title: Multiple sclerosis: a polygenic disease involving epistatic interactions, germline rearrangements and environmental effects.
abstract: Several regions of the human genome are associated with susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS). We review studies of linkage of MS to germline genes using microsatellites. A modest effect on susceptibility was seen with markers in the vicinity of 6p21 (HLA) and 17q22. The influence of epistatic interactions between these genes is considered. The impact of genetic rearrangements of certain germline genes on susceptibility to MS is described. Analysis of TCR gene rearrangements has established some of the target antigens of the immune response in MS. Environmental influences on MS are described with particular attention given to how microbes might trigger demyelinating disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Karpuj
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steinman
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Oksenberg
mesh_terms: D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA