Mendelian randomization is a causal inference method that uses genetically predicted exposures to test whether an observed association is likely to be causal rather than confounded. It is applied across multi-omics and disease studies, including fcrl6 and CMV seropositivity, circulating proteins and breast cancer risk, aortic stenosis, stroke complications, and B-cell malignancies. In the provided examples, it was used as an analytical framework to infer causal links from proteins, metabolites, inflammation, and other genetically anchored traits, including a reported causal relationship between elevated fcrl6 expression and CMV seropositivity. Recent studies also highlight its use in proteome-wide and multi-omics settings, such as identifying therapeutic targets for malignancy and biomarker potential in cardiovascular disease.
Infectious disease
- Mendelian randomization analyses demonstrated a causal relationship between elevated fcrl6 expression and CMV seropositivity in people living with HIV, supporting a host-factor role in latent cytomegalovirus infection. (PMID:41881997)
- A 2026 Nature Communications study used Mendelian randomization to dissect molecular signatures and causal factors underlying latent CMV infection among PLHIV. (PMID:41881997)
Cancer
- Mendelian randomization was used to investigate genetically predicted associations between circulating proteins and breast cancer risk, including evidence implicating breast cancer susceptibility. (PMID:41722201)
- Proteome-wide Mendelian randomization identified protein associations and therapeutic targets for b cell malignancy in a 2026 Blood Neoplasia study. (PMID:41859349)
- Causal inference from circulating proteins was applied to evaluate associations with B-cell malignancies, supporting target prioritization in hematologic cancer. (PMID:41859349)
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease
- A multi-omics Mendelian randomization analysis linked gut microbiome, plasma metabolites, and inflammation to aortic stenosis, highlighting biomarker and causal-association assessment. (PMID:41961656)
- Mendelian randomization was used to systematically investigate causal association and biomarker potential for aortic stenosis in a 2026 Medicine study. (PMID:41961656)
- In stroke research, Mendelian randomization was incorporated into integrative imaging/genomics analyses to help dissect causal links involving stroke complications and risk factors. (PMID:41964418)