BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) displays a month-of-birth effect, with an excess of individuals being born in the spring and a deficit in the winter. This effect was shown to be more pronounced in familial cases of MS. In the present study, we investigated whether this month-of-birth association has any relation to the principal MS susceptibility gene, HLA-DRB1. METHODS: A total of 4,834 patients with MS, 4,056 controls, and 659 unaffected siblings from Canada, Sweden, and Norway were genotyped for the HLA-DRB1 gene. Month of birth was compared for patients, controls, and unaffected siblings with and without the MS risk allele HLA-DRB1*15. RESULTS: Significantly fewer patients with MS carrying the HLA-DRB1*15 risk allele were born in November compared with patients not carrying this allele (p = 0.02). Additionally, patients with MS carrying HLA-DRB1*15 had a higher number of April births compared with patients with MS not carrying HLA-DRB1*15 (p = 0.004). These differences were not present in controls or unaffected siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Month of birth, HLA-DRB1 genotype, and risk of multiple sclerosis are associated. The interaction of a seasonal risk factor with loci at or near HLA-DRB1 during gestation or shortly after birth is implicated.
BACKGROUND:Multiple sclerosis (MS) displays a month-of-birth effect, with an excess of individuals being born in the spring and a deficit in the winter. This effect was shown to be more pronounced in familial cases of MS. In the present study, we investigated whether this month-of-birth association has any relation to the principal MS susceptibility gene, HLA-DRB1. METHODS: A total of 4,834 patients with MS, 4,056 controls, and 659 unaffected siblings from Canada, Sweden, and Norway were genotyped for the HLA-DRB1 gene. Month of birth was compared for patients, controls, and unaffected siblings with and without the MS risk allele HLA-DRB1*15. RESULTS: Significantly fewer patients with MS carrying the HLA-DRB1*15 risk allele were born in November compared with patients not carrying this allele (p = 0.02). Additionally, patients with MS carrying HLA-DRB1*15 had a higher number of April births compared with patients with MS not carrying HLA-DRB1*15 (p = 0.004). These differences were not present in controls or unaffected siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Month of birth, HLA-DRB1 genotype, and risk of multiple sclerosis are associated. The interaction of a seasonal risk factor with loci at or near HLA-DRB1 during gestation or shortly after birth is implicated.
Authors: M J Chao; S V Ramagopalan; B M Herrera; S M Orton; L Handunnetthi; M R Lincoln; D A Dyment; A D Sadovnick; G C Ebers Journal: Neurology Date: 2011-01-05 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: E Waubant; E M Mowry; L Krupp; T Chitnis; E A Yeh; N Kuntz; J Ness; D Chabas; J Strober; J McDonald; A Belman; M Milazzo; M Gorman; B Weinstock-Guttman; M Rodriguez; J R Oksenberg; J A James Journal: Neurology Date: 2011-06-07 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Emmanuelle Waubant; Ellen M Mowry; Lauren Krupp; Tanuja Chitnis; E Ann Yeh; Nancy Kuntz; Jayne Ness; Anita Belman; Maria Milazzo; Mark Gorman; Bianca Weinstock-Guttman; Moses Rodriguez; Judith A James Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2012-12-11 Impact factor: 6.312