These preliminary findings suggest that B-cell specific DNA-methylation may be associated with MS risk or response to therapy, specifically at the LTA locus.
Taken together, IO&NS biomarkers and NcoI TNFβ genotypes predict high disability in MS and are associated with different aspects of disease progression.
Tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β) NcoI polymorphism is associated with multiple sclerosis in Caucasian patients from Southern Brazil independently from HLA-DRB1.
The TNFB2/B2 genotype of TNF-β NcoI polymorphism was associated with increased inflammatory and metabolic markers and this association was different according to sex of MS patients.
The strong accumulation of LT-alpha- and TNF-alpha-producing cells and of MBP-reactive LT-alpha and TNF-alpha mRNA-positive cells in the immediate vicinity of the demyelinating process in MS patients implicates a role of these cytokines in the development of MS.