Abstract
BACKGROUND: Aging skin, exacerbated by external factors like UV radiation and pollutants, is a major cosmetic concern. Taurine, renowned for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may combat skin aging. We performed mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal link between taurine and immune cells linked to skin aging. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between taurine and immune cells using mendelian randomization, to thereby explore the mechanism through which taurine exerts anti-aging effects on the skin via immune modulation. METHODS: A MR approach was employed using taurine-level data from the Ieu Open GWAS Project and immunocyte traits from a large European cohort. MR-Egger regression, weighted median estimation, and inverse variance weighting all provided statistical insights into causality. Sensitivity analyses assessed the heterogeneity and pleiotropy among the genetic instruments used. RESULTS: MR analysis identified a causal relationship between taurine levels and 10 immunocyte phenotypes, with taurine found to be negatively and positively associated with three and seven phenotypes, respectively. Sensitivity analysis revealed no significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy, suggesting reliable MR findings. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into the immunological pathways by which taurine contributes to skin anti-aging effects, suggesting that increasing taurine levels could offer a novel strategy for anti-aging skincare.