Oxford study identifies gene that may lead to MS

[TLC_31]

The role of genetics in MS (or lack thereof) has been addressed in many threads. This news release came to me over the weekend and adds what I believe is an interesting twist.

The way I read this, the study indicates that genetics causes a Vitamin D deficiency, and then the deficiency can cause MS. So although no one in my family has MS, according to this theory somebody must have had a genetic Vitamin D deficiency and passed that gene along to me, and for me it led to MS even though it didn’t for others in the family with the gene.

Because it is a news release (as opposed to a copyrighted article), I share it below:


A Genetic Cause For Multiple Sclerosis Is Identified And Funded By Science Patron, Jeffrey Epstein
The CYP27B1 gene is discovered by Oxford University to be a leading cause for multiple sclerosis

NEW YORK, June 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent study at Oxford University in England and published in Annals of Neurology, has identified a gene that causes vitamin D deficiency and may also be the cause of multiple sclerosis. The study was partly funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, The Wellcome Trust and the support of science investor, Jeffrey Epstein and The Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation.

Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease caused by the decay of myelin, the fatty sheath that protects the axons around the brain and spinal cord. Myelin is an essential part of neural communication because it not only protects the nerve circuits but promotes efficient conductivity. Every year, approximately 400,000 people in the United States develop the disease and about 2.5 million people worldwide. Symptoms vary widely, ranging from mild tingling to blindness and paralysis.

The cause of myelin damage is still hotly debated: some believe it to be an autoimmune disease while others cite viruses or the environment as the culprit. There is growing evidence however of a correlation between multiple sclerosis and vitamin D deficiency. Epidemiological studies also show that populations closer to the equator and the sun, have far fewer case of multiple sclerosis than populations closer to the north or south poles. Researchers at Oxford University have now taken this premise a step further by showing that vitamin D deficiency and therefore multiple sclerosis could have a genetic cause.

The study examined the DNA of a group of people with multiple sclerosis who also have a large number of family members with the disease. All the DNA samples showed a distortion of the CYP27B1 gene which controls vitamin D levels in the body. And in a few rare cases where the DNA showed two copies of the distorted gene, the person was found to have a genetic form of rickets caused by vitamin D deficiency as well as multiple sclerosis.

Despite this pivotal link, not all people with vitamin D deficiency develop multiple sclerosis. More research is needed to fully understand why only some people develop multiple sclerosis from vitamin D deficiency and why others don't. However, a distortion of the CYP27B1 gene is increasingly apparent in MS cases and it's possible that the gene generates other, yet undetected, complications that lead to the disease—such as genetically caused rickets.

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[sllowe]

Thanks, TLC.

Interesting how they use the word "cause" so loosely isn't it?

From all I've read D deficiency can make one more suseptible (just like viruses, or enviro), but not a direct "cause."
If cause it would have to apply to the masses...i.e.,(my thinking anyway) all MSers would be deficient.

Surely interesting. Thanks for keeping us posted!
-shell

[TLC_31]

"Personally I'd much rather read the actual research ..."

I'm sorry I don't have that available for you.

This was not an "article," incidentally; it was a news release from a donor to the research study. There are some related articles here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16086004
http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2011/110912.html

[supermum_ms]

I'm not sure this research means what the article is protraying it to mean "The CYP27B1 gene is discovered by Oxford University to be a leading cause for multiple sclerosis" I dont see that at all, I see CYP27B1 is a gene associated with vit D deficiency but thats basically it.

There isn't an established connection between MS and vit D to start with and i always wonder about articles that dont particularly state data from the research they are exstrapolating (sp) their premis on. Personally I'd much rather read the actual research, than an news article that is basically making leaps, connecting dots that science hasn't even made.

Vit D definciency may just have a genetic cause but its stretching things a bit too far, for this reporter to make the assumption that there is a genetic cause for MS based on locating the vit D gene.

In my humble opinion..........JJ

[Ojibajo]

So if they take this gene out, will I be cured? :)