Association of a null mutation in the CNTF gene with early onset of multiple sclerosis.

Abstract
MULTIPLE sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with presumed autoimmune origin. In addition to exogenous factors, genetically determined dispositions that cause deviations in the regulatory balance of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines1 are regarded as relevant for disease susceptibility and expression. As has been demonstrated for the HLA system,2 functional relevant polymorphisms in candidate genes could modify both the onset and course of the disease.