Causal association between tobacco use, fibroblast growth factors, and pulmonary fibrosis: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Introduction

Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for pulmonary fibrosis, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) have been implicated in pulmonary fibrosis, yet their role in smoking-induced pulmonary fibrosis remains unclear. This study employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal relationships among FGFs, smoking, and pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods