Abstract
Background
We used Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal relationship between inflammation-associated proteins, LBP , and potential metabolite mediators.
Methods
Using the aggregated data of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), the causal relationship between inflammatory proteins and LBP was explored by two-way MR Analysis, and potential mediating metabolites were identified by two-step MR. Sensitivity analysis was performed to further verify the robustness of the results
Results
After primary analysis and a series of sensitivity analyses, 3 inflammation-related proteins were identified that have a causal relationship with LBP. IL-17C (OR = 0.924; 95% CI, 0.883 - 0.967; P = 0.001 < 0.05) , IL-1 alpha (OR = 0.917; 95% CI, 0.859 -0.978; P = 0.009 < 0.05), were negatively associated with OP, whereas IL-20RA (OR = 1.066; 95% CI, 1.004 -1.131; P =0.036 < 0.05) was positively associated with LBP. This study showed that IL-20RA reduced the risk associated with LBP.
Conclusion
Our study identified a causal relationship between inflammation-related proteins and LBP, with a proportion of the effect mediated by plasma metabolites.