Round Table: Clinical Aspects of New Discoveries Genetic Markers and Their Clinical and Therapeutic Implications

In the last decade many reports have confirmed the old assumption of a “genetic susceptibility to multiple sclerosis”. These studies have been investigated in three orientations: → genetic analysis of pedigrees and study of concordance for MS in twins: the main results are a weak genetic susceptibility with a probable multigenic influence. → association studies with candidate genes and linkage analysis in multiplex families: among these genetic markers, the HLA genes are assumed to be of the greatest importance, particularly in Caucasoid patients, the alleles DRB*1501, DQA1* 0102 and DQBl*0602. → by analogy with Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis (EAE) molecular genetic studies were undertaken in an attempt to define the functional role of these markers in the pathophysiology of the disease more specifically the immunogenic response of T lymphocytes against Myelin Basic Protein (MBP).