Causal Role of Immune Cells in Stroke: Mendelian Randomization (MR) Study

Abstract

Objective: A two sample Mendelian randomization study was used to evaluate the causal relationship between immune cells and stroke. Methods: The data were collected from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) data set. Using the two sample Mendelian randomization method, we explored the causal relationship between 731 immune cell characteristics and stroke. There are four immune characteristics (relative cell (RC), medium fluorescence intensities (MFI), absolute cell (AC), and morphological parameters (MP)). Results: after FDR correction,13 immunophenotypes were risk factors for stroke, and 20 immunophenotypes were protective factors; 13 immunophenotypes were risk factors for ischemic stroke, and 22 immunophenotypes were protective factors; 16 kinds of immunophenotypes are risk causal relationship for cardioembolic stroke, and the other 16 kinds of immunophenotypes are protective factors; It was found that 15 immunophenotypes were risk factors for small vessel occlusion, and 29 immunophenotypes were protective factors; 21 kinds of immunophenotypes are risk factors for large artery atherosclerosis, and its protective factors are as high as 39 kinds of immunophenotypes. Conclusions: our study proved the close relationship between immune cells and stroke through Mendelian randomization study, and provided guidance for the treatment and prevention of stroke in the future.