Exploring the causal relationship between inflatmmatory factors and sensorineural hearing loss:a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To investigated the causal link between inflammatory variables and sensorineural hearing loss. Study Design: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study. Set: FinnGen study and the public genome-wide association study (GWAS). Methods: Based on the public genome-wide association study and the FinnGen study, we conducted two Mendelian randomization studies using Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) as the main method of Mendelian randomization(MR) analysis, using weighted median (MR Egger), Cochrane’ Q, IVW_radial and leave-one-out (LOO) were used for pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Also, We use the MR-PRESSO to evaluate horizontal pleiotropy and test outliers. Results: This study used the IVW method to reveal a correlation between elevated levels of VEGF, SDF1a, IL13, IL10, and IL7 and an increased risk of sensorineural hearing loss. The IVW method (Estimate ods ratio [OR]=1.04, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.07-1.04, p=0.04, OR=1.10, 95% [CI]: 1.02-1.18, p=0.01, OR=1.04, 95% [CI]: 1.01-1.06, p=0.01, OR=1.06, 95% [CI]: 1.02-1.11, p=0.01, OR=1.05, 95% [CI]: 1.02-1.11 1-1.08, p=0.00), Reverse MR analysis showed that sensorineural hearing loss did not significantly affect the expression of these 41 inflammatory factors. No significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was observed in the instrumental variables. Conclusion: This study reveals a positive correlation between high levels of VEGF, SDF1a, IL13, IL10 and IL7 and sensorineural hearing loss, providing new targets for prediction, treatment and prevention of sensorineural hearing loss.