Genetic predictors of relapse rate in pediatric MS.

ABSTRACT: Genetic ancestry, sex, and individual alleles have been associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility.To determine whether established risk factors for disease onset are associated with relapse rate in pediatric MS.Whole-genome genotyping was performed for 181 MS or high-risk clinically isolated syndrome patients from two pediatric MS centers. Relapses and disease-modifying therapies were recorded as part of continued follow-up. Participants were characterized for 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum status. Ancestral estimates (STRUCTURE v2.3.1), human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*15 carrier status (direct sequencing), sex, and a genetic risk score (GRS) of 110 non-HLA susceptibility single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were evaluated for association with relapse rate with Cox and negative binomial regression models.Over 622 patient-years, 408 relapses were captured. Girls had greater relapse rate than boys (incident rate ratio (IRR)?=?1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI)?=?1.04-1.87, p?=?0.026). Participants were genetically diverse; ~40% (N?=?75) had <50% European ancestry. HLA-DRB1*15 status modified the association of vitamin D status (pixn?=?0.022) with relapse rate (per 10?ng/mL, in DRB1*15+ hazard ratio (HR)?=?0.72, 95% CI?=?0.58-0.88, p?=?0.002; in DRB1*15- HR?=?0.96, 95% CI?=?0.83-1.12, p?=?0.64). Neither European ancestry nor GRS was associated with relapse rate.We demonstrate that HLA-DRB1*15 modifies the association of vitamin D status with relapse rate. Our findings emphasize the need to pursue disease-modifying effects of MS genes in the context of environmental factors.

SUBMITTER: Graves JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4945462 | biostudies-other | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other