Mutations in the gene for toll-like receptor 4 and multiple sclerosis

Tissue Antigens. 2003 Jan;61(1):85-8. doi: 10.1034/j.1399-0039.2003.610108.x.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with heterogeneous pathological features, disease courses and genetical backgrounds. In this study we determined whether genetic variants of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4, which confer substantial differences in the inflammation elicited by bacterial lipopolysaccharide, are related to the development of MS. We found no differences in the frequencies of the cosegregating TLR4 Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms between Austrian MS patients (11.6%) and age-matched controls (13.7%). Furthermore, we could not detect any influence of these mutations on clinical parameters and serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules of MS patients. Our data indicate that these TLR4 polymorphisms have no influence on the incidence, progression and inflammatory parameters of MS.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / analysis
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Mutation*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Toll-Like Receptors

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • TLR4 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Toll-Like Receptors