Genetic Determinants of Multiple Sclerosis Susceptibility in People From Diverse Ancestral Backgrounds - PubMed
4 days ago
- #genetics
- #multiple sclerosis
- #ancestral diversity
- Study explores genetic basis of multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility in South Asian (SAS) and African (AFR) ancestry populations.
- Genetic variants within the Major Histocompatibility Complex are associated with MS susceptibility across all ancestries.
- European (EUR) ancestry susceptibility alleles are over-represented in SAS and AFR MS cases, with stronger concordance in SAS.
- EUR-derived genetic risk scores explain less liability to MS in SAS and AFR cohorts compared to EUR cohorts.
- Classical HLA alleles associated with MS in EUR populations show similar effects in SAS and AFR cohorts, but with lower population-level risk due to allele frequency differences.
- HLA-A*33:03, enriched in SAS populations, may have a protective role against MS.
- Findings suggest shared disease mechanisms across ancestral groups and highlight the need for larger studies in diverse populations.