Genes, Vol. 12, Pages 1607: An Investigation of the Role of Common and Rare Variants in a Large Italian Multiplex Family of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Genes, Vol. 12, Pages 1607: An Investigation of the Role of Common and Rare Variants in a Large Italian Multiplex Family of Multiple Sclerosis Patients Genes doi: 10.3390/genes12101607 Authors: Nadia Barizzone Rachele Cagliani Chiara Basagni Ferdinando Clarelli Laura Mendozzi Cristina Agliardi Diego Forni Martina Tosi Elisabetta Mascia Francesco Favero Davide Corà Lucia Corrado Melissa Sorosina Federica Esposito Miriam Zuccalà Domizia Vecchio Maria Liguori Cristoforo Comi Giancarlo Comi Vittorio Martinelli Massimo Filippi Maurizio Leone Filippo Martinelli-Boneschi Domenico Caputo Manuela Sironi Franca Rosa Guerini Sandra D’Alfonso Known multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility variants can only explain half of the disease’s estimated heritability, whereas low-frequency and rare variants may partly account for the missing heritability. Thus, here we sought to determine the occurrence of rare functional variants in a large Italian MS multiplex family with five affected members. For this purpose, we combined linkage analysis and next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based whole exome and whole genome sequencing (WES and WGS, respectively). The genetic burden attributable to known common MS variants was also assessed by weighted genetic risk score (wGRS). We found a significantly higher burden of common variants in the affected family members compared to that observed among sporadic MS patients and healthy controls (HCs)....
Source: Genes - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research