Genetic variation at position-1082 of the interleukin 10 (IL10) promotor and the outcome of multiple sclerosis

Interleukin-10 is a potent immunomodulatory cytokine with possible implicat ions for the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Increased IL10 mRNA expres sion is associated with stable disease. The interleukin 10 gene is highly p olymorphic and certain haplotypes result in differential interleukin-10 exp ression. The presence of guanine instead of adenine at position -1082 in th e IL10 promotor was shown to result in a higher IL10 production. We analyse d this diallelic polymorphism in patients with multiple sclerosis but did n ot find any association between a certain -1082 IL10 genotype and susceptib ility to or severity of multiple sclerosis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.