Association and linkage analysis of candidate chromosomal regions in multiple sclerosis: indication of disease genes in 12q23 and 7ptr–15

Four recent genome-wide screen studies in multiple sclerosis (MS) identified a number of candidate regions for susceptibility genes in addition to the HLA complex in 6p21. However, none of these regions provided formally significant evidence for genome-wide linkage. We have investigated such regions in 46 Swedish multiplex MS families, 28 singleton families, 190 sporadic MS patients and 148 normal controls by parametric and nonparametric linkage and association analysis. One microsatellite marker, in 12q23, provided evidence for association in addition to suggestive transmission distortion and slightly positive linkage. In addition, a marker in 7ptr–15 showed a significant transmission distortion as well as a highly significant score in affected pedigree member analysis, but not quite significant deviations in association analysis. One of three markers in 5p, a region implicated in all four previous studies, showed a weakly positive lod score, but no other evidence of importance. Markers in 2p23, 5q11–13, 6q25, 7q21–22, 11q21–23, 13q33–34, 16p13.2, 18p11.32–23, Xp21.3 provided little or no evidence of importance for MS. In summary, these data support the importance of genome-wide screens in the identification of new candidate loci in polygenic disorders.