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Updated: Mar 20, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
HLA-DRB*1501 associations with magnetic resonance imaging measures of grey matter pathology in multiple sclerosis
Özgür Yaldizli1, Varun Sethi2, Matteo Pardini3
1Queen Square MS Centre NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Background:
The HLA-DRB*1501 haplotype influences the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but it is not known how it affects grey matter pathology.
Aim:
To assess HLA-DRB(*)1501 effects on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cortical grey matter pathology.
Methods:
Whole and lesional cortical grey matter volumes, lesional and normal-appearing grey matter magnetization transfer ratio were measured in 85 people with MS and 36 healthy control subjects. HLA-DRB(*)1501 haplotype was determined by genotyping (rs3135388).
Results:
No significant differences were observed in MRI measures between the HLA-DRB(*)1501 subgroups.
Conclusions:
The HLA-DRB(*)1501 haplotype is not strongly associated with MRI-visible grey matter pathology.
Insights
The HLA-DRB*1501 haplotype, linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) risk, does not significantly impact MRI-detected grey matter damage in patients. This suggests other factors may drive MS grey matter pathology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Neuroimaging
- Genetics
Background:
- The HLA-DRB*1501 haplotype is a known risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Its specific role in grey matter pathology in MS remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the HLA-DRB*1501 haplotype and cortical grey matter pathology in MS using MRI.
- To quantify effects on grey matter volume and tissue integrity.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure cortical grey matter volumes and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) in 85 MS patients and 36 controls.
- Genotyping for the HLA-DRB*1501 haplotype (rs3135388) was performed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in whole or lesional cortical grey matter volumes were found between HLA-DRB*1501 positive and negative MS subgroups.
- Lesional and normal-appearing grey matter MTR also showed no significant differences related to the HLA-DRB*1501 haplotype.
Conclusions:
- The HLA-DRB*1501 haplotype does not appear to be a major determinant of MRI-detectable grey matter pathology in multiple sclerosis.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying grey matter damage in MS.
