Identification of potential drug targets for diabetic polyneuropathy through Mendelian randomization analysis

Abstract Background Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is a common diabetes complication with limited treatment options. We aimed to identify circulating plasma proteins as potential therapeutic targets for DPN using Mendelian Randomization (MR). Methods The protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs) utiliz...

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Main Authors: Xiaokun Chen, Guohua Jiang, Tianjing Zhao, Nian Sun, Shanshan Liu, Hao Guo, Canjun Zeng, Yijun Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Cell & Bioscience
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13578-024-01323-4
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author Xiaokun Chen
Guohua Jiang
Tianjing Zhao
Nian Sun
Shanshan Liu
Hao Guo
Canjun Zeng
Yijun Liu
author_facet Xiaokun Chen
Guohua Jiang
Tianjing Zhao
Nian Sun
Shanshan Liu
Hao Guo
Canjun Zeng
Yijun Liu
author_sort Xiaokun Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is a common diabetes complication with limited treatment options. We aimed to identify circulating plasma proteins as potential therapeutic targets for DPN using Mendelian Randomization (MR). Methods The protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs) utilized in this study were derived from seven previously published genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on plasma proteomics. The DPN data were obtained from the IEU OpenGWAS project. This study employed two-sample MR using MR-Egger and inverse-variance weighted methods to evaluate the causal relationship between plasma proteins and DPN risk, with Cochran’s Q test, and I2 statistics, among other methods, used to validate the robustness of the results. Results Using cis-pQTLs as genetic instruments, we identified 62 proteins associated with DPN, with 33 increasing the risk and 29 decreasing the risk of DPN. Using cis-pQTLs + trans-pQTLs, we identified 116 proteins associated with DPN, with 44 increasing the risk and 72 decreasing the risk of DPN. Steiger directionality tests indicated that the causal relationships between circulating plasma proteins and DPN were consistent with expected directions. Conclusion This study identified 96 circulating plasma proteins with genetically determined levels that affect the risk of DPN, providing new potential targets for DPN drug development, particularly ITM2B, CREG1, CD14, and PLXNA4.
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spelling doaj-art-8e8418a7aee8496c80edcd838b0eaa062025-08-20T02:20:41ZengBMCCell & Bioscience2045-37012024-12-011411810.1186/s13578-024-01323-4Identification of potential drug targets for diabetic polyneuropathy through Mendelian randomization analysisXiaokun Chen0Guohua Jiang1Tianjing Zhao2Nian Sun3Shanshan Liu4Hao Guo5Canjun Zeng6Yijun Liu7Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s HospitalDepartment of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Center for Orthopedic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Center for Orthopedic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Center for Orthopedic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical UniversityZhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Center for Orthopedic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Center for Orthopedic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Center for Orthopedic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical UniversityAbstract Background Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is a common diabetes complication with limited treatment options. We aimed to identify circulating plasma proteins as potential therapeutic targets for DPN using Mendelian Randomization (MR). Methods The protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs) utilized in this study were derived from seven previously published genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on plasma proteomics. The DPN data were obtained from the IEU OpenGWAS project. This study employed two-sample MR using MR-Egger and inverse-variance weighted methods to evaluate the causal relationship between plasma proteins and DPN risk, with Cochran’s Q test, and I2 statistics, among other methods, used to validate the robustness of the results. Results Using cis-pQTLs as genetic instruments, we identified 62 proteins associated with DPN, with 33 increasing the risk and 29 decreasing the risk of DPN. Using cis-pQTLs + trans-pQTLs, we identified 116 proteins associated with DPN, with 44 increasing the risk and 72 decreasing the risk of DPN. Steiger directionality tests indicated that the causal relationships between circulating plasma proteins and DPN were consistent with expected directions. Conclusion This study identified 96 circulating plasma proteins with genetically determined levels that affect the risk of DPN, providing new potential targets for DPN drug development, particularly ITM2B, CREG1, CD14, and PLXNA4.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13578-024-01323-4Diabetic polyneuropathyComplications-nervesProteomicsMendelian randomizationDrug development
spellingShingle Xiaokun Chen
Guohua Jiang
Tianjing Zhao
Nian Sun
Shanshan Liu
Hao Guo
Canjun Zeng
Yijun Liu
Identification of potential drug targets for diabetic polyneuropathy through Mendelian randomization analysis
Cell & Bioscience
Diabetic polyneuropathy
Complications-nerves
Proteomics
Mendelian randomization
Drug development
title Identification of potential drug targets for diabetic polyneuropathy through Mendelian randomization analysis
title_full Identification of potential drug targets for diabetic polyneuropathy through Mendelian randomization analysis
title_fullStr Identification of potential drug targets for diabetic polyneuropathy through Mendelian randomization analysis
title_full_unstemmed Identification of potential drug targets for diabetic polyneuropathy through Mendelian randomization analysis
title_short Identification of potential drug targets for diabetic polyneuropathy through Mendelian randomization analysis
title_sort identification of potential drug targets for diabetic polyneuropathy through mendelian randomization analysis
topic Diabetic polyneuropathy
Complications-nerves
Proteomics
Mendelian randomization
Drug development
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13578-024-01323-4
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