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Published on: November 30, 2016
Plasma proteins and irritable bowel syndrome: A proteome-wide Mendelian randomization study
1Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
Medicine
|August 15, 2026
Summary
This study used Mendelian randomization to find 20 plasma proteins linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some proteins may protect against IBS, while others increase risk, offering potential therapeutic targets for IBS.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Gastroenterology
- Proteomics
Background:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex gastrointestinal disorder with poorly understood causes.
- Identifying reliable biomarkers and causal factors for IBS is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential causal links between plasma proteins and IBS using a large-scale proteome-wide Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
- To identify specific plasma proteins that may influence the risk or provide protection against IBS development.
Main Methods:
- A bidirectional two-sample MR analysis was performed on 4907 plasma proteins and IBS.
- Genetic data from Icelandic and FinnGen cohorts (35,559 and 329,381 individuals, respectively) were utilized.
- Multiple MR methods and sensitivity analyses confirmed findings, complemented by enrichment and gene interaction studies.
Main Results:
- Twenty plasma proteins were significantly associated with IBS.
- Scavenger Receptor Class A Member 5 and Fibroblast Growth Factor Binding Protein-1 showed a protective association with IBS.
- Eighteen proteins, including Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2, were positively associated with IBS risk.
- Reverse MR analysis indicated no causal effect of IBS on plasma protein levels.
Conclusions:
- This study identified 20 plasma proteins as potential causal factors in IBS development.
- The identified proteins, involved in mitochondrial and cellular transport pathways, represent potential therapeutic targets for IBS.
- Findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying IBS etiology.
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