Response to interferon-beta treatment in multiple sclerosis patients: a genome-wide association study

Pharmacogenomics J. 2017 Jul;17(4):312-318. doi: 10.1038/tpj.2016.20. Epub 2016 Mar 22.

Abstract

Up to 50% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients do not respond to interferon-beta (IFN-β) treatment and determination of response requires lengthy clinical follow-up of up to 2 years. Response predictive genetic markers would significantly improve disease management. We aimed to identify IFN-β treatment response genetic marker(s) by performing a two-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS). The GWAS was carried out using data from 151 Australian MS patients from the ANZgene/WTCCC2 MS susceptibility GWAS (responder (R)=51, intermediate responders=24 and non-responders (NR)=76). Of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) that were validated in an independent group of 479 IFN-β-treated MS patients from Australia, Spain and Italy (R=273 and NR=206), eight showed evidence of association with treatment response. Among the replicated associations, the strongest was observed for FHIT (Fragile Histidine Triad; combined P-value 6.74 × 10-6) and followed by variants in GAPVD1 (GTPase activating protein and VPS9 domains 1; combined P-value 5.83 × 10-5) and near ZNF697 (combined P-value 8.15 × 10-5).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Australia
  • Female
  • Genetic Markers / genetics
  • Genome-Wide Association Study / methods
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Interferon-beta / therapeutic use*
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics
  • Spain

Substances

  • Genetic Markers
  • Interferon-beta