Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (33): 8607-8617.doi: 10.12307/2026.394

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Regulatory role of mediating plasma protein alpha-2-HS glycoprotein in celiac disease and its predictive efficacy analysis for osteoporosis

Duan Yudong, Zhao Piqian, Guo Qianping, Xie Jile   

  1. Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; Institute of Orthopedics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China 
  • Received:2025-06-06 Revised:2025-10-20 Online:2026-11-28 Published:2026-06-09
  • Contact: Xie Jile, MD, Attending physician, Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; Institute of Orthopedics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China
  • About author:Duan Yudong, Master candidate, Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; Institute of Orthopedics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China Zhao Piqian, MS, Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; Institute of Orthopedics, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Suzhou Gusu Medical Talent Program, No. GSWS2023087 (to XJL).

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested an association between celiac disease and osteoporosis. However, the causal nature of this association has not been fully established. More evidence is required to enhance the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the causal relationship between celiac disease and osteoporosis and to screen plasma proteins that may mediate this relationship to reveal the underlying mechanisms through a combination of cross-sectional analysis and Mendelian randomization.
METHODS: A multi-stage analytical approach was used to analyze the association between celiac disease and osteoporosis and its underlying mechanisms. Initially, logistic regression analysis was used to assess the risk of osteoporosis in patients with celiac disease. Subsequently, a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was applied to delve into the causal relationship between celiac disease and osteoporosis, leveraging data from two major databases: IEU OpenGWAS and Finngen R10. In terms of data sources, the study primarily relied on two authoritative databases. The first, the IEU OpenGWAS database, established by the University of Exeter, UK, aggregates a variety of genome-wide association study data, providing open resource support for genetic research. The celiac disease dataset used (GCST90014442) comprised 2 364 cases and 324 074 controls. The second, the Finngen R10 database, constructed by the Finnish Biobank Network, specializes in providing health data support for the Finnish population. For this study, the osteoporosis dataset included 8 017 patients and 391,037 controls. As this study uses publicly available aggregated statistical databases, it is exempt from ethical approval. To further elucidate the potential mechanisms, the study conducted colocalization analysis using the deCODE and UKBPPP databases to screen for possible mediating plasma proteins. Gene expression analysis was performed to explore the expression trends of these proteins in patients with celiac disease, and the diagnostic value was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of osteoporosis was significantly increased in patients with celiac disease compared with those without celiac disease (OR=56.000, P=0.008). (2) Mendelian randomization analysis further indicated that there was a causal effect between celiac disease and osteoporosis (OR=2.363, P < 0.01). (3) Colocalization analysis showed that alpha-2-HS glycoprotein (AHSG) is a mediating factor (PPH3+PPH4=0.862, PPH4=0.793). The results of gene expression detection showed that the expression level of AHSG was significantly increased in patients with celiac disease, and was significantly negatively correlated with bone mineral density (r=-0.805, P < 0.05). (4) Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that AHSG had a certain diagnostic efficiency, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.667, especially when combined with other biomarkers, the diagnostic efficiency was further improved (AUC=0.706). This study reveals a possible mechanism for the increased risk of osteoporosis in patients with celiac disease and suggests AHSG as a potential key mediator that may play an important role in the early diagnosis and risk assessment of celiac disease-associated osteoporosis. These findings provide new biomarkers and potential intervention targets for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in patients with celiac disease, and provide an important reference for clinical practice.


Key words: celiac disease, osteoporosis, Mendelian randomization, alpha-2-HS glycoprotein (AHSG), receiver operating characteristic curve

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