Association of a myeloperoxidase promoter polymorphism with multiple sclerosis

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) generates hypochlorous acid and other reactive oxygen intermediates leading to tissue damage. MPO is expressed in macrophages-mi croglia in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. A G-->A substitution that aboli shes an SP1 transcription factor consensus sequence in the promoter reduces gene expression. We studied the association of the genetic variant with MS . We did not find an association with gender, age at onset, susceptibility to, or the course and severity of MS in a population-based sample of 112 pa tients from Olmsted County. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.