An evaluation of interleukin genes fails to identify clear susceptibility loci for multiple sclerosis

Differential expression of interleukins may influence susceptibility to inf lammatory diseases such as MS. IL-la production is increased in MS patients during acute relapse, IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) secretion correlates with dise ase activity in several inflammatory disorders and is variable in MS. Both LL-4 and IL-10 expression vary significantly with relapse/remission in MS a nd IL-9 is postulated to inhibit steroid-induced apoptosis. To examine the influence of interleukin (IL) genes on MS susceptibility and clinical cours e, gene association studies using separate polymorphic microsatellite marke rs for il-1 alpha, il-2, il-2r beta, il-4 il-9 and il-10 were performed, in corporating 150-177 relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive MS (RR/SPM S) patients, 100-110 primary progressive (PPMS) patients and 152-210 contro ls. No significant differences existed in allele frequencies between either MS group and controls for any of the interleukin microsatellite markers st udied, nor were statistically significant differences observed in PPMS vs. RR/SPMS for any marker. These data indicate that the IL-1 alpha, IL-2, IL-2 R beta, IL-4, IL-9 and IL-10 genes are unlikely to be susceptibility loci f or MS in this population. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.