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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex neurological disease with huge variability in disease outcome. The majority of MS genetic susceptibility is determined by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alleles, in particular haplotypes carrying HLA-DRB1*1501. HLA-DRB1*1501 also affects the clinical outcome of the disease and animal research has suggested that HLA-DRB5 interacts with HLA-DRB1*1501 to influence disease severity. We used an extremes-of-outcome design with 48 benign and 20 malignant MS patients to assess whether or not DNA methylation at HLA-DRB1*1501 and/or HLA-DRB5 also contributes to MS phenotypic heterogeneity. We found no significant effect of DNA methylation across HLA-DRB1*1501 and HLA-DRB5 on severity, although we cannot rule out time- or tissue-specific effects of DNA methylation.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.03.002

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Neuroimmunol

Publication Date

06/2010

Volume

223

Pages

120 - 123

Keywords

Alleles, Cohort Studies, CpG Islands, DNA Methylation, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, HLA-DR Antigens, HLA-DRB1 Chains, HLA-DRB5 Chains, Humans, Middle Aged, Multiple Sclerosis, Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Severity of Illness Index