A whole-genome admixture scan finds a candidate locus for multiple sclerosis susceptibility

Nat Genet. 2005 Oct;37(10):1113-8. doi: 10.1038/ng1646. Epub 2005 Sep 25.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a common disease with proven heritability, but, despite large-scale attempts, no underlying risk genes have been identified. Traditional linkage scans have so far identified only one risk haplotype for multiple sclerosis (at HLA on chromosome 6), which explains only a fraction of the increased risk to siblings. Association scans such as admixture mapping have much more power, in principle, to find the weak factors that must explain most of the disease risk. We describe here the first high-powered admixture scan, focusing on 605 African American cases and 1,043 African American controls, and report a locus on chromosome 1 that is significantly associated with multiple sclerosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Black or African American / genetics
  • Chromosome Mapping / methods
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / genetics*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Genome, Human
  • Humans
  • Multiple Sclerosis / ethnology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics*