TITLE:
Association Study of Two Polymorphisms in Vitamin D Pathway with Multiple Sclerosis in the Moroccan Population
AUTHORS:
Asmae Skalli, El Hachmia Ait Ben Haddou, Rachid Tazi-Ahnini, Ghislain Armel Mpandzou, Houyam Tibar, Naima Bouslam, Ali Benomar, Khadija Hajjout, Mohamed Yahyaoui, Elmostafa El Fahime, Ahmed Bouhouche
KEYWORDS:
Multiple Sclerosis Risk, rs2248359, rs703842, Clinical Features, Serum 25(OH)D3 Level
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Neuroscience,
Vol.7 No.4,
October
24,
2017
ABSTRACT: Background: Hypovitaminosis D is reported
through the literature to be involved
in autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). In the last decade, numerous studies have investigated the association of
single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with MS, including rs2248359 (CYP24A1)
and rs703842 (CYP27B1) that are involved in
vitamin D metabolic pathway. However, results were conflicting, probably
due to ethnic differences between the studied populations. In this context, the
present study aimed to analyze the association between these two SNPs and MS
within the Moroccan population. Methods: rs2248359 and rs703842 were genotyped in 113
patients and 146 healthy controls. To assess
their association with the disease risk, we compared the genotypic and
allelic frequencies between the study groups. We also explored their possible
influence on certain clinical features (age at onset, type, disability status
and severity score) and with vitamin D3 serum level (DSL) by comparing mean
values of these variables between the different genotypes. Results: No statistically significant differences in the
distribution of both SNPs were found between patients and controls. A
trend has emerged concerning the minor G allele of rs703842 which appears to
have a protective effect on developing MS, but this result remained slightly
below significance. Also, the two polymorphisms had no impact on the clinical
features tested and the DSL. Conclusion: There is no convincing evidence that rs2248359 and
rs703842 are associated with MS risk, its clinical features or vitamin D level
in Moroccans. Further larger investigations are needed to confirm these findings.