6.7-kbp deletion in LILRA3 (ILT6) gene is associated with later onset of the multiple sclerosis in a Polish population.

Recently published studies have implicated the deletion polymorphism in LILRA3 gene, as being associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). A total of 309 patients diagnosed with MS and 379 unrelated healthy volunteers were typed for 6.7-kbp deletion in LILRA3 gene. Simultaneously, presence or absence of HLA-DRB1(∗)1501 allele was established to assess the possibility of interaction between LILRA3 deletion and HLA-DRB1(∗)1501 status. In contrast to previous reports, we did not find any association of LILRA3 deletion with MS susceptibility. Also, the HLA-DRB1(∗)1501 stratification analysis showed no LILRA3 association with the disease. However, we observed that patients negative for the deletion may begin to suffer from MS significantly earlier than patients who are positive (p = 0.014). Similarly to the most European populations we found significantly higher frequency of HLA-DRB1(∗)1501 allele in cases than we found in controls (27.0% vs. 12.5%; p < 0.0001, OR = 2.6, 95%CI = 1.96-3.42).