T-cell receptor alpha, beta, gamma, and delta chain gene microsatellites show no association with multiple sclerosis

Genetic predisposition to multiple sclerosis (MS) is determined, in part, by certain HLA genotypes, but the contribution of T-cell receptor (TCR) germline polymorphisms to MS susceptibility is less clear. Reports of disease associations with restriction fragment length polymorphisms of TCR alpha and beta chain genes have been difficult to confirm, and little data is available on the influence of the TCR gamma delta germline in MS. We investigated the TCR alpha, beta, gamma, and delta chain genes of Northern Irish patients with MS using four microsatellite markers of high heterozygosity. There were similar allele frequencies in patients and controls for all microsatellites studied. We conclude there is no convincing evidence for an association of MS with TCR alpha, beta, gamma, and delta chain gene polymorphisms.