Genetic influence of the brain imaging phenotypes, brain and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites and brain genes on migraine subtypes: a Mendelian randomization and multi-omics study

Abstract Background Migraine is a complex neurological disorder with high prevalence but unclear pathogenesis. Numerous studies have suggested that migraine is associated with alterations in brain imaging phenotypes (BIPs) and dysregulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain metabolism; however,...

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Main Authors: Ping-An Zhang, Jie-Lin Wang, Mei-Hua Dong, Xiang-Chun Huang, Nai-Jian Li, Run-Dong Qin, Jing Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:The Journal of Headache and Pain
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-025-02063-7
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author Ping-An Zhang
Jie-Lin Wang
Mei-Hua Dong
Xiang-Chun Huang
Nai-Jian Li
Run-Dong Qin
Jing Li
author_facet Ping-An Zhang
Jie-Lin Wang
Mei-Hua Dong
Xiang-Chun Huang
Nai-Jian Li
Run-Dong Qin
Jing Li
author_sort Ping-An Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Migraine is a complex neurological disorder with high prevalence but unclear pathogenesis. Numerous studies have suggested that migraine is associated with alterations in brain imaging phenotypes (BIPs) and dysregulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain metabolism; however, causal evidence remains limited. Mendelian randomization (MR) offers a powerful approach for inferring causality using genetic instruments. Methods Firstly, we conducted linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) to evaluate genetic correlations between migraine, including the migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MO) subtypes, and BIPs, CSF, and brain metabolites. Traits that showed genetic correlations with migraine, MA, or MO were retained for subsequent MR analysis with the corresponding migraine phenotype. Traits showing significant correlations were analyzed using bidirectional two-sample MR (TSMR), followed by two-step TSMR to identify cross-omics mediation effects. Additionally, We also applied summary-data-based MR (SMR) to detect brain-region-specific genes with potential causal effects. Enrichment analyses (KEGG, GO, PPI, transcription factor, and miRNA networks) were conducted to further explore underlying mechanisms. Results LDSC identified significant genetic correlations with 73 BIPs and 40 metabolites for overall migraine, 71 BIPs and 37 metabolites for MA, and 49 BIPs and 62 metabolites for MO. Enrichment analysis revealed that genetically associated metabolites were predominantly involved in amino acid metabolic pathways. TSMR identified 6 BIPs and 2 metabolites causally linked to overall migraine, 3 BIPs and 3 metabolites to MA, and 2 BIPs and 5 metabolites to MO. Most migraine-related BIPs mapped to the parietal lobe. Reverse MR analysis showed that overall migraine causally influenced 4 BIPs and 3 metabolites, while MA and MO affected 1 BIP and 1 metabolite, and 3 BIPs and 1 metabolite, respectively. Mediation analysis revealed five significant mediation pathways were identified. SMR analysis identified FAM83B and CIB2 consistently showing inhibitory effects across most regions. Enrichment analysis showed that these genes were predominantly involved in immune activation and cell adhesion. Conclusions Our study integrates cross-omics analyses to investigate the causal links between brain structure, metabolic alterations, gene expression, and migraine including its MA and MO subtypes. These findings provide novel insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms and potential targets for intervention across migraine subtypes.
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spelling doaj-art-3853bebccada456b9e9b60de01da1ef32025-08-20T02:33:32ZengBMCThe Journal of Headache and Pain1129-23772025-05-0126111810.1186/s10194-025-02063-7Genetic influence of the brain imaging phenotypes, brain and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites and brain genes on migraine subtypes: a Mendelian randomization and multi-omics studyPing-An Zhang0Jie-Lin Wang1Mei-Hua Dong2Xiang-Chun Huang3Nai-Jian Li4Run-Dong Qin5Jing Li6Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecologic Oncology Research Office, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Targeted Therapy for Gynecologic Oncology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecologic Oncology Research Office, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Targeted Therapy for Gynecologic Oncology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Background Migraine is a complex neurological disorder with high prevalence but unclear pathogenesis. Numerous studies have suggested that migraine is associated with alterations in brain imaging phenotypes (BIPs) and dysregulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain metabolism; however, causal evidence remains limited. Mendelian randomization (MR) offers a powerful approach for inferring causality using genetic instruments. Methods Firstly, we conducted linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) to evaluate genetic correlations between migraine, including the migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MO) subtypes, and BIPs, CSF, and brain metabolites. Traits that showed genetic correlations with migraine, MA, or MO were retained for subsequent MR analysis with the corresponding migraine phenotype. Traits showing significant correlations were analyzed using bidirectional two-sample MR (TSMR), followed by two-step TSMR to identify cross-omics mediation effects. Additionally, We also applied summary-data-based MR (SMR) to detect brain-region-specific genes with potential causal effects. Enrichment analyses (KEGG, GO, PPI, transcription factor, and miRNA networks) were conducted to further explore underlying mechanisms. Results LDSC identified significant genetic correlations with 73 BIPs and 40 metabolites for overall migraine, 71 BIPs and 37 metabolites for MA, and 49 BIPs and 62 metabolites for MO. Enrichment analysis revealed that genetically associated metabolites were predominantly involved in amino acid metabolic pathways. TSMR identified 6 BIPs and 2 metabolites causally linked to overall migraine, 3 BIPs and 3 metabolites to MA, and 2 BIPs and 5 metabolites to MO. Most migraine-related BIPs mapped to the parietal lobe. Reverse MR analysis showed that overall migraine causally influenced 4 BIPs and 3 metabolites, while MA and MO affected 1 BIP and 1 metabolite, and 3 BIPs and 1 metabolite, respectively. Mediation analysis revealed five significant mediation pathways were identified. SMR analysis identified FAM83B and CIB2 consistently showing inhibitory effects across most regions. Enrichment analysis showed that these genes were predominantly involved in immune activation and cell adhesion. Conclusions Our study integrates cross-omics analyses to investigate the causal links between brain structure, metabolic alterations, gene expression, and migraine including its MA and MO subtypes. These findings provide novel insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms and potential targets for intervention across migraine subtypes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-025-02063-7MigraineBrain imaging phenotypesBrain and cerebrospinal fluid metabolitesMendelian randomizationGenome-wide associationMulti-omics
spellingShingle Ping-An Zhang
Jie-Lin Wang
Mei-Hua Dong
Xiang-Chun Huang
Nai-Jian Li
Run-Dong Qin
Jing Li
Genetic influence of the brain imaging phenotypes, brain and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites and brain genes on migraine subtypes: a Mendelian randomization and multi-omics study
The Journal of Headache and Pain
Migraine
Brain imaging phenotypes
Brain and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites
Mendelian randomization
Genome-wide association
Multi-omics
title Genetic influence of the brain imaging phenotypes, brain and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites and brain genes on migraine subtypes: a Mendelian randomization and multi-omics study
title_full Genetic influence of the brain imaging phenotypes, brain and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites and brain genes on migraine subtypes: a Mendelian randomization and multi-omics study
title_fullStr Genetic influence of the brain imaging phenotypes, brain and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites and brain genes on migraine subtypes: a Mendelian randomization and multi-omics study
title_full_unstemmed Genetic influence of the brain imaging phenotypes, brain and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites and brain genes on migraine subtypes: a Mendelian randomization and multi-omics study
title_short Genetic influence of the brain imaging phenotypes, brain and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites and brain genes on migraine subtypes: a Mendelian randomization and multi-omics study
title_sort genetic influence of the brain imaging phenotypes brain and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites and brain genes on migraine subtypes a mendelian randomization and multi omics study
topic Migraine
Brain imaging phenotypes
Brain and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites
Mendelian randomization
Genome-wide association
Multi-omics
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-025-02063-7
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