summary: 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.

authors: Jakkula E, Leppä V, Sulonen AM, Varilo T, Kallio S, Kemppinen A, Purcell S, Koivisto K, Tienari P, Sumelahti ML, Elovaara I, Pirttilä T, Reunanen M, Aromaa A, Oturai AB, Søndergaard HB, Harbo HF, Mero IL, Gabriel SB, Mirel DB, Hauser SL, Kappos L, Polman C, De Jager PL, Hafler DA, Daly MJ, Palotie A, Saarela J, Peltonen L

source: Am J Hum Genet. 2010 Feb 12;86(2):285-291

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