Genome-wide significant association of ANKRD55 rs6859219 and multiple sclerosis risk.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a genetically complex disease that shares a substantial proportion of risk loci with other autoimmune diseases.1 Along these lines, ANKRD55 , originally implicated in rheumatoid arthritis, was recently reported as a potential novel MS risk gene (rs6859219, p=1.9×10−7).2 Here, we comprehensively validated this effect in independent datasets comprising 8846 newly genotyped subjects from Germany and France as well as 5003 subjects from two genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Upon meta-analysis of all available data (19 686 subjects), ANKRD55 rs6859219 now shows compelling evidence for association with MS at genome-wide significance (OR=1.19, p=3.1×10−11). Our stu…
Genome-wide significant association with seven novel multiple sclerosis risk loci
Objective A recent large-scale study in multiple sclerosis (MS) using the ImmunoChip platform reported on 11 loci that showed suggestive genetic association with MS. Additional data in sufficiently sized and independent data sets are needed to assess whether these loci represent genuine MS risk factors. Methods The lead SNPs of all 11 loci were genotyped in 10 796 MS cases and 10 793 controls from Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Austria and Russia, that were independent from the previously reported cohorts. Association analyses were performed using logistic regression based on an additive model. Summary effect size estimates were calculated using fixed-effect meta-analysis. Results…
The Rare IL22RA2 Signal Peptide Coding Variant rs28385692 Decreases Secretion of IL-22BP Isoform-1, -2 and -3 and Is Associated with Risk for Multiple Sclerosis
The IL22RA2 locus is associated with risk for multiple sclerosis (MS) but causative variants are yet to be determined. In a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) screen of this locus in a Basque population, rs28385692, a rare coding variant substituting Leu for Pro at position 16 emerged significantly (p = 0.02). This variant is located in the signal peptide (SP) shared by the three secreted protein isoforms produced by IL22RA2 (IL-22 binding protein-1(IL-22BPi1), IL-22BPi2 and IL-22BPi3). Genotyping was extended to a Europe-wide case-control dataset and yielded high significance in the full dataset (p = 3.17 ×
Sumoylation of the transcription factor NFATc1 leads to its subnuclear relocalization and interleukin-2 repression by histone deacetylase.
The family of NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T-cells) transcription factors plays an important role in cytokine gene regulation. In peripheral T-cells NFATc1 and -c2 are predominantly expressed. Because of different promoter and poly(A) site usage as well as alternative splicing events, NFATc1 is synthesized in multiple isoforms. The highly inducible NFATc1/A contains a relatively short C terminus, whereas the longer, constitutively expressed isoform NFATc1/C spans an extra C-terminal peptide of 246 amino acids. Interestingly, this NFATc1/C-specific terminus can be highly sumoylated. Upon sumoylation, NFATc1/C, but not the unsumoylated NFATc1/A, translocates to promyelocytic leukemia nuc…
NFAT1 deficit and NFAT2 deficit attenuate EAE via different mechanisms
EAE serves as an animal model for multiple sclerosis and is initiated by autoreactive T cells that infiltrate the CNS. Recognition of myelin-associated Ags within the CNS leads to activation of the transcription factor family NFAT. Here, we demonstrate an essential role for NFAT in disease induction, as the combined lack of NFAT1 (NFATc2) and NFAT2 (NFATc1) completely protected mice. Single deficiency of either NFAT1 or NFAT2 ameliorated the course of EAE, and NFAT2 ablation resulted in an obstructed proinflammatory reaction. However, NFAT1 deficit led to an anti-inflammatory response with nonpathogenic Th17 and Th2 cells concurrently secreting IL-17, IL-4, and IL-10. Both IL-4 and IL-10 co…
Lack of NFATc1 SUMOylation prevents autoimmunity and alloreactivity
A novel transgenic mouse, in which the transcription factor NFATc1 bears lysine-to-arginine mutations that prevent modification by SUMO, develops normally and is healthy. However, SUMO-insensitive NFATc1 transmits strong tolerogenic signals, thus preventing autoimmune and alloimmune T cell responses.
Analysis of Plasminogen Genetic Variants in Multiple Sclerosis Patients.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a prevalent neurological disease of complex etiology. Here, we describe the characterization of a multi-incident MS family that nominated a rare missense variant (p.G420D) in plasminogen (PLG) as a putative genetic risk factor for MS. Genotyping of PLG p.G420D (rs139071351) in 2160 MS patients, and 886 controls from Canada, identified 10 additional probands, two sporadic patients and one control with the variant. Segregation in families harboring the rs139071351 variant, identified p.G420D in 26 out of 30 family members diagnosed with MS, 14 unaffected parents, and 12 out of 30 family members not diagnosed with disease. Despite considerably reduced penetrance, lin…