An examination of the Apo-1/Fas promoter Mva I polymorphism in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
The Apo-1/Fas (CD95) molecule is an apoptosis-signaling cell surface receptor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family. Both Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) are expressed in activated mature T cells, and prolonged cell activation induces susceptibility to Fas-mediated apoptosis. The Apo-1/Fas gene is located in a chromosomal region that shows linkage in multiple sclerosis (MS) genome screens, and studies indicate that there is aberrant expression of the Apo-1/Fas molecule in MS.


METHODS
Mva I polymorphism on the Apo-1/Fas promoter gene was detected by PCR-RFLP from the DNA of 114 Japanese patients with conventional MS and 121 healthy controls. We investigated the association of the Mva I polymorphism in Japanese MS patients using a case-control association study design.


RESULTS
We found no evidence that the polymorphism contributes to susceptibility to MS. Furthermore, there was no association between Apo-1/Fas gene polymorphisms and clinical course (relapsing-remitting course or secondary-progressive course). No significant association was observed between Apo-1/Fas gene polymorphisms and the age at disease onset.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, our findings suggest that Apo-1/Fas promoter gene polymorphisms are not conclusively related to susceptibility to MS or the clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with MS.
Department of Neurology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15 Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan. niino@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Masaaki
M
Niino
Seiji
S
Kikuchi
Toshiyuki
T
Fukazawa
Ryuji
R
Miyagishi
Ichiro
I
Yabe
Kunio
K
Tashiro
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015257:DNA-Cytosine Methylases / Q000737:chemistry*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics*
D019014:fas Receptor; C029528:DNA modification methylase EcoRII; D015257:DNA-Cytosine Methylases