The association between immune cells and acute kidney injury: insights from Mendelian randomization

Background Immune disorder is a prominent feature of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the specific role of different immune cell phenotypes in the pathogenesis of AKI remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the relevance of 731 immune phenotypes to AKI.Materials and Me...

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Main Authors: Xianzhen Yang, XiaoLei Zhang, Denglu Zhang, Shengtian Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Renal Failure
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2471011
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author Xianzhen Yang
XiaoLei Zhang
Denglu Zhang
Shengtian Zhao
author_facet Xianzhen Yang
XiaoLei Zhang
Denglu Zhang
Shengtian Zhao
author_sort Xianzhen Yang
collection DOAJ
description Background Immune disorder is a prominent feature of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the specific role of different immune cell phenotypes in the pathogenesis of AKI remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the relevance of 731 immune phenotypes to AKI.Materials and Methods We obtained data on 731 immune cell phenotypes from the GWAS Catalog and Open GWAS databases and undertook a series of quality control measures to identify exposure-related instrumental variables (IV). Data on acute renal failure (ARF) and rapid kidney function decline were obtained from the Finngen R11 and CKDGen databases as an outcome. Subsequently, we performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) using inverse variance weights to explore the causal relationship between 731 immune cell characteristics and ARF and rapid kidney function declineas at the gene level. Sensitivity analyses, including leave-one-out and other MR analysis models, were performed.Results At the significance level corrected by Bonferroni, 9 immune phenotypes, including CD25 on IgD + CD24- B cell, were associated with ARF; 4 immune phenotypes, including SSC-A on plasmacytoid dendritic cell, were associated with rapid kidney function decline. Sensitivity analysis indicated robust results.Conclusion Our study demonstrates a strong causal relationship between specific types of immune cells and AKI by genetic means, providing valuable insights for future clinical studies.
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series Renal Failure
spelling doaj-art-a30f4b2067e24a1c81ae1a8eaaee0d3f2025-08-20T03:05:46ZengTaylor & Francis GroupRenal Failure0886-022X1525-60492025-12-0147110.1080/0886022X.2025.2471011The association between immune cells and acute kidney injury: insights from Mendelian randomizationXianzhen Yang0XiaoLei Zhang1Denglu Zhang2Shengtian Zhao3Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Jinan Fourth People’s Hospital, Jinan, ChinaCentral Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaDepartment of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, ChinaBackground Immune disorder is a prominent feature of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the specific role of different immune cell phenotypes in the pathogenesis of AKI remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the relevance of 731 immune phenotypes to AKI.Materials and Methods We obtained data on 731 immune cell phenotypes from the GWAS Catalog and Open GWAS databases and undertook a series of quality control measures to identify exposure-related instrumental variables (IV). Data on acute renal failure (ARF) and rapid kidney function decline were obtained from the Finngen R11 and CKDGen databases as an outcome. Subsequently, we performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) using inverse variance weights to explore the causal relationship between 731 immune cell characteristics and ARF and rapid kidney function declineas at the gene level. Sensitivity analyses, including leave-one-out and other MR analysis models, were performed.Results At the significance level corrected by Bonferroni, 9 immune phenotypes, including CD25 on IgD + CD24- B cell, were associated with ARF; 4 immune phenotypes, including SSC-A on plasmacytoid dendritic cell, were associated with rapid kidney function decline. Sensitivity analysis indicated robust results.Conclusion Our study demonstrates a strong causal relationship between specific types of immune cells and AKI by genetic means, providing valuable insights for future clinical studies.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2471011Immunopheno typesacute kidney injuryrapid kidney function declinemendelian randomization analysisgenetic analyses
spellingShingle Xianzhen Yang
XiaoLei Zhang
Denglu Zhang
Shengtian Zhao
The association between immune cells and acute kidney injury: insights from Mendelian randomization
Renal Failure
Immunopheno types
acute kidney injury
rapid kidney function decline
mendelian randomization analysis
genetic analyses
title The association between immune cells and acute kidney injury: insights from Mendelian randomization
title_full The association between immune cells and acute kidney injury: insights from Mendelian randomization
title_fullStr The association between immune cells and acute kidney injury: insights from Mendelian randomization
title_full_unstemmed The association between immune cells and acute kidney injury: insights from Mendelian randomization
title_short The association between immune cells and acute kidney injury: insights from Mendelian randomization
title_sort association between immune cells and acute kidney injury insights from mendelian randomization
topic Immunopheno types
acute kidney injury
rapid kidney function decline
mendelian randomization analysis
genetic analyses
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2471011
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