Gender and the Sex Hormone Estradiol Affect Multiple Sclerosis Risk Gene Expression in Epstein-Barr Virus-Infected B Cells.

ABSTRACT: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complex immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system. Treatment is based on immunomodulation, including specifically targeting B cells. B cells are the main host for the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), which has been described as necessary for MS development. Over 200 genetic loci have been identified as increasing susceptibility to MS. Many MS risk genes have altered expression in EBV infected B cells, dependent on the risk genotype, and are themselves regulated by the EBV transcription factor EBNA2. Females are 2-3 times more likely to develop MS than males. We investigated if MS risk loci might mediate the gender imbalance in MS. From a large public dataset, we identified gender-specific associations with EBV traits, and MS risk SNP/gene pairs with gender

SUBMITTER: Keane JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8455923 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature