ABSTRACT
Different research groups have extensively studied the associations of cytokine gene polymorphisms in different diseases. The role of cytokines gene polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis [MS], as a chronic Immune-mediated neurodegenerative disease, has been previously reported in the various populations. For determining pro-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms, 100 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis [RRMS] Iranian patients and 140 normal individuals as control enrolled in this study. DNA of each sample was extracted by a modified salting out method. Cytokine single gene nucleotide polymorphisms including IL-1alpha -889, IL-1beta [-511 and +3962], IL-1R pst1 1970, IL-1RA mspal 11100, and TNF-alpha [-308 and -238] were determined by using the PCR-SSP method. The results of our data indicate the decrease in frequency of IL-1alpha TC-889 genotype [p=0.002], IL-1beta TC +3962 genotype [p=0.004], IL-1R T pst1 1970 allele [p= 0.0001], IL-1 RA TC Mspa1 11100 genotype [p=0.009], TNF-alpha A-308 allele [p=0.0002] and AG genotype [p=0.00001] in the patients group versus normal subjects. On the other hand the frequency of IL-1alpha TT -889 genotype [p=0.028], IL-1R C pst1 1970 allele [p=0.0001] and CC genotype [p=0.00006], TNFalpha G -308 allele [p=0.0002] and GG genotype [p=0.000001] decreased significantly in the patients versus normal subjects. These results suggest that polymorphic variations of these pro-inflammatory cytokines may play an important role in susceptibility of Iranian multiple sclerosis patients