IL-1, IL-1R and TNFalpha gene polymorphisms in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis.

Different research groups have extensively studied the associations of cytokine gene polymorphisms in different diseases. The role of cytokines gene polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis (MS), as a chronic Immune-mediated neurodegenerative disease, has been previously reported in the various populations. For determining pro-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms, 100 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) Iranian patients and 140 normal individuals as control enrolled in this study. DNA of each sample was extracted by a modified salting out method. Cytokine single gene nucleotide polymorphisms including IL-1α -889, IL-1β (-511 and +3962), IL-1R pst1 1970, IL-1RA mspal 11100, and TNF-α (-308 and -238) were determined by using the PCR-SSP method. The results of our data indicate the decrease in frequency of IL-1α TC-889 genotype (p=0.002), IL-1β TC +3962 genotype (p=0.004), IL-1R T pst1 1970 allele (p= 0.0001), IL-1 RA TC Mspa1 11100 genotype (p=0.009), TNF-α A-308 allele (p=0.0002) and AG genotype (p=0.00001) in the patients group versus normal subjects.  On the other hand the frequency of IL-1α TT -889 genotype (p=0.028), IL-1R C pst1 1970 allele (p=0.0001) and CC genotype (p=0.00006), TNFα G -308 allele (p=0.0002) and GG genotype (p=0.000001) decreased significantly in the patients versus normal subjects. These results suggest that polymorphic variations of these pro-inflammatory cytokines may play an important role in susceptibility of Iranian multiple sclerosis patients.