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Published in: BMC Medical Genetics 1/2008

Open Access 01-12-2008 | Research article

Methylation of class II transactivator gene promoter IV is not associated with susceptibility to Multiple Sclerosis

Authors: Sreeram V Ramagopalan, David A Dyment, Katie M Morrison, Blanca M Herrera, Gabriele C DeLuca, Matthew R Lincoln, Sarah M Orton, Lahiru Handunnetthi, Michael J Chao, A Dessa Sadovnick, George C Ebers

Published in: BMC Medical Genetics | Issue 1/2008

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Abstract

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex trait in which alleles at or near the class II loci HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 contribute significantly to genetic risk. The MHC class II transactivator (MHC2TA) is the master controller of expression of class II genes, and methylation of the promoter of this gene has been previously been shown to alter its function. In this study we sought to assess whether or not methylation of the MHC2TA promoter pIV could contribute to MS disease aetiology.

Methods

In DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a sample of 50 monozygotic disease discordant MS twins the MHC2TA promoter IV was sequenced and analysed by methylation specific PCR.

Results

No methylation or sequence variation of the MHC2TA promoter pIV was found.

Conclusion

The results of this study cannot support the notion that methylation of the pIV promoter of MHC2TA contributes to MS disease risk, although tissue and timing specific epigenetic modifications cannot be ruled out.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Methylation of class II transactivator gene promoter IV is not associated with susceptibility to Multiple Sclerosis
Authors
Sreeram V Ramagopalan
David A Dyment
Katie M Morrison
Blanca M Herrera
Gabriele C DeLuca
Matthew R Lincoln
Sarah M Orton
Lahiru Handunnetthi
Michael J Chao
A Dessa Sadovnick
George C Ebers
Publication date
01-12-2008
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medical Genetics / Issue 1/2008
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2350
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2350-9-63

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