Chen_2026_Medicine.(Baltimore)_105_e49635

This study explores the potential mechanisms between palmitoylation and ulcerative colitis (UC) through Mendelian randomization, bioinformatics analysis combined with eQTL and protein quantitative trait loci. This study selected a dataset of 5034 UC patients from the Finnish database and conducted Mendelian randomization analysis with palmitoylation target genes to explore the causal relationships between the two. Sensitivity and pleiotropy tests were performed alongside bioinformatics analysis to screen for the best target genes, ensuring the robustness of the results. Finally, immune cells were included for mediation analysis between palmitoylation and UC to explore potential mechanisms. Through Mendelian randomization analysis combined with sensitivity and pleiotropy tests, 5 target genes related to palmitoylation were identified to have a significant causal relationship with UC. Subsequent bioinformatics analysis confirmed ZDHHC13 and PPT1 as potential gene targets. By including immune cells in the mediation analysis, it was ultimately found that there is a potential mechanism involving ZDHHC13, CD62L- monocyte AC, and UC. There is a significant causal relationship between palmitoylation and UC. Furthermore, the palmitoylation gene ZDHHC13 can regulate CD62L- monocyte AC immune cells, inhibiting the occurrence of UC.