Peripheral blood leukocyte Telomere length and endometriosis: A Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND

The link between peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and endometriosis has remained uncertain. In order to investigate this association, a two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR) analysis was performed.

METHODS

We extracted Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with LTL from a published genome-wide association study (GWAS) comprising 472,174 individuals. Data on endometriosis, including its seven subtypes, were sourced from the iue open gwas project. Four methods were employed for MR: Inverse-variance weighted analysis (IVW), Mendelian randomization-Egger regression (MR Egger), weighted-median analysis, and Weighted Mode.

RESULTS

Genetically determined LTL was identified as a factor that can promote the occurrence of endometriosis. With every 1-SD increase in LTL, the risk of endometriosis increased by 26 % (OR = 1.260, 95 % CI = 1.073 to 1.479;  = 0.005). Genetically determined LTL also contributed to endometriosis subtypes: intestine (OR = 3.584, 95 % CI = 1.597 to 8.041;  = 0.002), ovary (OR = 1.308, 95 % CI = 1.033 to 1.655;  = 0.026), rectovaginal septum and vagina (OR = 1.360, 95 % CI = 1.000 to 1.851;  = 0.049). There was no observed causal relationship between LTL and the other four subtypes.

CONCLUSION

This study, utilizing genetic data, offers evidence that longer LTL may cause increased risks of endometriosis, specifically endometriosis of the intestine, ovary, rectovaginal septum and vagina. These findings not only suggest that LTL may serve as a predictive factor for assessing the prevalence of three endometriosis subtypes but also provide new insights into the study of endometriosis pathogenesis.