Differential effects of genetic susceptibility factors in males and females with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a putative autoimmune disease, has a well documented female preponderance among patients. However, this is not the only sex effect observed in the disease. Unaffected mothers appear to be at a higher risk to transmit susceptibility (genetic, environmental or interactions thereof) compared to unaffected fathers. This maternal effect can range from intrauterine exposures to transmission of genotypes and epigenetics.