language:English