Profile of cytokine gene polymorphisms in Iranian multiple sclerosis patients

Background

Cytokine gene polymorphisms have been extensively studied in association with different diseases. The role of cytokine gene polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis (MS), as a chronic immune-mediated neurodegenerative disease, has been previously reported.

Materials and methods

DNA samples were collected from 44 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and 140 unrelated healthy subjects. All participants in this study were matched for ethnicity. Cytokine gene SNPs were determined using the PCR-SSP method.

Results and discussion

We found no significant differences between MS patients and controls in most of the studied cytokine genes. Remarkable results were obtained for IL-2 GG —330 genotype (P = 0.06), IL-6 C —174 allele (P = 0.06), CG and GG genotypes (P < 0.001), and GG (P = 0.02) and CG (P < 0.001) haplotypes, and TNF-α A —238 allele (P < 0.001), GG (P = 0.003) and GA (P < 0.001) haplotypes. These results suggest that polymorphic variations of these pro-inflammatory cytokines play an important role in susceptibility to MS. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 253–255. http://msj.sagepub.com