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Research News at Vanderbilt

Number of genes associated with MS doubled

by | Aug. 10, 2011, 12:00 PM | Want more research news? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter »

Deciphering DNA code



Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Center for Human Genetic Research (CHGR) played an important role in the research published today in the journal Nature, which represents the largest MS genetics study ever undertaken and effectively doubles the number of genes known to be associated with the disease.

Jonathan Haines

Jonathan Haines (Daniel Dubois / Vanderbilt)

“We now know just how complex multiple sclerosis is,” said Jonathan Haines, director of the CHGR and one of the principal researchers in this effort.  “These new genes give us many new clues as to what is happening in MS and will guide our research efforts for years to come.”



One-third of the genes identified in the study have previously been implicated in playing a role in other autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s Disease and Type 1 diabetes, Haines said.

Previous studies have also suggested a link between vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of multiple sclerosis; researchers in this study identified two genes involved in the metabolism of vitamin D, providing additional insight into a possible link between genetic and environmental risk factors.

The international team led by the universities of Cambridge and Oxford, and funded by the Wellcome Trust, includes contributions from nearly 250 researchers as members of the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium and the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium.

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  • Susan K. Spencer

    How does the human epi- genome possibly figure in here? I saw a program on it recently. The immune system is under constant challenges these days, which are completely new in human history; GMOs, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, artificially created electromagnetic fields, microwaves, pollution in general, and a human designed environment complete with electricity any time of day or night to disturb our natural circadian rhythms.
    Our neural plasticity is facing an onslaught of novel stresses! How rapidly is it capable of adapting in a functional way that does not leave the human organism vulnerable to immune system degradation?