Multiple Sclerosis

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Multiple sclerosis is a complex, autoimmune disease caused by damage of the fatty myelin sheaths around axons of the brain and spinal cord which leads to demyelination, lesions (scaring) and inflammation1, 2, 3. This damage leads to disruption of nerve impulse along axons resulting in the many symptoms seen in multiple sclerosis patients. Although its exact etiology is unknown, current research indicates that multiple sclerosis is a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors. It has been established that multiple sclerosis is not inherited but research is being focused on genetic influence and suceptibility3. Like many other diseases with genetic components to their etiology, disease risk for multiple sclerosis can be calculated based on genetic scans in search of certain genetic markers or combinations of markers4. Recent studies show that, polymorphisms in the Interleukin-2 (IL2)/ Interleukin-2 Receptor Alpha (IL2RA) pathway1 and in the Interleukin-7 (IL7) /Interleukin-7 Receptor Alpha (IL7RA) pathway2 are linked to increased risk and susceptibility of multiple scler...

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