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Causal relationship between 91 circulating inflammatory proteins and osteomyelitis risk: evidence from a Mendelian
Archives of Medical Science : AMS
|August 1, 2026
Summary
This study investigated the causal link between inflammatory proteins and osteomyelitis (OM). CCL4 was found to be causally associated with OM, alongside other inflammatory proteins, offering new insights into bone infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Bone Biology
Background:
- Osteomyelitis (OM) progression is linked to circulating inflammatory proteins.
- Understanding the causal relationship between inflammatory proteins and OM is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal relationship between circulating inflammatory protein levels and osteomyelitis (OM).
Main Methods:
- Mendelian randomization (MR) was employed using summary statistics from large European ancestry cohorts (FinnGen and UK Biobank).
- 91 inflammatory cytokines were analyzed.
- Inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method and sensitivity analyses were conducted, including phenotype-wide association analysis (PheWAS).
Main Results:
- A causal association was identified between CCL4 and OM (ORIVW = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.04-1.19).
- Positive associations with OM risk were observed for osteoprotegerin, MCP-4, ADA, IL15RA, and artemin.
- Negative associations with OM risk were found for MCP-3, C-X-C motif chemokine 5, and C-C motif chemokine 19.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests potential causal associations between nine inflammatory proteins and OM.
- Findings are based on European ancestry cohorts; validation in multi-ethnic cohorts is recommended.
- Further experimental studies are needed to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms.
