Carnitine is causally associated with susceptibility and severity of sepsis: a Mendelian randomization study
Abstract. Background. Energy metabolism disorders contribute to the development of sepsis. Carnitine is essential for fatty acid metabolism and energy production. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether there is a causal relationship between carnitine levels and sepsis. Methods. Two-sample Mendelian...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Health/LWW
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Emergency and Critical Care Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/EC9.0000000000000120 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850213565685825536 |
|---|---|
| author | Qingju Zhang Xilong Liu Qi Shen Xingfang Wang Jiaojiao Pang Yuguo Chen |
| author_facet | Qingju Zhang Xilong Liu Qi Shen Xingfang Wang Jiaojiao Pang Yuguo Chen |
| author_sort | Qingju Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract. Background. Energy metabolism disorders contribute to the development of sepsis. Carnitine is essential for fatty acid metabolism and energy production. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether there is a causal relationship between carnitine levels and sepsis.
Methods. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of carnitine from the genome-wide association (GWAS) study were used as exposure instrumental variables, and the susceptibility and severity of sepsis in the UK Biobank were used as outcomes. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median methods were used to evaluate the causal relationship between exposure and outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed using IVW and MR-Egger’s and Cochran’s Q tests, and pleiotropy was tested using the MR-Egger intercept and MR-PRESSO.
Results. Using the IVW method, a one-standard-deviation increase in genetically determined carnitine levels was found to be associated with increased susceptibility to sepsis in populations under 75 years of age (odds ratio [OR]: 2.696; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.127–6.452; P = 0.026) and increased severity of sepsis (OR: 22.31; 95% CI: 1.769–281.282; P = 0.016). Sensitivity analysis did not reveal heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy; therefore, the results indicated robustness.
Conclusion. Genetic susceptibility to increased carnitine levels in the blood may increase the susceptibility and severity of sepsis. Therefore, interventions at an early stage in patients with high carnitine levels may reduce the risk of developing sepsis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-731950e787cd4ed9aed57bd2e7607c60 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2097-0617 2693-860X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Health/LWW |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emergency and Critical Care Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-731950e787cd4ed9aed57bd2e7607c602025-08-20T02:09:07ZengWolters Kluwer Health/LWWEmergency and Critical Care Medicine2097-06172693-860X2024-12-014414915410.1097/EC9.0000000000000120202412000-00003Carnitine is causally associated with susceptibility and severity of sepsis: a Mendelian randomization studyQingju Zhang0Xilong Liu1Qi Shen2Xingfang Wang3Jiaojiao Pang4Yuguo Chen5a Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, Chinaa Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, Chinaa Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, Chinaa Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, Chinaa Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, Chinaa Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, ChinaAbstract. Background. Energy metabolism disorders contribute to the development of sepsis. Carnitine is essential for fatty acid metabolism and energy production. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether there is a causal relationship between carnitine levels and sepsis. Methods. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of carnitine from the genome-wide association (GWAS) study were used as exposure instrumental variables, and the susceptibility and severity of sepsis in the UK Biobank were used as outcomes. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median methods were used to evaluate the causal relationship between exposure and outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed using IVW and MR-Egger’s and Cochran’s Q tests, and pleiotropy was tested using the MR-Egger intercept and MR-PRESSO. Results. Using the IVW method, a one-standard-deviation increase in genetically determined carnitine levels was found to be associated with increased susceptibility to sepsis in populations under 75 years of age (odds ratio [OR]: 2.696; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.127–6.452; P = 0.026) and increased severity of sepsis (OR: 22.31; 95% CI: 1.769–281.282; P = 0.016). Sensitivity analysis did not reveal heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy; therefore, the results indicated robustness. Conclusion. Genetic susceptibility to increased carnitine levels in the blood may increase the susceptibility and severity of sepsis. Therefore, interventions at an early stage in patients with high carnitine levels may reduce the risk of developing sepsis.http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/EC9.0000000000000120 |
| spellingShingle | Qingju Zhang Xilong Liu Qi Shen Xingfang Wang Jiaojiao Pang Yuguo Chen Carnitine is causally associated with susceptibility and severity of sepsis: a Mendelian randomization study Emergency and Critical Care Medicine |
| title | Carnitine is causally associated with susceptibility and severity of sepsis: a Mendelian randomization study |
| title_full | Carnitine is causally associated with susceptibility and severity of sepsis: a Mendelian randomization study |
| title_fullStr | Carnitine is causally associated with susceptibility and severity of sepsis: a Mendelian randomization study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carnitine is causally associated with susceptibility and severity of sepsis: a Mendelian randomization study |
| title_short | Carnitine is causally associated with susceptibility and severity of sepsis: a Mendelian randomization study |
| title_sort | carnitine is causally associated with susceptibility and severity of sepsis a mendelian randomization study |
| url | http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/EC9.0000000000000120 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT qingjuzhang carnitineiscausallyassociatedwithsusceptibilityandseverityofsepsisamendelianrandomizationstudy AT xilongliu carnitineiscausallyassociatedwithsusceptibilityandseverityofsepsisamendelianrandomizationstudy AT qishen carnitineiscausallyassociatedwithsusceptibilityandseverityofsepsisamendelianrandomizationstudy AT xingfangwang carnitineiscausallyassociatedwithsusceptibilityandseverityofsepsisamendelianrandomizationstudy AT jiaojiaopang carnitineiscausallyassociatedwithsusceptibilityandseverityofsepsisamendelianrandomizationstudy AT yuguochen carnitineiscausallyassociatedwithsusceptibilityandseverityofsepsisamendelianrandomizationstudy |