A “Candidate-Interactome” Aggregate Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Data in Multiple Sclerosis

Though difficult, the study of gene-environment interactions in multifactorial diseases is crucial for interpreting the relevance of non-heritable factors and prevents from overlooking genetic associations with small but measurable effects. We propose a "candidate interactome" (i.e. a group of genes whose products are known to physically interact with environmental factors that may be relevant for disease pathogenesis) analysis of genome-wide association data in multiple sclerosis. We looked for statistical enrichment of associations among interactomes that, at the current state of knowledge, may be representative of gene-environment interactions of potential, uncertain or unlikely relevance for multiple sclerosis pathogenesis: Epstein-Barr virus, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, cytomegalovirus, HHV8-Kaposi sarcoma, H1N1-influenza, JC virus, human innate immunity interactome for type I interferon, autoimmune regulator, vitamin D receptor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor and a panel of proteins targeted by 70 innate immune-modulating viral open reading frames from 30 viral species. Interactomes were either obtained from the literature or were manually curated. The P values of all single nucleotide polymorphism mapping to a given interactome were obtained from the last genome-wide association study of the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium & the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium, 2. The interaction between genotype and Epstein Barr virus emerges as relevant for multiple sclerosis etiology. However, in line with recent data on the coexistence of common and unique strategies used by viruses to perturb the human molecular system, also other viruses have a similar potential, though probably less relevant in epidemiological terms

PADI4 Gene in Multiple Sclerosis: A Family-Based Association Study

International audienceIn multiple sclerosis (MS) MBP is heavily citrullinated by peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD). This post-translational modification may be crucial for its pathogenesis. PADI4 is the isoform expressed in inflammatory infiltrates. The aim of this study was to analyse the role of PADI4 gene in conferring susceptibility to MS, by means of a family-based association study, testing three SNPs by RFLP. No association was found either with single SNPs or haplotypes. Similarly no significant association was detected partitioning the patients according to DRB1*15 positivity or disease severity. These results do not support a major role of the PADI4 gene, but further studies may contribute to clarify the genetic factors that regulate deimination. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved