Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T21:23:47.206Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

NRAMP1 Polymorphism and Viral Factors in Sardinian Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Maria Gazouli*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Leonardo Sechi
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sezione di Microbiologia Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Daniela Paccagnini
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sezione di Microbiologia Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Stefano Sotgiu
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Neurology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Giannina Arru
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Neurology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
George Nasioulas
Affiliation:
Molecular Biology Research Center HYGEIA “Antonis Papayiannis”, Athens, Greece
Dimitrios Vassilopoulos
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
*
School of Medicine, University of Athens, Michalakopoulou 176, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is believed to be an autoimmune disease occurring in genetically predisposed individuals after an appropriate environmental exposure such as viral infections. Recent studies suggest a significant association between MS and the functional 5’-(GT)n polymorphism in the promoter region of the NRAMP1 gene. In the present study we aimed to evaluate the contribution of the allelic variation in the NRAMP1 promoter to MS susceptibility and to study the role of viral infection in relation to specific NRAMP1 genotypes, in a Sardinian cohort.

Methods:

Sixty MS patients and 66 healthy individuals were genotyped, and screened for the presence of Epstein-bar virus (EBV) and JC virus (JCV) sequences.

Results:

Consistent with previous autoimmune disease studies, allele 3 at the functional 5’(GT)n promoter region repeat polymorphism, was significantly overrepresented among MS patients when compared to controls (p=0.02). The EBV and JCV sequences were detected in 8/60 (13.33%) and in 4/60 (6.66%) of MS patients respectively and in 5/66 (7.57%) and in 0/66 of controls.

Conclusion:

The allelic variation in the NRAMP1 promoter may contribute to MS susceptibility in the Sardinian population. The viral sequences were not confined to a specific NRAMP1 genotype.

Résumé:

RÉSUMÉ: Contexte:

La sclérose en plaques (SEP) est considérée comme une maladie autoimmune qui survient chez des individus qui y sont prédisposés génétiquement, après une exposition environnementale particulière telle une infection virale. Des études récentes suggèrent qu’il existe une association significative entre la SEP et le polymorphisme fonctionnel 5’–(GT)n situé dans le promoteur du gène NRAMP1. Notre but était d’évaluer la contribution de la variation allélique dans le promoteur du gène NRAMP1 à la susceptibilité à la SEP et d’étudier le rôle de l’infection virale en relation à des génotypes NRAMP1 spécifiques dans une cohorte de Sardes.

Méthodes:

Soixante patients atteints de SEP et 66 volontaires sains ont été génotypés et on a également recherché la présence de séquences de l’EBV et du JCV.

Résultats:

Tel que démontré dans des études antérieures sur les maladies autoimmunes, l’allèle 3 du polymorphisme de répétitions situé dans la région fonctionnelle 5’ (GT)n du promoteur était significativement surexprimé chez les patients atteints de SEP par rapport aux témoins (p = 0,02). Des séquences de l’EBV et du JCV ont été détectées respectivement chez 8 (13,33%) et chez 4 (6,66%) des 60 patients atteints de SEP et chez 5 (7,57%) et 0 des 66 témoins.

Conclusion:

La variation allélique située dans le promoteur de NRAMP1 pourrait contribuer à la prédisposition à la SEP chez les Sardes. Nous n’avons pas confirmé l’association de séquences virales à un génotype NRAMP1 spécifique.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2008

References

1. Noseworthy, JH. Progress in determining the causes and treatment of multiple sclerosis. Nature. 1999;399:A407.Google Scholar
2. Comabella, M, Martin, R. Genomics in multiple sclerosis-current state and future directions J Neurol. 2007;187:18.Google ScholarPubMed
3. Kotze, MJ, de Villiers, NP, Rooney, RN, Grobbelaar, JJ, Mansvelt, EPG, Bouwens, CS, et al. Analysis of the NRAMP1 gene implicated in iron transport: association with multiple sclerosis and age effects. Blood Cell Mol Dis. 2001;27:4453.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4. Atkinson, PGP, Barton, CH. Ectopic expression of Nramp1 in COS-1 cells modulates iron accumulation. FEBS Lett. 1998;425:23942.Google Scholar
5. Blackwell, JM, Searle, S. Genetic regulation of macrophage activation: understanding the function of Nramp1 (=Ity/Lsh/Bcg). Immunol Lett. 1999;65:7380.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6. Blackwell, JM, Searle, S, Mohamed, H, White, JK. Divalent cation transport and susceptibility to infectious and autoimmune disease: continuation of the Ity/Lsh/Bcg/Nramp1/Slc11a1 gene story. Immunol Lett. 2003;85:197203.Google Scholar
7. Searle, S, Blackwell, JM. Evidence for a functional repeat polymorphism in the promoter of the human NRAMP1 gene that correlates with autoimmune versus infectious disease susceptibility. J Med Genet. 1999;36:2959.Google Scholar
8. Comabella, M, Altet, L, Peris, F, Villoslada, P, Sanchez, A, Montalban, X. Genetic analysis of SLC11A1 polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis patients. Mult Scler. 2004;10:61820.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9. Kissler, S, Stern, P, Takahashi, K, Hunter, K, Peterson, LB, Wicker, LS. In vivo RNA interference demonstrates a role for NRAMP1 in modifying susceptibility to type 1 diabetes. Nat Genet. 2006;38:47983.Google Scholar
10. Myhr, KM, Riise, T, Barrett-Connor, E, Myrmel, H, Vedeler, C, Grønning, M, et al. Altered antibody pattern to Epstein-Barr virus but not to other herpesviruses in multiple sclerosis: a population based case-control study from western Norway. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1998;64:53942.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Alvarez-Lafuente, R, Garcia-Montojo, M, de Las Heras, V, Bartolome, M, Arroyo, R. JC virus in cerebrospinal fluid samples of multiple sclerosis patients at the first demyelinating event. Mult Scler. 2006;12:16.Google Scholar
12. Kojima, Y, Kinouchi, Y, Takahashi, S, Negoro, K, Hiwatashi, N, Shimosegawa, T. Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with a novel promoter polymorphism of natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) gene. Tissue Antigens. 2001;58:37984.Google Scholar
13. Searle, S, Blackwell, JM. Evidence for a functional repeat polymorphism in the promoter of the human NRAMP1 gene that correlates with autoimmune versus infectious disease susceptibility. J Med Genet. 1999;36:2959.Google Scholar
14. Lunemann, JD, Kamradt, T, Martin, R, Munz, M. Epstein-Barr Virus: environmental trigger of multiple sclerosis? J Virol. 2007;81:677784.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15. Banwell, B, Krupp, L, Kennedy, J, Tellier, R, Tenembaum, S, Ness, J, et al. Clinical features and viral serologies in children with multiple sclerosis: a multinational observational study. Lancet Neurol. 2007;6:77381.Google Scholar
16. Ferrante, P, Omodeo-Zorini, E, Caldarelli-Stefano, R, Medati, M, Fainardi, E, Granieri, E, et al. Detection of JC virus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid from multiple sclerosis patients. Mult Scler. 1998;4:4954.Google Scholar
17. de Villiers, JNP, Treurnicht, FK, Warnich, L, Carr, J, van Rensburg, SJ, Kotze, MJ. Analysis of viral and genetic factors in South African patients with multiple sclerosis. Metab Brain Dis. 2006;21:1639.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed