Existing studies have revealed that the lipidomic profile in the synovial fluid of patients with RA is severely disrupted. The degree of disorder is closely related to the extent of synovitis observed on ultrasonography [23]. However, comprehensive analyses have not been undertaken to corroborate the causal relationship between lipidomes and RA. In this mediation MR study, a causal relationship was identified between seven lipidomes and RA. The results of the mediation MR analysis indicate that undecenoylcarnitine (C11:1) could act as a mediator in the causal relationship between sterol ester and RA, and The mediation effect was calculated to be 7.98%. This mediation MR study underscored the association of lipidomes with RA, underscoring the role of undecenoylcarnitine (C11:1) as a mediator.
Many studies have reported altered lipidomic profiles in patients with RA. The main changes include the followings: (1) Reduced levels of serum total cholesterol and triglycerides in untreated RA patients [24–25]; (2) Increased levels of the aforementioned lipidomes in treated RA patients [26–27]; (3) HDL lacking antioxidant capacity in patients with RA [28–29]. Recent insights suggest that lipidomes play a crucial role as components of immune cell membranes, facilitating appropriate cell signaling in response to antigens or other cellular ligands [30–32]. While research has established a strong relationship between lipidomes and RA, the exact causality remains elusive. Meanwhile, patients with RA, like those with other chronic inflammatory diseases, also experience alterations in metabolism, which may contribute to higher morbidity and mortality rates [33]. Therefore, mediation MR analysis was used to comprehensively analyze the causal relationship between lipidomes and RA, with a particular emphasis on the role of metabolites in this relationship.
We have identified a positive association between RA and the following lipid species: sterol ester (27:1/20:5), phosphatidylinositol (16:0_20:4), phosphatidylcholine (18:0_20:5), sterol ester (27:1/20:4), phosphatidylethanolamine (O-18:2_18:2), and phosphatidylcholine (18:0_20:4). In addition, phosphatidylcholine (16:0_16:1) shows a negative causal relationship with RA. Phospholipids are important components of cell membranes and organelle membranes, essential for maintaining normal membrane fluidity and function. The phospholipid signaling system is a significant cellular pathway involved in regulating processes such as cell growth, division, survival, and communication [34]. It is plausible that dysregulation within this system may contribute to the development of RA.
It’s worth noting that undecenoylcarnitine (C11:1) may serve as a link between sterol ester (27:1/20:4) and RA. Moreover, more and more metabolites have been identified to be related with the pathogenesis of diseases [35–38]. For instance, lactic acid, as a byproduct of glycolysis, acts as a signaling molecule in chronic inflammatory and cancerous tissues [36]. Metabolic disorders are associated with the development of RA [37–38]. Glycolysis, the arachidonic acid, butyric acid, and tryptophan metabolic pathways have garnered significant interest and have been extensively studied for their involvement in RA. Disruptions in these metabolic pathways can directly or indirectly contribute to inflammation, immune responses, and the development of atherosclerosis in RA patients [39–40]. However, it should be noted that certain studies have reported inconsistent results, possibly due to the heterogeneity of RA patients and the limited number of samples available. For example, Zhou and Srivastava found that branched-chain amino acids are downregulated in the synovial fluid of RA patients but upregulated in the joint tissues of CIA rats [41–42]. Nevertheless, despite these findings, there have been currently no studies that thoroughly investigate the relationship between RA and lipidome metabolism. Our research findings suggest that undecenoylcarnitine (C11:1) plays a regulatory role in the influence of sterol ester (27:1/20:4) on RA, further providing theoretical supports for the treatment as well as the prevention of RA.
Although our research had certain advantages, like a large sample size, the removal of confounding factors, and the clarification of causal relationships, it still had inherent limitations. One significant shortcoming was the lack of animal and clinical experiments to further investigate the molecular mechanisms of liposomes and metabolites in the development of RA. Therefore, future endeavors should focus on refining these experiments and striving to elucidate the involved mechanisms. It is important to note that there were still inevitable deficiencies in our study. Specifically, our findings were based on theoretical assumptions and have not been substantiated through rigorous clinical or animal experimentation. As a result, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying our observations remain uncertain. Further investigations involving cellular, animal, and clinical experiments are required to shed light on these mechanisms.