Causal associations between immune cell phenotypes and Ménière's disease: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study and validation in mice

OBJECTIVES: To explore the causal relationship between 731 immune cell phenotypes and Ménière's disease (MD) using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and experimental validation in mice.

No actionable change to clinical practice at this stage; the study provides preliminary causal evidence implicating specific immune cell phenotypes in Ménière's disease pathogenesis, which may inform future therapeutic targets but requires replication and mechanistic follow-up.

Identifying immune cell phenotypes causally linked to Ménière's disease could open new immunological treatment avenues for a condition that currently lacks disease-modifying therapies.

1. 01Bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization tested causal links between 731 immune cell phenotypes and Ménière's disease.
2. 02Mouse validation experiments were conducted to support the genetic findings.
3. 03Both directions were tested: immune cells as cause of, and consequence of, Ménière's disease.
4. 04Mendelian randomization reduces confounding compared to standard observational studies.
5. 05Results are hypothesis-generating; clinical translation requires further mechanistic and interventional research.

PMID

42486835

DOI

10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2026.07.20.

Journal

Journal of Southern Medical University

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

2b

Population

Genetic summary-level data (human GWAS) plus mouse model validation for Ménière's disease

Intervention

Bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization across 731 immune cell phenotypes

Comparator

Bidirectional analysis (Ménière's disease as both outcome and exposure)