Rantes: A Genetic Risk Marker For Multiple Sclerosis

Regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted ( RANTES) is a beta-chemokine and has been detected in brain lesions of multiple sclerosis ( MS) patients. Considering its potential role in MS, we screened two functional polymorphisms in the proximal promoter region of the RANTES in MS patients versus controls. Methods: We examined 140 postmortem brain samples from subjects with a primary diagnosis of MS, and peripheral blood samples from 216 control subjects. The RANTES-28C/G and - 403G/A promoter polymorphisms were examined. All subjects were non-Hispanic Caucasians. Results: MS cases differed from controls showing a significant association with the 403G/A polymorphism ( odds ratio, 2.359, [1.465 - 3.799]; P = 0.0001), but not the - 28C/G ( P = NS) polymorphism. There was a significant association of the - 28G allele with both early onset ( P = 0.031) and longer survival ( P = 0.006). Conclusion: There is a significant but complex association of the RANTES gene with MS.