ACP is dedicated to improving the lives of those with MS and unraveling the complexities of this challenging condition, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure. As an autoimmune disease characterized by the immune system’s attack on the central nervous system, MS leads to a wide range of symptoms that can severely impact an individual’s quality of life. Recent years have seen a shift in the quest to understand MS, focusing on its genetic foundations. Researchers have pinpointed various genetic markers that promise to open new avenues for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
MS isn’t hereditary, but it has a genetic component that combines with environmental factors to trigger the disease. Genetic biomarkers offer a window into an individual’s risk of developing MS and its potential course. These indicators are segments of DNA associated with the increased risk of developing MS and can influence the disease’s progression and response to treatment.
Environmental factors that may combine with genetics to trigger MS:
Smoking cigarettes
Obesity, especially during adolescence
Hormones, especially female and puberty-related hormones
Low vitamin D levels
Living far from the equator
Exposure to organic solvents
Exposure to certain viruses, including the Epstein-Barr Virus
The Key Genetic Marker: HLA-DRB1
Research shows that the HLA-DRB1 gene is one of the most prominent genetic biomarkers associated with MS. This gene is part of the immune system and acts as a “security guard” that helps the immune system recognize what belongs to the body and what doesn’t. However, in some people, a specific version of this gene, like a confused security guard, wrongly flags the body’s own nerve-protecting myelin sheath as a threat, leading to its attack. This results in the various symptoms of MS. While having this version of the gene can increase the risk of developing MS, it’s not the sole cause. As mentioned above, the disease is a complex dance between our genetic makeup and environmental factors, but the involvement of HLA-DRB1 highlights how our body’s defense mechanisms can sometimes go awry.
Other Important Genes
While the HLA-DRB1 gene is a critical piece of the puzzle, it is far from the only one at play in MS. Scientists have identified over 200 other genes that are also linked to MS risk. Many of these genes are involved in controlling how the immune system works, including how it responds to infections and inflammation. Some of them are linked to other diseases that also involve a malfunction of the immune system, such as Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Others simply increase your chances for developing certain risk factors for MS. For example, lower vitamin D levels raise the risk of MS in some people. Certain gene variations are linked to lower vitamin D levels and thus a higher risk of MS. Genes that raise your risk of having high BMI (a measure of body fat, another risk factor for MS) also make you more likely to get the disease.
Emerging Genetic Markers for MS
A recent large-scale study made an exciting breakthrough by finding the first genetic factor that could make the disease progress faster for some people. The work was the result of a large international collaboration of more than 70 institutions from around the world, led by researchers from UCSF and the University of Cambridge. They looked at the DNA of more than 12,000 people with MS to find any genetic clues that could explain differences in how quickly the disease worsens. They confirmed their findings by looking at the genetic information of almost 10,000 more people with MS, finding that those with two copies of the gene (one from each parent) reached EDSS 6 (a severity milestone where individuals with MS require assistance with walking) nearly four years earlier than those without both genetic copies.
The study didn’t stop at genetic factors; it also explored environmental influences on MS progression. Interestingly, results showed that more years in education and having older parents appear to slow down disease progression, while smoking could speed it up.
Previous studies have identified genetic factors that determine the risk for developing MS. These insights are opening new doors to potentially slow down or treat the aspects of MS that affect the nervous system. In addition, they show that lifestyle choices like education level, physical activity, diet, and smoking habits can also influence the course of MS, offering immediate ways to adjust ways of living for better management of the condition.
Encouraged by these results, the research team is gathering additional DNA samples from people with MS, hoping to find more genetic factors that could lead to better ways to manage or treat the disease in the future.
The identification of genetic biomarkers in MS opens the door to a new era of medicine where treatments could be tailored to each person’s genetic blueprint, possibly predicting how the disease will unfold. This exciting prospect could even allow doctors to spot those at high risk for MS early on, offering a chance for interventions that might slow or stop the disease before it starts. However, the complex nature of MS, influenced by a mix of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, means it’s impossible to pinpoint who will develop MS with complete certainty. Turning these genetic findings into practical tools and treatments for everyday medical care is also a significant hurdle that requires more time and study. Despite these challenges, each new genetic discovery takes us a step closer to a better understanding of MS, paving the way for new treatments that target the disease more directly. The hope is that, someday, we might be able to not just manage MS, but also tackle the root causes of the disease, hopefully leading to a future where MS can be prevented or even cured. These types of studies are central to ACP’s mission, and we offer key resources to facilitate them, embodying our commitment to advancing research and transforming the lives of those affected by MS.
The Accelerated Cure Project’s Biorepository plays a key role in driving forward the discovery of new genetic markers for MS. It achieves this by offering researchers access to high-quality biological samples alongside comprehensive phenotypic data from both individuals with MS and controls. This invaluable resource supports a variety of genetic studies, such as genome-wide association (GWAS) studies and whole-genome sequencing, facilitating the identification of genetic variations linked to MS. By promoting collaborative research and providing a centralized hub for data and samples, the Biorepository significantly speeds up the research process. This efficient model not only accelerates our understanding of MS, but also cuts down on the time and expense typically required for such in-depth studies, marking a leap forward in our quest to unravel the complexities of MS.
