Genes Identified in Association With Multiple Sclerosis Severity

FRIDAY, July 7, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Authors of a study published online June 28 in Nature have identified genetic markers associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) severity.

Adil Harroud, M.D., from the University of California in San Francisco, and colleagues examined the mechanisms determining progression in a genome-wide association study of the age-related MS severity score in 12,584 cases with MS. The findings were replicated in an additional 9,805 cases.

The researchers identified a significant association with rs10191329 in the DYSF-ZNF638 locus. The risk allele shortened the median time to needing a walking aid by up to 3.7 years, and was associated with increased brainstem and cortical pathology in brain tissue. A suggestive association was identified with rs149097173 in the DNM3-PIGC locus, with significant enrichment for expression in central nervous system tissues. A protective role for higher educational attainment was indicated by Mendelian randomization analyses.

"These genes are normally active within the brain and spinal cord, rather than the immune system," Harroud said in a statement. "Our findings suggest that resilience and repair in the nervous system determine the course of MS progression and that we should focus on these parts of human biology for better therapies."

Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

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