Causal Links Between Brain Functional Networks and Endometriosis: A Large-Scale Genetic-Driven Observational Study
Songwei Feng,1,* Yuru Wang,1,* Sicong Liu,2,* Yueming Zhang,1 Leilei He1 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Dove Medical Press
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/causal-links-between-brain-functional-networks-and-endometriosis-a-lar-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWH |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823857971471319040 |
|---|---|
| author | Feng S Wang Y Liu S Zhang Y He L |
| author_facet | Feng S Wang Y Liu S Zhang Y He L |
| author_sort | Feng S |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Songwei Feng,1,* Yuru Wang,1,* Sicong Liu,2,* Yueming Zhang,1 Leilei He1 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Leilei He, Email helei0609@163.comIntroduction: Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disorder that significantly impacts women of reproductive age. Recent evidence suggests a bidirectional link between endometriosis and brain functional networks, though the causal mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to explore these relationships using Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis.Methods: Data from 191 resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) phenotypes and endometriosis genetic datasets were analyzed using both forward and reverse MR approaches. Genetic Instrument Selection was performed to identify valid instrumental variables, ensuring their independence from confounders and strong association with the exposure. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure the robustness of the findings.Results: Forward MR analysis identified three brain networks (Pheno20, Pheno38, Pheno44) significantly associated with endometriosis risk (P FDR < 0.05). Notably, Pheno38 activity was inversely associated with fallopian tube endometriosis, whereas Pheno20 and Pheno44 were positively linked to adenomyosis. Reverse MR analysis revealed that endometriosis of the ovary was inversely associated with functional connectivity in Pheno932, a network involved in cognitive and attention processes. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the reliability of these results.Discussion: This study highlights a complex bidirectional relationship between brain functional networks and endometriosis. Increased activity in specific networks may protect against or predispose individuals to certain subtypes of endometriosis. Conversely, endometriosis also can influence brain connectivity, potentially contributing to cognitive and emotional symptoms.Keywords: endometriosis, brain functional networks, resting-state fMRI, Mendelian randomization |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4639d96e698f453b841578df1c5da491 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1179-1411 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-4639d96e698f453b841578df1c5da4912025-02-11T17:30:56ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Women's Health1179-14112025-02-01Volume 17369376100072Causal Links Between Brain Functional Networks and Endometriosis: A Large-Scale Genetic-Driven Observational StudyFeng SWang YLiu SZhang YHe LSongwei Feng,1,* Yuru Wang,1,* Sicong Liu,2,* Yueming Zhang,1 Leilei He1 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Leilei He, Email helei0609@163.comIntroduction: Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disorder that significantly impacts women of reproductive age. Recent evidence suggests a bidirectional link between endometriosis and brain functional networks, though the causal mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to explore these relationships using Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis.Methods: Data from 191 resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) phenotypes and endometriosis genetic datasets were analyzed using both forward and reverse MR approaches. Genetic Instrument Selection was performed to identify valid instrumental variables, ensuring their independence from confounders and strong association with the exposure. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure the robustness of the findings.Results: Forward MR analysis identified three brain networks (Pheno20, Pheno38, Pheno44) significantly associated with endometriosis risk (P FDR < 0.05). Notably, Pheno38 activity was inversely associated with fallopian tube endometriosis, whereas Pheno20 and Pheno44 were positively linked to adenomyosis. Reverse MR analysis revealed that endometriosis of the ovary was inversely associated with functional connectivity in Pheno932, a network involved in cognitive and attention processes. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the reliability of these results.Discussion: This study highlights a complex bidirectional relationship between brain functional networks and endometriosis. Increased activity in specific networks may protect against or predispose individuals to certain subtypes of endometriosis. Conversely, endometriosis also can influence brain connectivity, potentially contributing to cognitive and emotional symptoms.Keywords: endometriosis, brain functional networks, resting-state fMRI, Mendelian randomizationhttps://www.dovepress.com/causal-links-between-brain-functional-networks-and-endometriosis-a-lar-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWHendometriosisbrain functional networksresting-state fmrimendelian randomization |
| spellingShingle | Feng S Wang Y Liu S Zhang Y He L Causal Links Between Brain Functional Networks and Endometriosis: A Large-Scale Genetic-Driven Observational Study International Journal of Women's Health endometriosis brain functional networks resting-state fmri mendelian randomization |
| title | Causal Links Between Brain Functional Networks and Endometriosis: A Large-Scale Genetic-Driven Observational Study |
| title_full | Causal Links Between Brain Functional Networks and Endometriosis: A Large-Scale Genetic-Driven Observational Study |
| title_fullStr | Causal Links Between Brain Functional Networks and Endometriosis: A Large-Scale Genetic-Driven Observational Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Causal Links Between Brain Functional Networks and Endometriosis: A Large-Scale Genetic-Driven Observational Study |
| title_short | Causal Links Between Brain Functional Networks and Endometriosis: A Large-Scale Genetic-Driven Observational Study |
| title_sort | causal links between brain functional networks and endometriosis a large scale genetic driven observational study |
| topic | endometriosis brain functional networks resting-state fmri mendelian randomization |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/causal-links-between-brain-functional-networks-and-endometriosis-a-lar-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJWH |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fengs causallinksbetweenbrainfunctionalnetworksandendometriosisalargescalegeneticdrivenobservationalstudy AT wangy causallinksbetweenbrainfunctionalnetworksandendometriosisalargescalegeneticdrivenobservationalstudy AT lius causallinksbetweenbrainfunctionalnetworksandendometriosisalargescalegeneticdrivenobservationalstudy AT zhangy causallinksbetweenbrainfunctionalnetworksandendometriosisalargescalegeneticdrivenobservationalstudy AT hel causallinksbetweenbrainfunctionalnetworksandendometriosisalargescalegeneticdrivenobservationalstudy |