Associations of a Polymorphism of the FAS/APO-1 Gene (rs2234767) with the Risk of Developing and Rapid Progression of Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Objectives. To assess the association between a polymorphism of the FAS/APO-1 gene with the risk of developing and the dynamics of progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). Materials and methods. A total of 100 patients with remitting MS took part in a case-control study; patients were Russian and were born and living in the Altai Region, along with 100 volunteers without MS. The real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to genotype the single-nucleotide polymorphism 1377G>A in the promoter region of the FAS/APO-1 gene (rs2234767). The associations of this polymorphism with the risk of developing MS and the course of MS were studied. Results. Increased risk of MS was found to be associated with the G/A genotype and the A allele of the FAS/APO-1 gene (rs2234767). A high rate of disease progression was positively associated with the G/A genotype and the A allele and negatively with the G/G genotype and the G allele of the FAS/APO-1 gene. Conclusions. The predisposition to MS, like the rapid rate of disease progression, was associated with FAS/APO-1*G/A in Russians living in the Altai Region. Final conclusions require further studies.