Molecular genetic analysis of multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorder of central nervous system of multifactorial origin. Genome-wide association studies identified 700 polymorphic genetic variants associated with multiple sclerosis. The aim of the current study was to analyse associations of the polymorphic markers in genes involved in the pathogenesis of the disease and those identified by genome-wide association studies in the populations of Bashkirs, Russians, and Tatars from the Republic of Bashkortostan (Russian Federation). The study group was comprised of 644 patients with multiple sclerosis and 1408 control group individuals. Genotyping of 35 polymorphic genetic markers was performed using allele-specific PCR and PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The data obtained in our study confirm the association with multiple sclerosis of the genes involved in the development of autoimmune inflammation in central nervous system.