Causal role of immune cells in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome: Mendelian randomization study

Despite being one of the most prevalent sleep disorders, obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome (OSAHS) has limited information on its immunologic foundation. The immunological underpinnings of certain major psychiatric diseases have been uncovered in recent years thanks to the extensive use of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genotyping techniques using high-density genetic markers (e.g., SNP or CNVs). But this tactic hasn't yet been applied to OSAHS. Using a Mendelian randomization analysis, we analyzed the causal link between immune cells and the illness in order to comprehend the immunological bases of OSAHS.

To investigate the immune cells' association with OSAHS via genetic methods, guiding future clinical research.

A comprehensive two-sample mendelian randomization study was conducted to investigate the causal relationship between immune cell characteristics and OSAHS. Summary statistics for each immune cell feature were obtained from the GWAS catalog. Information on 731 immune cell properties, such as morphologic parameters, median fluorescence intensity, absolute cellular, and relative cellular, was compiled using publicly available genetic databases. The results' robustness, heterogeneity, and horizontal pleiotropy were confirmed using extensive sensitivity examination.

Following false discovery rate (FDR) correction, no statistically significant effect of OSAHS on immunophenotypes was observed. However, two lymphocyte subsets were found to have a significant association with the risk of OSAHS: Basophil %CD33dim HLA DR- CD66b- (OR = 1.03, 95%CI = 1.01-1.03, P < 0.001); CD38 on IgD+ CD24- B cell (OR = 1.04, 95%CI = 1.02-1.04, P = 0.019).

This study shows a strong link between immune cells and OSAHS through a gene approach, thus offering direction for potential future medical research.