Goris An, Sawcer Stephen, Vandenbroeck Koen, Carton Herwig, Billiau Alfons, Setakis Efrosini, Compston Alastair, Dubois Bénédicte
Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
J Neuroimmunol. 2003 Oct;143(1-2):65-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2003.08.013.
We have completed a whole genome screen for association with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a Belgian population. The 6000 microsatellite markers provided through the Genetic Association of Multiple Sclerosis in EuropeanS (GAMES) collaborative were genotyped in case-control and family-based samples. The 20 most promising markers included three markers (D6S1615, D6S2444 and TNFa) from the classically established HLA class II cluster and one (D6S265) from the recently re-emphasized HLA class I cluster. In other highlighted regions, preliminary candidate genes from the immune system have been identified: e.g. the integrin ligand EDIL3, the high-mobility group box protein TOX, neutral sphingomyelinase activating factor (NSMAF) and the B-cell specific transcription factor POU2AF1.
