My MS Log

Genome-wide Association Study in a High-Risk Isolate for Multiple Sclerosis Reveals Associated Variants in STAT3 Gene

MS is a complex disease of unknown cause where both genes and environment seem to have a role in its pathogenesis. The authors have investigated the impact that some specific genetic variants - recently linked to MS - have on the risk of MS, in an extensive group of people with MS and healthy controls in Finland. They found a specific genetic variant which had a protective role in MS. Interestingly this gene was found to have been previously associated to another autoimmune disease, suggesting a significant role of this gene in immune system and autoimmune disease pathogenesis. Am J Hum Genet. 2010 Feb 12;86(2):285-291.

 http://www.mssociety.ca/en/research/medmmo_20100303_STAT3.htm