Genetic loci for Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 are associated with risk of multiple sclerosis

Authors

Yuan Zhou
Gu Zhu
Jac C. Charlesworth
Steve Simpson Jr
Rohina Rubicz
Harald H. H. Goring, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Nikolaos A. Patsopoulos
John Blangero, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Joanne E. Curran, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Matthew P. Johnson, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2016

Abstract

Background: Infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: We sought genetic loci influencing EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) IgG titers and hypothesized that they may play a role in MS risk.

Methods: We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of anti-EBNA-1 IgG titers in 3599 individuals from an unselected twin family cohort, followed by a meta-analysis with data from an independent EBNA-1 GWAS. We then examined the shared polygenic risk between the EBNA-1 GWAS (effective sample size (Neff) = 5555) and a large MS GWAS (Neff = 15,231).

Results: We identified one locus of strong association within the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region, of which the most significantly associated genotyped single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was rs2516049 (p = 4.11 × 10-9). A meta-analysis including data from another EBNA-1 GWAS in a cohort of Mexican-American families confirmed that rs2516049 remained the most significantly associated SNP (p = 3.32 × 10-20). By examining the shared polygenic risk, we show that the genetic risk for elevated anti-EBNA-1 titers is positively correlated with the development of MS, and that elevated EBNA-1 titers are not an epiphenomena secondary to MS. In the joint meta-analysis of EBNA-1 titers and MS, loci at 1p22.1, 3p24.1, 3q13.33, and 10p15.1 reached genome-wide significance (p < 5 × 10-8).

Conclusions: Our results suggest that apart from the confirmed HLA region, the association of anti-EBNA-1 IgG titer with MS risk is also mediated through non-HLA genes, and that studies aimed at identifying genetic loci influencing EBNA immune response provides a novel opportunity to identify new and characterize existing genetic risk factors for MS.

Comments

© The Author(s), 2016.

Recommended Citation

Zhou, Y., Zhu, G., Charlesworth, J. C., Simpson, S., Jr, Rubicz, R., Göring, H. H., Patsopoulos, N. A., Laverty, C., Wu, F., Henders, A., Ellis, J. J., van der Mei, I., Montgomery, G. W., Blangero, J., Curran, J. E., Johnson, M. P., Martin, N. G., Nyholt, D. R., Taylor, B. V., & ANZgene consortium (2016). Genetic loci for Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 are associated with risk of multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England), 22(13), 1655–1664. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458515626598

Publication Title

Multiple Sclerosis Journal

DOI

10.1177/1352458515626598

Academic Level

faculty