Journal article
Assessing interactions between HLA-DRB1*15 and infectious mononucleosis on the risk of multiple sclerosis
G Disanto, C Hall, R Lucas, AL Ponsonby, AJ Berlanga-Taylor, G Giovannoni, SV Ramagopalan
Multiple Sclerosis Journal | SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD | Published : 2013
Abstract
Gene-environment interactions may shed light on the mechanisms underlying multiple sclerosis (MS). We pooled data from two case-control studies on incident demyelination and used different methods to assess interaction between HLA-DRB1*15 (DRB1-15) and history of infectious mononucleosis (IM). Individuals exposed to both factors were at substantially increased risk of disease (OR=7.32, 95% CI=4.92-10.90). In logistic regression models, DRB1-15 and IM status were independent predictors of disease while their interaction term was not (DRB1-15*IM: OR=1.35, 95% CI=0.79-2.23). However, interaction on an additive scale was evident (Synergy index=2.09, 95% CI=1.59-2.59; excess risk due to interacti..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by Medical Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Medical Research Council [GRANT NUMBER G0801976] and by a research fellowship FISM Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla-Cod.: 2010/B/5. The Ausimmune Study was funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of the USA, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia. The study sponsors had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. All authors state that this research was carried out independently of the influence of funding bodies.