Osteopontin gene variants associated with MS

Osteopontin (OPN) is a protein involved in bone remodeling and repair of tissues, but it is also produced in inflammatory situations. Previous studies finding increased levels of OPN in MS blood and plaque samples have spurred a few investigations of gene variants to see if any are associated with MS; these have produced mixed results. The most recent study of this type reports a connection between MS and OPN variants (actually, sets of variants called haplotypes) associated with higher production of the protein. This study compared 425 people with MS to 688 controls, and found that MS subjects were less likely to have the AA haplotype which is associated with lower production of OPN. In addition, MS subjects who had the lower-producing AA haplotype showed slower switching from RRMS to SPMS, and had a milder, slower progressing course of the disease. If the results of this of this study could be replicated, it could lead to new ideas for slowing down progression of MS or reducing MS risk.