Association of two variants in IL-1 beta and IL-1 receptor antagonist genes with multiple sclerosis

We studied the putative association of a C-->T polymorphism in exon-5 of IL -1 beta and an 85 bp tandem repeat in intron-4 of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) genes with susceptibility to or outcome of MS. DNA from 122 cases from a population-based cohort in Olmsted County, MN who were previously ca tegorized for disease severity and temporal course and 244 ethnically-match ed controls were analyzed. These was no association between either polymorp hism and disease susceptibility. Allele-2 of IL-1 beta and allele-3 of the IL-1ra polymorphisms were associated with a favorable outcome (P=0.023 and P=0.030). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.