Differential methylation at MHC in CD4⁺ T cells is associated with multiple sclerosis independently of HLA-DRB1.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although many genetic variants have been associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) risk, they do not explain all the disease risk and there remains uncertainty as to how these variants contribute to disease. DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that can influence gene expression and has the potential to mediate the effects of environmental factors on MS. In a previous study, we found a differentially methylation region (DMR) at MHC HLA-DRB1 that was associated within relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients in CD4⁺ T cells. This study aimed to confirm this earlier finding in an independent RRMS cohort of treatment-naïve female patients.

Methods

Total genomic DNA was extracted from CD4⁺ T cells of 28 female RRMS and 22 age-matched hea

SUBMITTER: Maltby VE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5516341 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature