{"title":"Exploring Therapeutic Targets for Age-Related Macular Degeneration From Circulating Proteins to Plasma Metabolites in the European Population.","authors":"Chengming Chen, Yanyan Lan, Weiming Yan, Xiaohong Zhang, Tian Li, Jing Han","doi":"10.1167/tvst.14.5.8","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To explore the causal associations among circulating proteins, plasma metabolites, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and colocalization analysis to discern the causal relationship between proteomes and AMD. This investigation utilized data from protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) studies in deCODE and the UK Biobank. Additionally, plasma metabolite-related genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data and AMD-related GWAS data were incorporated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings confirmed a potential causal relationship between cytoplasmic tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (WARS1) and a higher risk of AMD. The observed causal impact of WARS1 on the two subtypes of AMD (dry and wet) align consistently with the aforementioned outcomes. Three plasma metabolites-N-acetyl-kynurenine, N-acetyltyrosine, and caproate (6:0)-were identified as mediators of the causal effect of WARS1 on AMD, and subgroup analysis revealed that N-acetyltyrosine is a specific negative metabolite associated with WARS1 and dry AMD, whereas X-16580 is a specific positive metabolite linked to WARS1 and wet AMD.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The outcomes of this study suggest a potential causal role of specific circulating proteins in AMD and identified the mediating role of plasma metabolites between WARS1 and AMD by integrating multiple genetic analyses. Nevertheless, further research is essential to validate and strengthen these conclusions.</p><p><strong>Translational relevance: </strong>This study establishes the causal role of specific circulating proteins in AMD and identified the mediating role of plasma metabolites between WARS1 and AMD.</p>","PeriodicalId":23322,"journal":{"name":"Translational Vision Science & Technology","volume":"14 5","pages":"8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12063708/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Translational Vision Science & Technology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.14.5.8","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"OPHTHALMOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: To explore the causal associations among circulating proteins, plasma metabolites, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods: We employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and colocalization analysis to discern the causal relationship between proteomes and AMD. This investigation utilized data from protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) studies in deCODE and the UK Biobank. Additionally, plasma metabolite-related genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data and AMD-related GWAS data were incorporated.
Results: Our findings confirmed a potential causal relationship between cytoplasmic tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (WARS1) and a higher risk of AMD. The observed causal impact of WARS1 on the two subtypes of AMD (dry and wet) align consistently with the aforementioned outcomes. Three plasma metabolites-N-acetyl-kynurenine, N-acetyltyrosine, and caproate (6:0)-were identified as mediators of the causal effect of WARS1 on AMD, and subgroup analysis revealed that N-acetyltyrosine is a specific negative metabolite associated with WARS1 and dry AMD, whereas X-16580 is a specific positive metabolite linked to WARS1 and wet AMD.
Conclusions: The outcomes of this study suggest a potential causal role of specific circulating proteins in AMD and identified the mediating role of plasma metabolites between WARS1 and AMD by integrating multiple genetic analyses. Nevertheless, further research is essential to validate and strengthen these conclusions.
Translational relevance: This study establishes the causal role of specific circulating proteins in AMD and identified the mediating role of plasma metabolites between WARS1 and AMD.
期刊介绍:
Translational Vision Science & Technology (TVST), an official journal of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), an international organization whose purpose is to advance research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders, is an online, open access, peer-reviewed journal emphasizing multidisciplinary research that bridges the gap between basic research and clinical care. A highly qualified and diverse group of Associate Editors and Editorial Board Members is led by Editor-in-Chief Marco Zarbin, MD, PhD, FARVO.
The journal covers a broad spectrum of work, including but not limited to:
Applications of stem cell technology for regenerative medicine,
Development of new animal models of human diseases,
Tissue bioengineering,
Chemical engineering to improve virus-based gene delivery,
Nanotechnology for drug delivery,
Design and synthesis of artificial extracellular matrices,
Development of a true microsurgical operating environment,
Refining data analysis algorithms to improve in vivo imaging technology,
Results of Phase 1 clinical trials,
Reverse translational ("bedside to bench") research.
TVST seeks manuscripts from scientists and clinicians with diverse backgrounds ranging from basic chemistry to ophthalmic surgery that will advance or change the way we understand and/or treat vision-threatening diseases. TVST encourages the use of color, multimedia, hyperlinks, program code and other digital enhancements.