Genes
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 10:23 am
Dear all,
It is generally accepted that MS is a result of genetic susceptibility and an environmental trigger (perhaps a virus). At the EBV Think Tank I attended, Professor George Ebers talked about his work on identifying the genes involved in MS. I was still confused by the relative importance of the susceptibility genes and the environmental trigger, as a recent study of childhood MS in Canada suggested that the environmental factor was more important. Professor Ebers provided a detailed response to my e-mail. The key points highlighted were:
Genetics is well beyond my very limited medical knowledge, but it looks as if this is another area where big advances are being made and which might lead to better treatments.
Ian
It is generally accepted that MS is a result of genetic susceptibility and an environmental trigger (perhaps a virus). At the EBV Think Tank I attended, Professor George Ebers talked about his work on identifying the genes involved in MS. I was still confused by the relative importance of the susceptibility genes and the environmental trigger, as a recent study of childhood MS in Canada suggested that the environmental factor was more important. Professor Ebers provided a detailed response to my e-mail. The key points highlighted were:
It isn't necessarily helpful to compare the relative contributions of
genes and environment here as they may be inseparable and interactive
rather than simply additive and we have strong evidence this will be the
case.
I found the last comment encouraging and it fitted with the transcript I posted from the NMSS MS Awareness Week where Dr David Hafler from Harvard Medical School, and also inolved in identifying MS genes said:The gene story is nearing solution it seems and similarly for
the timing and site of the environmental interaction.
By the end of the year, Serono say that they will have completed their MS gene search.I hope within the next year to be able to give you a list of variants of genes that cause your disease and allow us to come up with new ways of targeting those genes.
Genetics is well beyond my very limited medical knowledge, but it looks as if this is another area where big advances are being made and which might lead to better treatments.
Ian