Affiliations: [a] Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [b] Department of Medical Genetics, Tehran medical University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [c] Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Hamadan, Iran | [d] Molecular Immunology Research Group, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Hamadan, Iran | [e] Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Arezou Sayad, Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 1985717443, Tehran, Iran. Tel.: +98 21 23872572; Fax: +98 2123872572; E-mail:ar.sayad@sbmu.ac.ir
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) as an autoimmune disorder in
which the insulating covers of neurons in the Central Nervous System are
destructed. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)
is an immunomodulatory molecule to protect against T cells hyper activation. METHODS: In this Case-control study, we compare TRAIL gene
expression in peripheral blood between 50 relapse remitting MS patients and
50 healthy controls by TaqMan Real time PCR. All the patients were negative
for HLA-DRB1*15 susceptible allele, normal serum vitamin D, responder to
Interferon beta. All the health individuals were matched to patients. Also,
we tried to find correlation between TRAIL gene expression and clinical
characteristics of patients. RESULTS: No statistically significant
difference was found in TRAIL mRNA expression between MS patients and
controls (p> 0.05). There was no correlation in the TRAIL expression and age
of onset, disease duration and Expanded Disability Status Scale of Kurtzke
(EDSS). As IFN-b may have stimulatory effects on immunoregulatory function
of TRAIL and all of our patients were treated with interferon beta and were
responder, it lead to no significant change in TRAIL expression. We suggest
comparing between responders and non-responders should be investigated.
