IL-1 polymorphisms modulates functional recovery following rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Immunogenetics
• Neuroinflammation
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) rehabilitation

Background:

• Interleukin-1 (IL-1) cytokines and genes are crucial in MS neuroinflammation.
• Their role in synaptic plasticity and tissue repair is emerging.
• Genetic factors influencing MS susceptibility are known, but their impact on neurofunctional recovery is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if functional polymorphisms in IL-1 genes affect rehabilitation outcomes in MS patients.
• To gain insights into the immunogenetic factors influencing recovery.
• To explore potential genetic markers for predicting rehabilitation success in MS.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed IL-1α rs3783521 and IL-1β rs16944, rs1143627, rs1143634 polymorphisms using Allelic Real-time PCR in 162 MS patients.
• Assessed disability using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Modified Barthel Index (BI) at admission and discharge.
• Evaluated changes in disability (ΔEDSS, ΔBI) using non-parametric tests and multivariable generalized linear models.

Main Results:

• IL-1β rs1143634 polymorphism was linked to MS susceptibility.
• Several IL-1 polymorphisms significantly affected ΔEDSS in univariate analyses.
• IL-1α rs3783521 and IL-1β rs1143634 A alleles were associated with greater functional improvement, while IL-1β rs16944 A allele indicated reduced recovery.
• Combined carriage of IL-1α rs3783521 A and IL-1β rs16944 G alleles identified a subgroup with the best rehabilitation response.

Conclusions:

• IL-1α rs3783521 and IL-1β rs16944 polymorphisms influence individual neurofunctional recovery in MS post-rehabilitation.
• Neuroinflammatory genetic profiling can predict rehabilitation outcomes in MS.
• Immune-mediated mechanisms modulate CNS repair, supporting personalized rehabilitation strategies based on immunogenetics.