Association Study in Promoter region of IL7Rα Gene Polymorphism in Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Khuzestan Province

Aim and Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease. Many different gene association studies (GAS) have been used some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in interleukin 7 receptor alpha (IL7Rα) gene as MS disease susceptibility, mainly in populations in western countries. There have been few reports of association between IL7Ra gene and MS in Asian population. SNPrs11567685 is in promoter region and probably involved in IL7Rα gene expression.
A total of 100 unrelated patients and 100 unrelated ethnically matched healthy controls were studied in Khuzestan province. The genotype and allele frequencies of this SNP measured between MS cases and controls by using PCR-RFLP. Cases and controls were analyzed for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and significance differences by using chi-square test.
Our population was at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and significant association was found in SP MS (Secondary Progressive) and SP MS (Secondary Progressive Primary Progressive) in Allelic and Genotypic frequencies at SNPrs11567685. Also, significant associations were found in Male and Female patients in MS subtypes.
It was indicated in this study that Promoter region of IL7Rα gene has significant effect on MS disease. So, this gene region can be used as a biomarker in early diagnoses of MS.