AUTHOR=Zheng Xue-Yong , Ma Yan-Ping , Zhang Bo , Chen Yan-Xin , Tang Lei , Tai Xiao-Hua , Cao Jia-Hao 

TITLE=Mendelian randomization study highlights hypothyroidism as a causal determinant of alopecia areata

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2023.1309620

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2023.1309620

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=Although observational studies have found an association between hypothyroidism and alopecia areata, the causality of this relationship remains unclear. Independent genetic variants associated with hypothyroidism (30,155 cases and 379,986 controls) were obtained as instrumental variables. Utilizing two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis, we found that the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of hypothyroidism (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.12-1.75, P = 3.03×10-3) significantly increased the risk of alopecia areata (289 cases and 211,139 controls). Furthermore, the function of causal SNPs was evaluated by gene ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction networks. This study provided compelling genetic evidence supporting a causative association between hypothyroidism and alopecia areata, which could potentially inform the development of more efficacious treatment strategies for patients afflicted by alopecia areata.