Telomere length and multiple sclerosis: a Mendelian randomization study

Abstract

Purpose of the study

Previous studies have established that telomere length is associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, confounding factors and reverse causality bias can impair observational research. Here, we conducted a two-sample MR study to see if telomere length is causally linked to MS using publically available GWAS summary statistics.

Materials and methods

We screened 13 independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to leukocyte telomere length in a recent genome-wide association meta-analysis, which was available for 78,592 samples of European ancestry. The summary statistics for MS were from the latest meta-analyses conducted by the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (IMSGC), which included 115,803 European participants (47,429 MS, 68,374 controls).

Results

We found that leukocyte telomere length and MS are correlated (IVW estimate of odds ratio (OR): 2.13 per 1-SD increase in genetically determined telomere length, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.55–2.92, p = 3.18 × 10⁻⁶).

Conclusion

Our MR study supported that leukocyte telomere length and MS have a positive causal relationship. Further researches are warranted to elucidate the physiological mechanism.

Keywords:

• Multiple sclerosis
• telomere
• Mendelian randomization

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the IMSGC for access to their data.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Funding

None.

Author contributions

Yazhou Ma: design, discussion, literature search, first draft; Mengmeng Wang: discussion, critical comments; Xin Chen: validation, resources; Wang Ruan: discussion, literature search; Jianrong Yao: resources; Xuegan Lian: critical comments, discussion.

Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.