Profile of cytokine gene polymorphisms in Iranian multiple sclerosis patients.
BACKGROUND
Cytokine gene polymorphisms have been extensively studied in association with different diseases. The role of cytokine gene polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis (MS), as a chronic immune-mediated neurodegenerative disease, has been previously reported.


METHODS
DNA samples were collected from 44 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and 140 unrelated healthy subjects. All participants in this study were matched for ethnicity. Cytokine gene SNPs were determined using the PCR-SSP method.


RESULTS
and discussion We found no significant differences between MS patients and controls in most of the studied cytokine genes. Remarkable results were obtained for IL-2 GG-330 genotype (P =0.06), IL-6 C-174 allele (P =0.06), CG and GG genotypes (P <0.001), and GG (P =0.02) and CG (P <0.001) haplotypes, and TNF-alpha A-238 allele (P <0.001), GG (P =0.003) and GA (P <0.001) haplotypes. These results suggest that polymorphic variations of these pro-inflammatory cytokines play an important role in susceptibility to MS.
Amirzargar
A
A
Immunogenetic Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. amirzargar_ali@yahoo.com
Khosravi
F
F
Dianat
S
S
Hushmand
F
F
Maryousef
P
P
Foroushani
A R
AR
Lotfi
J
J
Nikbin
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha