A narrative review of genetic and environmental factors and risk for multiple sclerosis. The design of the Italian multicentric PEDIGREE study

Abstract

MS is the result of an immune-mediated disorder triggered by environmental factors in subjects genetically predisposed. Pediatric MS (pedMS) offers a unique window to study environmental triggers, as patients are close to the actual onset of the disease and have been exposed to fewer confounding factors. PedMS is strongly associated to HLA-DRB1*15:01 and to non-MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) variants, with a higher burden compared to adults. HLA-A*02 allele seems to reduce MS risk. The role of rare variants is still under investigation. Several environmental causative factors have been identified: obesity, passive smoke, sun exposure, vitamin D, and others but the strongest candidate is the Epstein-Barr virus, considered a prerequisite for MS development. In this paper we provide a summary of the results obtained so far in pediatric age. Some years ago, the Italian PEDIGREE study (PEDiatric Italian Genetic and enviRonmental ExposurE) has been created to help clarify the role of genetic and environmental factors in pedMS, through a study of the genetic, epigenetic, metagenomic, transcriptomic, along with assessment of environmental factors (viral exposure, second-hand smoke and sun exposure, breastfeeding history, and other factors. A network of 29 Italian MS centers has been established, 154 pedMS patients (mean age 13.5 years) and matched controls have been recruited. For the genetic study, a cohort of 364 adult MS patients with onset < 18 years was included. The study is ongoing, the results of exposure to environmental risk factors and of genetic background will be available in the next future.

Keywords: EBV; Environmental factors; Genetic factors; Multiple sclerosis; Pediatric multiple sclerosis.