CSF sTREM2 in neurological diseases: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND: Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been described as a biomarker for microglial activation, which were observed increased in a variety of neurological disorders. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to explore whether genetically determined CSF sTREM2 levels are causally associated with different neurological diseases by conducting a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. METHODS: Single nucleotide polymorphisms significantly associated with CSF sTREM2 levels were selected as instrumental variables to estimate the causal effects on clinically common neurological diseases, including stroke, Alzheimer’s diseases, Parkinson’s diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy and their subtypes. Summary-level statistics of both exposure and outcomes were applied in an MR framework. RESULTS: Genetically predicted per 1 pg/dL increase of CSF sTREM2 levels was associated with higher risk of multiple sclerosis (OR = 1.038, 95%CI = 1.014–1.064, p = 0.002). Null association was found in risk of other included neurological disorders. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide support for a potential causal relationship between elevated CSF sTREM2 levels and higher risk of multiple sclerosis. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-022-02443-9.