Potential role of OPG/RANKL system and FokI genotypes in pathogenesis and clinical manifestations in multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
The OPG/RANKL has identified role in immune system via T-cell-activating cytokines. Considering that immune mechanisms play a key role in the pathogenesis of MS, OPG/RANKL might be importance in the underlying mechanism of the disease. The aim of this study is to measure plasma levels of OPG and RANKL as well as to analyze VDR FokI polymorphism (rs2228570) in MS patients and healthy individuals to detect any potential correlation.


METHODS
We included a total of 397 participants, 105 of them suffering from two different types of MS, namely relapsing and remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. VDR genotyping was performed using PCR-RFLP method.


RESULTS
The results showed differences in the plasma levels of OPG and RANKL between patients and the healthy control group that were statistically significant. We found higher plasma levels of OPG and lower RANKL concentrations in RRMS patients in comparison with SPMS types of the disease. We detected higher plasma levels of OPG and lower levels of RANKL in subjects with F allele compared to those with f allele in healthy subjects. However, contradicting results were observed when patients with MS were analyzed. We detected lower plasma levels of OPG and higher RANKL concentrations in patients with F allele in comparison with those with f allele.


CONCLUSIONS
This might define a role for FokI polymorphism and OPG/RANKL system in the pathogenesis and progression of multiple sclerosis with further practical applications.
Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
K
K
Mirzaei
S
S
Ahmadi
A
A
Hossein-Nezhad
F
F
Mokhtari
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000097:blood*; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D053245:RANK Ligand; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol