Exploring Causal Correlations Between Inflammatory Cytokines and Kawasaki Disease: A Mendelian Randomization.

AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionThe role of inflammatory cytokines in Kawasaki disease (KD) pathogenesis is known, but causal relationships are unclear. This study investigates these connections using Mendelian randomization (MR).Genetic variations associated with KD were obtained from a GWAS including 119 cases and 6071 controls of European ancestry. Genetic data on inflammatory cytokines were sourced from a GWAS of 8,293 healthy participants.The study identified significant associations between higher levels of macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and increased risk of KD. The odds ratios (OR) were 1.04 (95% CI: 1.01–1.08, <italic>p</italic> = 0.010) for M-CSF, 1.03 (95% CI: 1.01–1.05, <italic>p</italic> = 0.026) for MCP-1, and 1.02 (95% CI: 1.01–1.04, <italic>p</italic> = 0.027) for TRAIL.This study suggests that M-CSF, MCP-1, and TRAIL are potentially involved in the etiology of KD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]