Immune cell signatures and inflammatory mediators: unraveling their genetic impact on chronic kidney disease through Mendelian randomization

Prior research has established associations between immune cells, inflammatory proteins, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our Mendelian randomization study aims to elucidate the genetic causal relationships among these factors and CKD. We applied Mendelian randomization using genetic variants associated with CKD from a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) and inflammatory markers from a comprehensive GWAS summary. The causal links between exposures (immune cell subtypes and inflammatory proteins) and CKD were primarily analyzed using the inverse variance-weighted, supplemented by sensitivity analyses, including MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and MR-PRESSO. Our analysis identified both absolute and relative counts of CD28 + CD45RA + CD8 + T cell (OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 1.01–1.02; p < 0.001, FDR = 0.018) (OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 1.00–1.01; p < 0.001, FDR = 0.002), CD28 on CD39 + CD8 + T cell(OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.96–0.99; p < 0.001, FDR = 0.006), CD16 on CD14–CD16 + monocyte (OR = 1.02; 95% CI = 1.01–1.03; p < 0.001, FDR = 0.004) and cytokines, such as IL-17A(OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.06–1.16, p < 0.001, FDR = 0.001), and LIF-R(OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02–1.10, p = 0.005, FDR = 0.043) that are genetically predisposed to influence the risk of CKD. Moreover, the study discovered that CKD itself may causatively lead to alterations in certain proteins, including CST5(OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.09–1.24, p < 0.001, FDR = 0.001). No evidence of reverse causality was found for any single biomarker and CKD. This comprehensive MR investigation supports a genetic causal nexus between certain immune cell subtypes, inflammatory proteins, and CKD. These findings enhance the understanding of CKD's immunological underpinnings and open avenues for targeted treatments.