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.
Niino
Masaaki
M
Department of Neurology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-15 Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan. niino@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Kikuchi
Seiji
S
Fukazawa
Toshiyuki
T
Miyagishi
Ryuji
R
Yabe
Ichiro
I
Tashiro
Kunio
K
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