Class II HLA (DRB1, & DQB1) alleles and IL7R (rs6897932) variants and the risk for Multiple Sclerosis in Kerala, India.

Abstract: Background : Different human leukocyte antigen (HLA) variants are known to modulate the risk of multiple sclerosis. The main objective of this study was to identify HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles and Non -HLA gene IL7R (rs6897932) variants associated with MS. Methods :  Patients attending the MS clinic, diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis as per Mc Donald diagnostic criteria were the subjects in the study. The association of the highly polymorphic HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 loci was determined by high resolution tissue typing and the genotyping of the IL7R (rs6897932) variants was performed by Sanger sequencing in MS patients (n=81) and healthy individuals (n=82). Results : HLA-DRB1*15:01/15:02 alleles (OR = 3.65; p Conclusion : HLA-DRB1*15:01, 15:02 and DQB1*06:02 are the predisposing alleles while HLA-DRB1*14:04 is the protective allele for MS in our population.