Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex and heterogeneous inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system characterized by myelin loss, varying degrees of axonal pathology, and progressive neurological dysfunction. The combined effect of many genes, environmental exposures acting during defined periods of life, and their interactions in MS is strongly supported by our own work and others. The involvement of HLA class II genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6p21 is well-established. The identification of non-MHC determinants of MS susceptibility, while progressing, is far from complete. Similar to other complex diseases, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have begun to unravel the polygenic etiology of MS. However, variants identified through several large GWAS, to date, explain only a very small proportion of MS heritability. The proposed study describes critical post-GWAS era steps to further our current understanding of MS pathogenesis. First, we will utilize next-generation DNA sequence data, high-throughput genotyping and state-of-the-art bioinformatics methods to fully characterize rare, less frequent and common variants within more than 30 MS genes established through recent GWAS and their contribution to the development of MS and disease expression (Aim 1). Next, we will also comprehensively investigate a number of important life-course exposures including prenatal, perinatal, childhood, adolescent and adult time periods, GxE interactions and risk of MS (Aim 2). Finally, we will study genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in a newly established cohort of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)/early MS cases and matched controls to identify immune cell specific epigenetic influences on the development of MS (Aim 3). We will utilize extraordinary MS case-control resources nested within the large, population-based membership of Northern California Kaiser Permanente, as well as DNA, genetic and clinical data assembled for this project through the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium; more than 10,000 individuals of White/European ancestry will be studied using a suite of statistical methods of analysis. Results from proposed epidemiologic studies of the most important MS genes and causal variants in the context of relevant environmental exposures will inform new functional studies, and have potential to support the development of more effective approaches for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
The complete identification of genetic and environmental influences and how they contribute independently and jointly to the development of MS and expression of particular disease characteristics would play a major role in understanding disease etiology, and would contribute greatly to disease prevention strategies and development of targeted and more effective therapies.
| Barcellos, Lisa F; Bellesis, Kalliope H; Shen, Ling et al. (2018) Remote assessment of verbal memory in MS patients using the California Verbal Learning Test. Mult Scler 24:354-357 |
| Gianfrancesco, Milena A; Stridh, Pernilla; Shao, Xiaorong et al. (2017) Genetic risk factors for pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler :1352458517733551 |
| Hedström, Anna Karin; Katsoulis, Michail; Hössjer, Ola et al. (2017) The interaction between smoking and HLA genes in multiple sclerosis: replication and refinement. Eur J Epidemiol 32:909-919 |
| Galarza-Muñoz, Gaddiel; Briggs, Farren B S; Evsyukova, Irina et al. (2017) Human Epistatic Interaction Controls IL7R Splicing and Increases Multiple Sclerosis Risk. Cell 169:72-84.e13 |
| Hedström, A K; Mowry, E M; Gianfrancesco, M A et al. (2016) High consumption of coffee is associated with decreased multiple sclerosis risk; results from two independent studies. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 87:454-60 |
| Graves, Jennifer S; Barcellos, Lisa F; Shao, Xiaorong et al. (2016) Genetic predictors of relapse rate in pediatric MS. Mult Scler 22:1528-1535 |
| George, Michaela F; Holingue, Calliope B; Briggs, Farren B S et al. (2016) Feasibility study for remote assessment of cognitive function in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neuromedicine 1:10-18 |
| Gianfrancesco, Milena A; Barcellos, Lisa F (2016) Obesity and Multiple Sclerosis Susceptibility: A Review. J Neurol Neuromedicine 1:1-5 |
| Pittock, Sean J; Lennon, Vanda A; Bakshi, Nandini et al. (2014) Seroprevalence of aquaporin-4-IgG in a northern California population representative cohort of multiple sclerosis. JAMA Neurol 71:1433-6 |
| Briggs, Farren B S; Acuña, Brigid S; Shen, Ling et al. (2014) Adverse socioeconomic position during the life course is associated with multiple sclerosis. J Epidemiol Community Health 68:622-9 |
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