DRB1-environment interactions in multiple sclerosis etiology: results from two Swedish case-control studies.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

We aimed to investigate the influence of environmental risk factors for multiple sclerosis (MS) in different genetic contexts, and study if interactions between environmental factors and human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genes differ in magnitude according to heterozygocity and homozygocity for HLA-DRB1*15:01.

METHODS:

Using population-based case-control studies (6985 cases, 6569 controls), subjects with different genotypes and smoking, EBNA-1 status and adolescent Body Mass status, were compared regarding MS risk, by calculating OR with 95% CI employing logistic regression. The interaction between different genotypes and each environmental factor was evaluated on the additive scale.

RESULTS:

The effect of each DRB1*15:01 allele on MS risk was additive on the log-odds scale for each additional allele. Interaction between DRB1*15:01 and each assessed environmental factor was of similar magnitude regardless of the number of DRB1*15:01 alleles, although ORs were affected. When any of the environmental factors were present in DRB1*15:01 carriers without the protective A*02:01 allele, a three-way interaction occurred and rendered high ORs, especially among DRB1*15:01 homozygotes (OR 20.0, 95% CI 13.1 to 30.5 among smokers, OR 21.9, 95% CI 15.0 to 31.8 among those with elevated EBNA-1 antibody levels, and OR 44.3, 95% CI 13.5 to 145 among those who reported adolescent overweight/obesity).

CONCLUSIONS:

The strikingly increased MS risk among DRB*15:01 homozygotes exposed to any of the environmental factors is a further argument in favour of these factors acting on immune-related mechanisms. The data further reinforce the importance of preventive measures, in particular for those with a genetic susceptibility to MS.

• Authors: Anna Karin Hedström, Jan Hillert, Nicole Brenner, Julia Butt, Tim Waterboer, Pernilla Strid, Ingrid Kockum, Tomas Olsson, Lars Alfredsson
• Journal: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry) Vol. 92 Issue 7 Pg. 717-722 (07 2021) ISSN: 1468-330X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 33687974 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Chemical References

• HLA-DRB1 Chains

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Alleles
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Gene-Environment Interaction
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Genotype
• HLA-DRB1 Chains (genetics)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multiple Sclerosis (etiology, genetics)
• Registries
• Sweden
• Young Adult