Multiple Sclerosis in Latin Americans: Genetic Aspects.

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Epidemiology
• Population Health

Background:

• Latin Americans (LA) are a diverse ethnic group in the Americas and the largest minority in the USA.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) risk in LA populations is generally low to medium but shows increasing frequencies.
• Current terminology and ethno-racial classifications for LA groups may lack precision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic diversity within Latin American populations.
• To understand the relationship between genetic ancestry and multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility in LA.
• To explore the impact of historical and socio-political factors on genetic distribution and disease prevalence.

Main Methods:

• Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) were employed to analyze genetic variants in LA populations.
• Analysis included Mestizo populations, examining contributions from Native American, European, and African ancestries.
• HLA typing and ancestry informative markers (AIMs) were utilized to understand genetic contributions.

Main Results:

• Mestizo populations show diverse genetic variants and proportions due to admixture.
• Native Americans exhibit very low MS prevalence, potentially due to protective Asian genetics and environmental factors.
• Mestizos and LA individuals with African ancestry show increased MS susceptibility, linked to the European HLA-DRB1*1501 gene.

Conclusions:

• Genetic diversity in LA populations is influenced by migration, historical, and socio-political factors.
• Ancestral genetics, particularly European HLA-DRB1*1501, plays a role in MS susceptibility among certain LA subgroups.
• Further regional studies are necessary to fully elucidate the complex interplay between genetics, ancestry, and MS regional distribution in Latin America.