title: Gene expression profiles in Finnish twins with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since genetic alterations influencing susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), are as yet poorly understood, the purpose of this study was to identify genes responsible for MS by studying monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs discordant for MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to identify genes involved in MS development, the gene expression profiles in blood mononuclear cells obtained from eight MZ twin pairs discordant for MS were analyzed by cDNA microarray technology detecting the expression of 8 300 genes. The twins were collected from the Finnish Twin Cohort Study and both affected subjects and their healthy siblings underwent neurological evaluation and cerebral and spinal magnetic resonance imaging. Gene expressions were confirmed by relative quantitative reverse transcription PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It appeared that 25 genes were at least two-fold up-regulated and 15 genes down-regulated in 25% (2/8) of twins with MS when compared to their healthy siblings. Moreover, 6/25 genes were up-regulated in 40% of MS twins and one gene, interferon alpha-inducible protein (clone IFI-6-16) (G1P3), in 50% of them. The six most constantly expressed genes are (1) G1P3, (2) POU domain, class 3, transcription factor 1, (3) myxovirus resistance 2, (4) lysosomal-associated multispanning membrane protein-5, (5) hemoglobin alpha 2 and (6) hemoglobin beta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over two-fold up-regulation of these six genes in almost half of MZ twins with MS suggests their role in MS pathogenesis. Studies using MZ MS twins obtained from genetically homogeneous population offer a unique opportunity to explore the genetic nature of MS.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Neurology, Tampere University Hospital, Teiskontie, 35, 33520 Tampere, Finland. silja.sarkijarvi@uta.fi
authors.forename: Silja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Särkijärvi
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuusisto
authors.forename: Raija
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paalavuo
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levula
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Airla
authors.forename: Terho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehtimäki
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaprio
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koskenvuo
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elovaara
mesh_terms: D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005387:Finland; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic; D015854:Up-Regulation