Secret codes of MS cracked

[squiffy2]

Font Size: Decrease Increase Print Page: Print July 30, 2007
INVESTIGATORS have reported the biggest breakthrough in decades into the genetic drivers for multiple sclerosis, identifying two genes that each boost the risk of developing the disease by up to 30 per cent.

In MS, the immune system attacks myelin, the fatty sheath that protects the cells of the central nervous system, rather like plastic insulation protects electrical cables.

As a result, "short circuits" occur in the body's messaging system, because nerve signals get slowed or blocked. This leads to difficulties in movement and co-ordination, muscle weakness, cognitive impairment, slurred speech and vision problems.........

For more on this story please go to MSRC: MS Research News : MS and Genetics (http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=show&pageid=1347)

[Mariel]

I was watching the scroll below the Bloomberg report this afternoon, and they said 3 genes were involved.

this is interesting, although nothing said there means much to the non-scientist.
Since I have four others in my patrilineal family tree with MS diagnosis, it is especially interesting to me. These four were my aunt, great grandmother, and two of father's cousins. My grandma, father, and two aunts (including the aunt with MS) had the symptoms of Porphyria. Either both diseases run in my family or there is an inter-relationship in some types of Porph or some types of MS. I know I am the receptor of probably several bad genes, possibly produced in Scottish inbreeding in centuries past. I have been recently diagnosed also with Essential Thrombocythemia, another genetically modulated disease which came down the same line. It produces high platelets (is not particuarly neurological in effect) and can eventually produce leukemia. My dad died of a rare leukemia, but it was quick and not as painful as his other chronic diseases.

Essential Thrombocythemia has made itself known in early stage in me because the bottoms of my feet are red and painful and my feet are beginning to swell after a lifetime of non-swelling feet.

Mariel

[cricket52]

Here is another article on it:

http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/TopStories/ContentPosting.aspx?feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V2&showbyline=True&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20070727%2fms_genes_070727

[Erin]

I'm just naturally interested in the genetics of MS... I have one 3rd cousin who has MS, (my paternal grandmother's grand-niece) so I'm guessing that my family might have something in it's puddle of DNA that might predispose some of us to MS, but other than myself and that cousin who I hardly know, I dont think there are any other MSers swinging thru my family tree.

Also, on my paternal grandfather's side, I've been able to identify at least 6 family members who have a genetic birth defect called Nail Patella Syndrome. http://www.nailpatella.org/ No one in my family realized that we had that floating thru our DNA until I started to research why I was missing the fingernail on my left index finger. Then I found out that my dad's sister's index fingernail was growing SIDEWAYS...and since then her daughter has had 3 kids and two of those kids have had the same fingernail defect that I have, except they've got more nails involved.

But, this is a branch of my family that for some reason known only to them has cut off all contact with us, and they think I'm nuts because when we were still talking, they didnt think their kids fingernail defects had anything to do with mine. It's an autosomnal disorder, which means it doesnt skip generations...and from looking at pictures of my grandfather, I can tell he had a couple of the other skeletal defects it causes.

If all I had to deal with was the Nail Patella syndrome, I would think I was perfectly normal and healthy...but now I've had some more letters tossed into my alphabet soup of health problems... I wish I could go back to just having a "syndrome" instead of now having an actual disease like MS.

I'd like to know where these MS genes are located... I know where the Nail Patella gene is... It's called LMX1B and is located on chromosome 9q34

[Mariel]

Erin, I read about the Nail Patella Syndrome. Weird and wonderful, including the "horns" on the pelvis. Man!

I have ridged nails but I keep them strong by drinking one Knox gelatine pack a day, in OJ diluted with water. Do not know if this would help your nails but it's necessary to mine.

I have a funny condition where I grow extra bone both on my palates and outside my upper teeth. This makes it impossible to wear partial plates, so I have had four implants. Now we can't afford any more, so I am taking very good care of my remaining teeth. I am told this is also hereditary. Taking x-rays of my teeth is difficult because my palates are child-sized, smaller than the largest child-size, and still it's hard to get the x-ray plates in there. One can't see this odd condition from the outside.

Many weird things given us by heredity.

Porphyria is also an autosomal dominant disease, with 50% getting it. As far as I know my son escaped, which means he can't pass it on. So he can't understand what it's like, either!