Vitamin D-binding protein gene polymorphisms are not associated with MS risk in an Italian cohort.

Vitamin D binding protein (DBP) gene encodes for Gc, an α2 globulin that transports vitamin D metabolites in serum. Given the role of vitamin D in MS onset and disease progression we analyzed the frequencies of three polymorphisms (rs7041, rs4588 and rs2282679) within DBP gene in 701 Italian multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 831 healthy controls (HC). None of the polymorphisms showed any association with MS onset and progression. Our results suggest that DBP is not involved in the pathogenesis of MS in Italians.