Review Article

Pharmacogenetic Biomarkers to Predict Treatment Response in Multiple Sclerosis: Current and Future Perspectives

Table 4

Genes with polymorphisms showing significant association with response to IFNβ in patients with multiple sclerosis from candidate-gene studies [39].

Gene (polymorphic locus)Product function (if known)Number of lociNature of response for each polymorphism

IFNAR1 (rs1012334; rs55884088) [41, 42]Type I membrane protein that forms one of the two chains of a receptor for IFNα and IFNβ2+, +

LMP7 (rs2071543) [42]Subunit of the immunoproteasome which generates peptides presented on MHC class I molecules to cytotoxic T cells1+

CTSS (rs1136774) [42]Cathepsin S, a lysosomal cysteine proteinase that may participate in the degradation of antigenic proteins to peptides for presentation on MHC class II molecules1+

MXA (rs2071430; rs17000900) [42]An antiviral protein induced in immune system cells by type I IFNs2+, +

IRF5 (rs2004640) [43]IFN regulatory factor 5, transcription factor involved in both type I IFN and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways1

IRF8 (rs17445836) [44]IFN regulatory factor 8, transcription factor of the IFN regulatory factor family1

USP18 (rs2542109) [45]Member of the ubiquitin-specific proteases family of enzymes that cleave ubiquitin from ubiquitinated protein substrates1+

IFNG (polymorphic microsatellites in the first intron) [46]IFNγ4−, −, −, +

IL10 (rs1800896; rs1800871; rs1800872) [47]Interleukin-101+

CCR5 (rs333) [48]Member of the β chemokine receptor family, expressed by T cells and macrophages1+

TGFB1 (rs1800469) [48]Member of the transforming growth factor β family of cytokines1+

TRAILR1 (rs20576) [49]Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand1+

CD58 (rs12044852) [50]Ligand of the T lymphocyte CD2 protein and functions in adhesion and activation of T lymphocytes1

CD46 (rs2724385) [51]Type I membrane protein that is a regulatory part of the complement system1+

GPC5 (rs10492503; rs1411751) [52]Cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan2+, +

+: associated with positive treatment response; −: associated with negative treatment response; CD: cluster of differentiation; IFN: interferon; MHC: major histocompatibility complex.