A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study of immune responses against Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 and multiple sclerosis in individuals of European ancestry - PubMed
a day ago
- #Multiple sclerosis
- #Epstein-Barr virus
- #Mendelian randomization
- A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study was conducted to explore the causal relationship between immune responses to Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and multiple sclerosis (MS) risk in individuals of European ancestry.
- Higher genetically predicted anti-EBNA1 IgG levels were found to causally increase MS risk by 69% (OR = 1.69, p < 0.001), with consistent results across sensitivity analyses and no evidence of directional pleiotropy.
- External validation using genetic associations from a French cohort supported the findings, reinforcing the role of EBV-related immune responses in MS pathogenesis.
- Reverse Mendelian randomization analysis showed no evidence that MS influences anti-EBNA1 IgG levels (p > 0.05), indicating a unidirectional causal effect.