title: No genetic linkage between multiple sclerosis and the interferon alpha/beta locus.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is probably caused by an interaction of genetic and environmental factors. The genetic component is reflected by a ten-fold higher concordance rate in monozygotic (27%) compared to dizygotic (3%) twin pairs. Treatment with interferon was recently reported to have a favorable effect in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. In the present familial study, we have investigated the possibility of a genetic association between the highly polymorphic Interferon alpha beta locus and the development of MS. Based on our data, we conclude that there is no linkage between the Interferon alpha beta locus and MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergkvist
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martinsson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandberg-Wollheim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015335:Molecular Probes; D016899:Interferon-beta