Causal relationship between immune cells and venous thromboembolism: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Abstract Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes Pulmonary embolism (PE) and Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is a complex vascular disorder with poorly understood pathological mechanisms. Emerging research highlights the potential involvement of immune cells in the pathogenesis of VTE, a...

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Main Authors: Wen Xiao, Danfeng Gu, Mingqi Zhang, Jiansu Liao, Tao Xu, Hailin Lu, Yang Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:Thrombosis Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12959-025-00754-4
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author Wen Xiao
Danfeng Gu
Mingqi Zhang
Jiansu Liao
Tao Xu
Hailin Lu
Yang Zhao
author_facet Wen Xiao
Danfeng Gu
Mingqi Zhang
Jiansu Liao
Tao Xu
Hailin Lu
Yang Zhao
author_sort Wen Xiao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes Pulmonary embolism (PE) and Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is a complex vascular disorder with poorly understood pathological mechanisms. Emerging research highlights the potential involvement of immune cells in the pathogenesis of VTE, although their causal relationship remains unproven. Methods To systematically assess the causal relationships between 731 immune phenotypic traits and VTE, PE, and DVT, this study employed a bidirectional, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. In the forward MR analysis, immune cell characteristics were treated as the exposure, while VTE, DVT, and PE were the outcomes. In the reverse MR analysis, VTE, DVT, and PE were considered exposures, with immune cell characteristics as the outcomes. To ensure the robustness, heterogeneity, and control for potential confounding factors in the study results, we performed a sensitivity analysis. Furthermore, we applied the False discovery rate (FDR) method to account for statistical bias arising from multiple comparisons. Results After FDR correction, we identified potential causal associations between four immune cell types and VTE, six types and PE, and three types and DVT. Conclusion This study demonstrates that specific immune cell types are causally linked to VTE, DVT, and PE, providing valuable insights for future clinical research.
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issn 1477-9560
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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series Thrombosis Journal
spelling doaj-art-6d2991d35d3f4cdfb36e3dfe983dfdb52025-08-20T03:46:29ZengBMCThrombosis Journal1477-95602025-08-012311910.1186/s12959-025-00754-4Causal relationship between immune cells and venous thromboembolism: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization studyWen Xiao0Danfeng Gu1Mingqi Zhang2Jiansu Liao3Tao Xu4Hailin Lu5Yang Zhao6Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan UniversityAffiliated Hospital of Jiangnan UniversityWuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan UniversityWuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan UniversityWuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan UniversityAffiliated Hospital of Jiangnan UniversityAffiliated Hospital of Jiangnan UniversityAbstract Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes Pulmonary embolism (PE) and Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is a complex vascular disorder with poorly understood pathological mechanisms. Emerging research highlights the potential involvement of immune cells in the pathogenesis of VTE, although their causal relationship remains unproven. Methods To systematically assess the causal relationships between 731 immune phenotypic traits and VTE, PE, and DVT, this study employed a bidirectional, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. In the forward MR analysis, immune cell characteristics were treated as the exposure, while VTE, DVT, and PE were the outcomes. In the reverse MR analysis, VTE, DVT, and PE were considered exposures, with immune cell characteristics as the outcomes. To ensure the robustness, heterogeneity, and control for potential confounding factors in the study results, we performed a sensitivity analysis. Furthermore, we applied the False discovery rate (FDR) method to account for statistical bias arising from multiple comparisons. Results After FDR correction, we identified potential causal associations between four immune cell types and VTE, six types and PE, and three types and DVT. Conclusion This study demonstrates that specific immune cell types are causally linked to VTE, DVT, and PE, providing valuable insights for future clinical research.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12959-025-00754-4Venous thromboembolismImmune cellsCausal inferenceBidirectional
spellingShingle Wen Xiao
Danfeng Gu
Mingqi Zhang
Jiansu Liao
Tao Xu
Hailin Lu
Yang Zhao
Causal relationship between immune cells and venous thromboembolism: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Thrombosis Journal
Venous thromboembolism
Immune cells
Causal inference
Bidirectional
title Causal relationship between immune cells and venous thromboembolism: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
title_full Causal relationship between immune cells and venous thromboembolism: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
title_fullStr Causal relationship between immune cells and venous thromboembolism: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
title_full_unstemmed Causal relationship between immune cells and venous thromboembolism: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
title_short Causal relationship between immune cells and venous thromboembolism: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
title_sort causal relationship between immune cells and venous thromboembolism a bidirectional two sample mendelian randomization study
topic Venous thromboembolism
Immune cells
Causal inference
Bidirectional
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12959-025-00754-4
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