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The multiple sclerosis whole blood mRNA transcriptome and genetic associations indicate dysregulation of specific T cell pathways in pathogenesis

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 03:24 authored by Gandhi, KS, McKay, FC, Cox, M, Riveros, C, Armstrong, N, Heard, RN, Vucic, S, Williams, DW, Jim Stankovich, Brown, M, Danoy, P, Stewart, GJ, Broadley, S, Moscato, P, Lechner-Scott, J, Scott, RJ, Booth, DR, Griffiths, L, Slee, M, Browning, S, Browning, BL, Kilpatrick, T, Rubio, J, Perreau, V, Butzkeuven, H, Tanner, M, Wiley, J, Simon James FooteSimon James Foote, Bruce TaylorBruce Taylor, Kermode, A, Carroll, B, Bahlo, M
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease with a genetic component, caused at least in part by aberrant lymphocyte activity. The whole blood mRNA transcriptome was measured for 99 untreated MS patients: 43 primary progressive MS, 20 secondary progressive MS, 36 relapsing remitting MS and 45 age-matched healthy controls. The ANZgene Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium genotyped more than 300 000 SNPs for 115 of these samples. Transcription from genes on translational regulation, oxidative phosphorylation, immune synapse and antigen presentation pathways was markedly increased in all forms of MS. Expression of genes tagging T cells was also upregulated (P < 10212) in MS. A T cell gene signature predicts disease state with a concordance index of 0.79 with age and gender as co-variables, but the signature is not associated with clinical course or disability. The ANZgene genome wide association screen identified two novel regions with genome wide significance: one encoding the T cell co-stimulatory molecule, CD40; the other a region on chromosome 12q13-14. The CD40 haplotype associated with increased MS susceptibility has decreased gene expression in MS (P < 0.0007). The second MS susceptibility region includes 17 genes on 12q13-14 in tight linkage disequilibrium. Of these, only 13 are expressed in leukocytes, and of these the expression of one, FAM119B, is much lower in the susceptibility haplotype (P < 10214). Overall, these data indicate dysregulation of T cells can be detected in the whole blood of untreated MS patients, and supports targeting of activated T cells in therapy for all forms of MS.

History

Publication title

Human Molecular Genetics

Volume

19

Issue

11

Pagination

2134-2143

ISSN

0964-6906

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Oxford Univ Press

Place of publication

Great Clarendon St, Oxford, England, Ox2 6Dp

Rights statement

The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at: www.oxfordjournals.org

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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