TRAIL gene expression analysis in multiple sclerosis patients

TRAILR1 (rs20576) and GRIA3 (rs12557782) are not associated with interferon-β response in multiple sclerosis patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune-type inflammatory disorder in human central nervous system. Recombinant interferon beta (IFN-β) decreases the number of relapses and postpones disability progression in MS. However, up to 50% of patients treated with interferon beta continue experiencing relapses and/or worsening disability. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in different genes have been known to show significant associations with response to IFN-β in MS patients. In the present work, we examined the potential role of TRAILR1 and GRIA3 genes polymorphisms on response to IFN-β therapy in Iranian MS patients. The DNA was extracted from blood samples by standard procedures from 73 patients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis that were either responded to IFN-β or did not. We carried out RFLP -PCR and tetra-primer ARMS-PCR methods to study of rs20576 and rs12557782, respectively. All results were analyzed using the SPSS software. TRAILR1 rs20576 genotype frequencies in responders and non-responders were similar (χ² = 0.26, P = 0.87, Fisher^, s Exact test). Our results showed that response to IFN-β has not association with sex (p = 0.73). Also, genotypic frequencies of GRIA3 rs12557782 had no significant differences between two groups of female population (χ² = 3.75, p = 0.15). Furthermore, it had not been any statistical differences between responder and non-responder males (χ² = 0.7, p = 0.4) related to the SNP. Our results analysis revealed no significant association between the studied SNPs (TRAILR1 rs20576 and GRIA3rs 12,557,782) and response to IFN-β in Iranian MS patients.

Expression analysis of long non-coding RNAs and their target genes in multiple sclerosis patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive chronic autoimmune-mediated disease. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are characterized to participate in the adjustment of immune responses. Here, we evaluated the expression levels of GSTT1-AS1 and IFNG-AS1 lncRNAs and their targets (TNF and IFNG, respectively) in Iranian MS patients.In this case-control study, 50 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 50 healthy subjects were recruited. Expressions of GSTT1-AS1 and IFNG-AS1 lncRNAs, as well as TNF and IFNG genes, were assessed in their peripheral blood samples by SYBR Green-based Real-time quantitative PCR.Expression levels of GSTT1-AS1 and IFNG-AS1 lncRNAs were both significantly downregulated (p values 0.032 and 0.013, respectively). On the other hand, the expression of TNF and IFNG showed increased levels, however, did not reach statistical significance after our analysis (p > 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that GSTT1-AS1 had a significant positive moderate correlation with IFNG-AS1 (r = 0.541, p < 0.0001), IFNG (r = 0.329, p = 0.001), and TNF (r = 0.204, p = 0.041). Also, IFNG-AS1 revealed the same correlation with IFNG (r = 0.475, p < 0.0001) as well as TNF (r = 0.399, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, GSTT1-AS1 (r = 0.313, p = 0.027) and (IFNG r = 0.478, p < 0.0001) demonstrated a significant positive correlation with age at onset.Briefly, the current study provided for the first time dysregulation of GSTT1-AS1 and IFNG-AS lncRNAs network in MS, which highlights the significant role of epigenetic pathways in this autoimmune disorder. Larger sample size and further investigation assays could shed light on the underlying mechanisms in this area of science.

Investigating the exon 6 sequence changes of interleukin 7 receptor A (IL7RA) gene in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Interleukin 7 receptor alpha (IL7RA) gene that encodes a subunit of IL7 receptor has been reported to be associated with different immunologic disease.

OBJECTIVE

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients have shown an aberrant blood level of soluble form of IL7R protein. The genomic changes in the sequence of this gene have been suggested to be correlated with its altered splicing specially, variants in the exon 6 of the gene have been reported to influence the maintenance or skipping of this exon and control the soluble or insoluble form of the final product. In order to evaluate this changes in the IL7RA gene and to determine a possible correlation between these changes and the MS susceptibility the whole sequence of the exon 6 and 7 and their flanking sequences were analyzed.

METHODS

In this regard, we investigate the sequence changes of the exon 6 and 7 of the IL7RA gene in 75 relapsing-remitting MS patients and compare the results with 75 healthy control using sequence analyzing.

RESULTS

The results of the sequence analysis were used in two aspects. The allelic and genotypic estimated frequencies of a reported risk variant rs6897932 in patients and controls in our population confirmed its association with the disease (P= 0.009, OR = 6.273, for TT genotype). Also, we report a possible hazardous cutoff for changes in a potential exon splicing silencer element (ESS (nt. 20-24)) and its correlation with rs6897932 to confer the risk of developing MS.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion our results confirm the association between IL7RA exon 6 sequence changes and increased susceptibility for multiple sclerosis.

VDR and CYP24A1 Expression Analysis in Iranian Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients

OBJECTIVES

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common disease of the central nervous system.This disease may be initiated by either vitamin deficiency or triggered by abnormality in CYP24A1 and vitamin D receptor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this case-control study, the expression of genes encoding vitamin D receptor (VDR) and CYP24A1 in relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) patients was compared with normal individuals in the Iranian population. RNA from whole blood of 50 RR-MS patients (HLA-DRB1*15-negative and responders to interferonbeta with a normal vitamin D level) and 50 normal controls was extracted. The levels of CYP24A1 and VDR expression were measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The RR-MS group had a significantly more than 2 times higher expression level of VDR than the normal group (P=0.04). On the other hand, there was a 0.89 times decrease in the expression level of CYP24A1 in RR-MS patients which was not statistically significant. There was no linear correlation between the risk of expanded disability status scale of Kurtzke (EDSS) and the expression level of either CYP24A1 or VDR. In addition, the expression level of CYP24A1 or VDR was not correlated with the duration of the disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Up-regulation of VDR is likely to happen in RR-MS patients in the Iranian population. We did not observe a gene expression-phenotype correlation for CYP24A1 which may be due to limited statistical power as a result of the small sample size. Although the individuals taking part in this study had normal levels of vitamin D, the increase in VDR expression levels may perhaps be a response to a defect in vitamin D processing. Another possibility is that despite an increase in VDR expression level, factors such as micro-RNAs may result in their deactivation while an increase in VDR expression level can be seen as a compensatory response. Of course, further studies are required to identify the mechanism of action of vitamin D by analyzing genes involved in its signaling pathway, particularly VDR and CYP24A1.

The Importance of VEGF-KDR Signaling Pathway Genes should Not Be Ignored When the Risk of Developing Multiple Sclerosis is Taken into Consideration

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) pathway trigger the process of angiogenesis as well as inflammation, which contributes to the development and progression of demyelinating lesions in multiple sclerosis. This work is a case-control study comprising of a total of 400 subjects with multiple sclerosis and 400 healthy controls. Participants were subjected to neurological examination and peripheral blood sampling for genotyping. Polymorphisms in the VEGF and KDR genes were assessed using the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP-PCR) method. A significantly higher frequency of the T allele and TT genotype of the VEGF 936C > T (rs3025039) polymorphism was found in the multiple sclerosis group than in the healthy control group (P = 0.01 [OR = 1.41] and P = 0.01 [OR = 3.12], respectively). In addition, VEGF 936C  >  T showed an association with patients in a recessive model. However, the KDR -604T > C (rs2071559) polymorphism showed no significant difference in either allelic or genotype frequency between the two groups. Taken together, the results of the present study suggests that the T allele of the rs3025039 in VEGF gene could be considered a risk factor for developing multiple sclerosis in the Iranian population.

IFNAR1 expression level in Iranian multiple sclerosis patients treated with IFN-B

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) as an auto-immune disease is an inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Certain genes have shown to be involved in the initiation of MS but the specific role of some of them, e.g. IFNAR1 has not been identified in certain populations yet.

OBJECTIVE

The IFNAR1 as a type I membrane protein shapes one of the two chains of a receptor for interferons alpha and beta.

METHODS

To find out how IFNAR1 functions in the Iranian population, the researchers compared the expression level of this gene in relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) samples with normal individuals. RNA from the whole blood of 50 RR-MS patients and 50 normal controls were extracted. All patients were HLA-DRB1*15 negative and were responders to interferon-beta with a normal vitamin D level. The level of IFNAR1 gene expression was measured using quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTS

According to the results the RR-MS patients manifested a statistically higher expression level of IFNAR1 than their normal counterparts (p= 0.012). Age-wise, females between the ages, 30 to 40 had a significant increase (p= 0.046) but males under 30 showed a statistically meaningful decrease in the expression level (p= 0.04). In terms of sex, only the female patients manifested a statistically significant increase in IFNAR1 (p= 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall results show an increase in IFNAR1 level in MS patients treated with IFN-B.