Histamine-N-methyl transferase polymorphism and risk for multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT) is the main metabolizing enzyme of histamine (a mediator of inflammation implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis-MS) in the CNS. We have investigated the possible association between a single nucleotide polymorphism of the HNMT (chromosome 2q22.1), that causes the amino acid substitution Thr105Ile (decreasing enzyme activity) and the risk for MS. Methods: We studied the frequency of the HNMT genotypes and allelic variants in 228 MS patients and 295 healthy controls using a PCR-RLFP method. Results: The frequencies of the HNMT genotypes and allelic variants did not differ significantly between MS patients and controls, and were unrelated with the age of onset of MS, gender, and course of MS. Conclusion: The HNMT polymorphism is not related with the risk for MS. © 2009 EFNS.