Explore the groundbreaking study on how genetic predispositions to PTSD could influence autoimmune diseases, shedding light on the intricate connections between mental health and immune system responses.
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Effects of genetically predicted posttraumatic stress disorder on autoimmune phenotypes.
Maihofer et al., Transl Psychiatry 2024
<!– DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02869-0 //–>
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-02869-0
This study delves into the genetic connections and potential causal relationships between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), various autoimmune diseases, and immune/inflammatory biomarkers. Utilizing advanced genetic analysis methods, the research found PTSD to be significantly more polygenic compared to autoimmune diseases, with 10,863 influential genetic variants for PTSD against a median of 255 for autoimmune diseases. Notably, a significant genetic correlation was identified between PTSD and nine autoimmune diseases, alongside three inflammatory biomarkers. The study provides evidence of PTSD’s causal effects on autoimmune thyroid disease and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, with p-values of 0.00009 and 4.3×10-7, respectively. These findings remained robust even after sensitivity analyses, including adjustments for potential mechanistic pathways through inflammatory biomarkers. Conversely, no autoimmune disease showed a significant causal effect on PTSD. The research underscores the complex genetic interplay between PTSD, autoimmune diseases, and inflammation, suggesting that interventions targeting these shared pathways could be beneficial in managing PTSD and co-morbid autoimmune conditions.