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Recent studies have demonstrated the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the pathophysiology of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Among these transcripts is HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) whose contribution in MS has been verified both in animal models and in human studies. In the current study, we genotyped three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with this lncRNA (rs12826786, rs1899663 and rs4759314) in 403 Iranian MS patients and 420 healthy subjects. After correction of P values for multiple comparisons, the rs4759314 SNP was associated with risk of MS in allelic model (OR (95% CI)= 1.34 (1.08-1.67), adjusted P value=0.02). The other SNPs were not associated with risk of MS in any inheritance model. The C G A haplotype (rs12826786, rs1899663 and rs4759314, respectively) was less prevalent in cases compared with controls (OR (95% CI)= 0.73 (0.59-0.90), adjusted P value=0.03). The T G A haplotype was more common among cases compared with controls (OR (95% CI)= 1.58 (1.20-2.08), adjusted P value=0.01). Taken together, HOTAIR might be regarded as a risk locus for MS in Iranian population., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Glutamate excitotoxicity has been previously associated with development of multiple sclerosis (MS). The metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (GRM7) gene is a G protein-coupled receptor that suppresses the cyclic AMP cascade after activation by glutamate. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within this gene have been reported to be associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. In the present study, we assessed associations between two intronic variants of GRM7 (rs6782011 and rs779867) and risk of MS in an Iranian population. The rs779867 was associated with MS risk in recessive model (OR (95% CI) = 0.67 (0.48-0.94)), P-value = 0.02, adjusted P-value = 0.04). There was no significant difference in allele and genotype frequencies of rs6782011 between cases and controls. None of the estimated haplotype blocks of rs6782011 and rs779867 were associated with MS risk in the assessed population. The current study provides some evidence for participation of GRM7 in the pathogenesis of MS and warrants further studies in larger sample sizes., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a multifactorial disorder with immunological basis. Numerous genetic and environmental factors contribute in its pathogenesis. Several genetic loci have been shown to be associated with MS risk. Among genes whose participation in MS has been evaluated is Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 5 (EVI5). EVI5 is a common site of retroviral integration with a possible role in T-cell lymphomagenesis., Methods: In the current study, we aimed to confirm association of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within EVI5 gene with MS in 410 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 410 controls from Iranian population. The rs6680578, rs10537781 and rs11810217 genotypes were defined by amplification-refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR method., Results: The allele and genotype frequencies of rs6680578 and rs11810217 were not significantly different between cases and controls. However, in the rs10735781 the GG genotype was significantly associated with MS risk in recessive (P = 0.03, OR (95%CI) = 1.84 (1.05-3.19)) and co-dominant models (P = 0.02, OR 95%CI) = 1.90 (1.08-3.35)). In addition, T G T haplotype (rs6680578, rs10735781 and rs11810217 respectively) was associated with MS risk while T C C, A G T and A C T had a protective effect against MS., Conclusion: The results of the current study provide further evidences for participation of EVI5 in MS pathogenesis., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)