Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Candidate Gene Testing in Clinical Cohort Studies with Multiplexed Genotyping and Mass Spectrometry
05:53

Candidate Gene Testing in Clinical Cohort Studies with Multiplexed Genotyping and Mass Spectrometry

Published on: June 21, 2018

10.6K

Causal relationship between ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis: Evidence from 2-sample Mendelian

Rui Liu1, Gang Peng2, Yongbing Xiao1

  • 1Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.

Medicine
|September 24, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). This study found a potential causal link from AS to MS, but not the reverse, offering insights into shared disease pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are chronic immune-mediated diseases.
  • These conditions share overlapping epidemiological and genetic characteristics.
  • The causal relationship between AS and MS is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential causal effect of ankylosing spondylitis on the risk of multiple sclerosis.
  • To explore the genetic architecture and pathophysiological pathways shared between AS and MS.

Main Methods:

  • A 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted.
  • Genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics from European populations were utilized.
  • Instrumental variables were selected based on stringent significance, independence, and validity criteria.

Main Results:

  • The primary MR analyses indicated that AS is associated with an increased risk of MS (OR = 2.18).
  • The MR Egger method supported this finding, and sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the results.
  • Inverse MR analysis showed no evidence of a causal effect of MS on AS.

Conclusions:

  • Ankylosing spondylitis may causally influence the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
  • These findings contribute to understanding the shared genetic and pathophysiological links between AS and MS.
  • Further research in diverse populations and using nonlinear models is recommended.
Keywords:
Mendelian randomizationankylosing spondylitismultiple sclerosis

More Related Videos

A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data10:46

A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data

Published on: December 9, 2015

11.0K
Author Spotlight: Creating a Versatile Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Model Relevant for Both Male and Female Mice05:44

Author Spotlight: Creating a Versatile Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Model Relevant for Both Male and Female Mice

Published on: October 13, 2023

2.3K

Related Concept Videos

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS01:11

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS

Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
15.3K
Autoimmune Disorders01:29

Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells, tissues, and organs. This results from an overactive immune response against substances and tissues normally present in the body. Let's delve into the concept and mechanism of autoimmune diseases from an immune system point of view, explore different causes and examples of such diseases, and discuss potential solutions.
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune...
1.5K
Mismatch Repair01:20

Mismatch Repair

Organisms are capable of detecting and fixing nucleotide mismatches that occur during DNA replication. This sophisticated process requires identifying the new strand and replacing the erroneous bases with correct nucleotides. Mismatch repair is coordinated by many proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
6.3K
Mismatch Repair01:36

Mismatch Repair

Overview
43.5K
Criteria for Causality: Bradford Hill Criteria - I01:30

Criteria for Causality: Bradford Hill Criteria - I

The Bradford Hill criteria are a group of principles that provide a framework to determine a causal relationship between a specific factor and a disease. There are nine criteria that are pivotal in assessing causality in epidemiological studies. Here's a closer look at Strength, Consistency, Specificity, and Temporality criteria with definitions and examples:
1.0K
Causality in Epidemiology01:21

Causality in Epidemiology

Causality or causation is a fundamental concept in epidemiology, vital for understanding the relationships between various factors and health outcomes. Despite its importance, there's no single, universally accepted definition of causality within the discipline. Drawing from a systematic review, causality in epidemiology encompasses several definitions, including production, necessary and sufficient, sufficient-component, counterfactual, and probabilistic models. Each has its strengths and...
1.5K