Effects of IFN-β1a and IFN-β1b treatment on the expression of cytokines, inducible NOS (NOS type II), and myelin proteins in animal model of multiple sclerosis.
The NOS3 rs1800779 G-allele (p = 0.04) and GG-genotype (p = 0.02) showed association with susceptibility to MS. Short NOS2 (CCTTT)n (p = 0.03) and short/long repeat (p = 0.04) genotypes also showed associations with MS.
The gene encoding the inducible form of Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS2A) has been considered with interest in the evaluation of the genetic predisposition to Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Nonetheless, despite the lack of significant evidence of association for the NOS2A promoter polymorphisms with MS, the gene remains an interesting candidate for MS susceptibility, particularly with regard to the HLA-DRB1*1501 haplotype.
Our results provide strong evidence for linkage and association to a new candidate disease gene on chromosome 17q11 in MS and suggest that variation within NOS2A or a nearby locus contributes to disease susceptibility.