Evaluation of apoptosis-related genes; Fas (CD94), FasL (CD178) and TRAIL polymorphisms in Iranian multiple sclerosis patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating disease characterized by a relapsing–remitting course leading to progressive disability. Given the critical role of apoptosis-related genes in the maintenance of homeostasis in the immune privilege sites, mutations in these genes have a profound effect on occurring autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. In the current study, polymorphisms in the apoptosis-related genes: Fas _-670 A>G, FasL _-844C> T, FasLIVS2nt _124 A>G and TRAIL_1595C>T were analyzed in 107 Iranian patients suffering from MS and 112 unrelated healthy controls using PCR-RFLP method. Our results demonstrated that among Iranian patients with MS and controls being homozygous in Fas_670A/A, G/G and FasL_-844C/C, TT in the promoter region and homozygocity in the minor allele for FasLIVS2nt_124G/G and TRAIL_1595C/C, polymorphisms were not associated with the MS risk in Iranian patients when compared with normal controls. However, the Fas _-670G/G genotype had a borderline significantly increased frequency with secondary progressive MS type (X2 = 5.8, P = 0.05). In conclusion, no statistical association was found between the Fas, FasL and TRAIL polymorphisms and the risk of MS in Iranian patients.