title: The role of VLA4 polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis: an association study.
abstract: Lymphocyte and monocyte brain infiltration determines inflammation in multiple sclerosis. The trafficking of these cells into the CNS results from the VLA-4 binding with its ligand on brain endothelial cells. MS patients treated with an antibody against the alpha-4 subunit, which inhibits this interaction, prevents brain lesion development. We investigated the association between VLA-4 gene polymorphisms and MS in a study on 275 patients and 255 controls. No differences were detected, thus suggesting that these polymorphisms are not a significant genetic risk factor for susceptibility to MS in Italy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurological Sciences, National Research Council, Piano Lago di Mangone, Cosenza, Italy. v.andreoli@isn.cnr.it
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Andreoli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cittadella
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Condino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Russa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liguori
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manna
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spadafora
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nisticò
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pirritano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clodomiro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quattrone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1 / Q000235:genetics*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1