Open AccessAssociation Between the γ-Aminobutyric Acid A3 Receptor Gene and Multiple Sclerosis
Author(s) -
Radhika Gade-Andavolu,
James P. MacMurray,
Hezekiah Blake,
Donn Muhleman,
Wallace W. Tourtellotte,
David E. Comings
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
archives of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1538-3687
pISSN - 0003-9942
DOI - 10.1001/archneur.55.4.513
Subject(s) - allele , allele frequency , medicine , biology , polymorphism (computer science) , endocrinology , genetics , gene
In a prior study we observed an association between the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) and the age of onset and/or diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We hypothesized that this effect was mediated through the dopaminergic control of the release of prolactin, a modulator of immune response. Since gamma-aminobutyric acid also modulates the release of prolactin, we examined the possible association between alleles of the GABRA3 (gamma-aminobutyric acid A3 receptor) gene and MS.