Recent studies have better defined the association between the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, interleukin-7 receptor, and interferon-gamma polymorphisms and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS), while many more studies have been added to the controversial pool of likely false-positive and false-negative genetic association and linkage studies.
Several observations suggest that the interferon system may be of interest in the study of MS development To investigate whether polymorphism in components of the IFN system and the JAK-STAT pathway influence susceptibility to MS, we performed a linkage analysis between polymorphic loci in or close to the IFN gamma, IFN gamma receptor, IFN alpha/beta receptor, JAK 1, STAT 1 and STAT 3 genes in 27 Swedish families with at least two members having MS. Tests for transmission disequilibrium and nonparametric linkage analysis gave negative results.
Likewise, the male-specific protective association of interferon-gamma (IFNG) SNP rs2069727 in MS was replicated with the same sex specificity in childhood ALL (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4-1.0, Mantel-Haenszel P = 0.03).
The aim of this study was to investigate whether polymorphisms in the IFNG and IFNGR1 and IFNGR2 genes are associated with susceptibility to MS, or disease characteristics, as defined by clinical and imaging criteria.
In data-sets derived from the Finnish population we found no evidence for contribution of the T-cell receptor beta chain (TCR beta chromosome 7q35), immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH chromosome 14q32), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma chromosome 12q14-q15) or interleukin-1 receptor antagonist/interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ra/IL-1 beta chromosome 2q14-q21) loci in the genetic susceptibility to MS.
We have recently reported the association of a polymorphic intronic CA-repeat in the interferon-gamma gene (IFNG) with gender bias in susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS) in a Sardinian population.
To study the possible role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha G-308A, interleukin-6 G-174C, interleukin-10 C-592A, C-819T, G-1082A, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta (codons 10 and 25), and interferon-gammaT+874A polymorphisms in susceptibility to MS in Iranian population, DNA samples from 98 patients and 97 healthy controls were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primers.
Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and in its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).
Importantly, in MS the proportion of IFNγ- and GM-CSF-secreting T cells expressing CCR6 was significantly enriched in the CSF, and was elevated in MS, suggesting these cells play a pathogenic role in this disease.
To assess whether SNPs within genes for relevant cytokines and their receptors modulate the associations of TNF-α and IFN-γ with relapse, thus providing additional information about these cytokine effects and the roles of these genes in MS.
Results showed that: 1) CD19+/TNFα+, CD19+/IL-12+ and CD19+/IFNγ+ lymphocytes are significantly increased in primary progressive (PP) compared to secondary progressive (SP), relapsing-remitting (RR), benign (BE) MS and HC; 2) CD19+/IL-6+ lymphocytes are significantly increased in PP, SP and RR compared to BEMS and HC; and 3) CD19+/IL-13+, CD19+/IL-10+, and CD19+/IL-10+/TGFβ+ (Bregs) B lymphocytes are reduced overall in MS patients compared to HC.
Specifically, MS-like lesions developed in the brain that included equal numbers of IFN-γ producing CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and demyelination, none of which is observed in MOG induced EAE.
Therefore, we hypothesize that ERβ-selective agonists inhibit MHC II expression in microglia via inhibition of class II trans-activator (CIITA) expression by a mechanism involving inhibition of the translocation of IFNγ regulatory factor (IRF-1) to the nucleus, thereby inhibiting the inflammatory response and symptoms in the MS model.
Recent studies in new EAE models, especially in transgenic ones, have in connection with new analytical techniques such as microarray assays provided a deeper insight into the pathogenic cellular and molecular mechanisms of EAE and potentially of MS. For example, it was possible to better delineate the role of soluble pro-inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ and interleukins 1, 12 and 23), anti-inflammatory (transforming growth factor-β and interleukins 4, 10, 27 and 35) and neurotrophic factors (ciliary neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor).
In order to investigate the role of some proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)) as a risk factor for MS, this study was performed.
We explored the correlation between concentrations of Aβ<sub>1-42</sub> and the levels of some proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL1-ra, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interferon γ (IFNγ)) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 103 remitting MS patients.