Causal Relationship between Immune Cells and Postpartum  Depression: A Bidirectional Two-Sample Mendelian  Randomization Study

Yingjia   Zhu; Feng  Cheng; Wenhui  Wang; Xinyun  Yang; Mingjie  He; Zhiyin  Zhang; Linling  Zhu

doi:10.18502/ijph.v54i10.20139

Yingjia Zhu Department of Gynecology, Hangzhou Women’s Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, China
Feng Cheng Department of Orthopedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, China
Wenhui Wang Department of Pathology, Hangzhou Women’s Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, China
Xinyun Yang Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, China
Mingjie He Department of General Practice, Yiqiao Community Health Service Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, China
Zhiyin Zhang Department of Gynecology, Hangzhou Women’s Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, China
Linling Zhu Department of Gynecology, Hangzhou Women’s Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v54i10.20139

Keywords: Postpartum depression; Immune cells; Causal inference; Genetic variation; Mendelian randomization

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is influenced by immune factors, particularly immune cells. The causal relationship between these cells and PPD is unclear.

Methods: Bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) analysis was performed to determine the causal relationship between immune cell characteristics and PPD. The main analysis method used was the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. To ensure the robustness, heterogeneity, and horizontal pleiotropy of the results, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis was conducted.

Results: Overall, 28 immune cell phenotypes were identified as causally related to the onset of PPD. Most of them were distributed in the B cell group and the Treg cell group. Further analysis revealed that 13 types of immune cells had a promoting effect on PPD, whereas 15 types of immune cells had a protective effect. In addition, the incidence of PPD was found to be causally related to CD62L on granulocyte [IVW: OR (95%): 1.183 (1.037 to 1.348), P = 0.012].

Conclusion: The study unveils the causal link between immune cells and susceptibility to postpartum depression from a genetic standpoint, providing new directions for drug development and precision medicine for PPD treatment.