The analysis of correlation between IL-1B gene expression and genotyping in multiple sclerosis patients

• We analyzed the expression level of IL-1B in PBMCs of MS patients.
• We genotyped the rs16944 SNP in the promoter region of IL-1B gene in MS patients.
• We analyzed the role of rs16944SNP on the expression of IL-1B in PBMCs of patients.
• The level of IL-1B expression in MS patients was 3.336 times greater than controls.
• The rs16944SNP in the promoter of IL-1B does not affect the expression of this gene.

IL-1B is released by monocytes, astrocytes and brain endothelial cells and seems to be involved in inflammatory reactions of the central nervous system (CNS) in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aims to evaluate the expression level of IL-1B mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), genotype the rs16944 SNP and find out the role of this SNP on the expression level of IL-1B in MS patients. We found that the expression level of IL-1B in MS patients increased 3.336 times more than controls in PBMCs but the rs16944 SNP in the promoter region of IL-1B did not affect the expression level of this gene and there was not association of this SNP with MS in the examined population. Also, our data did not reveal any correlation between normalized expressions of IL-1B gene with age of participants, age of onset, and disease duration.