Circulating adipokine levels and preeclampsia: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Reproductive Health
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Observational studies link rising adipokine levels to preeclampsia.
• The causal relationship between adipokines and preeclampsia (PET) remains uncertain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal effects of circulating adipokine levels on preeclampsia using Mendelian randomization.
• To explore potential biomarker roles for adipokines in PET.

Main Methods:

• Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) and multivariable MR (MVMR) analyses were performed.
• Genetic variants associated with adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, resistin, sOB-R, PAI-1) were used as instrumental variables.
• Data from the FinnGen consortium (4,743 PET cases, 136,325 controls) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• No significant causal effect of adipokine levels on preeclampsia risk was found using IVW and MVMR.
• Reverse MR analysis suggested a potential causal link between preeclampsia risk and elevated PAI-1 levels.
• No strong correlations were observed between genetic liability to PET and other adipokine levels.

Conclusions:

• This MR study does not support a causal role for circulating adipokines in preeclampsia.
• Genetically predicted preeclampsia may influence PAI-1 levels, indicating PAI-1's potential as a diagnostic or therapeutic monitoring biomarker.
• PAI-1 may be a useful biomarker for PET management, but not a direct therapeutic target.