Search for genetic factors associated with susceptibility to multiple sclerosis

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 May:1067:264-9. doi: 10.1196/annals.1354.034.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a cell-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by type-1 cytokine production. Environmental and individual genetic background might influence this response particularly in cytokine gene polymorphisms. We evaluated whether polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha genes, which might play a role in MS pathogenesis, are associated with MS susceptibility. Genotype frequencies for all the analyzed polymorphisms were not differently distributed between cases and controls. It is reasonable to suppose that the cytokine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) studied must be considered against a larger genetic background involving other functional SNPs of Th1 regulator elements such as IL-21 and IL-23.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Interleukin-12 / genetics
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-12