POLYMORPHISM OF THE TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR BETA-GENE IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS AND RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Abstract

We evaluated the TNF-beta gene polymorphism in two HLA-associated autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The TNF-beta allele and genotype frequencies were not significantly different in the patient populations, compared to controls. An increased frequency of the TNF-beta*2 allele was observed in HLA-DR2(+) vs. HLA-DR2(-) MS patients. No such association was seen in HLA-DR4(+) RA patients.