Mendelian randomization study on the causal effects of systemic lupus erythematosus on major depressive disorder

The vast majority of epidemiological studies suggested a link between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the causality for SLE on the risk of MDD remained unknown due to confounding factors or reverse causality. Herein, we investigated the causality between SLE and MDD in those of European ancestry by a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Summary genetic data of cases with SLE/MDD were derived from independent largest public genome-wide association study. Forty-six single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with SLE were used as instrumental variables. The main causal inference was carried out using the MRE-IVW method. Additional, reverse-direction MR and multivariable MR analyses were further performed. Result indicated that SLE was causally associated with a lower risk of MDD (using the MRE-IVW method, odds ratio [OR] = 0.983, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.974–0.991, p = 1.18 × 10 −4 ). Complementary analysis found no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy. Multivariate MR analysis yielded consistent results (OR = 0.981; 95% CI = 0.969–0.993; p = 2.75 × 10 −3 ). Reverse-direction MR analysis suggested non-causal relationship of MDD on the risk of SLE (using the IVW method, OR = 0.846, 95% CI = 0.345–2.072; p = 0.714). Thus, this is the first study providing evidence of potential causal links between SLE and MDD and further related research is needed.