Elevated genetic risk for multiple sclerosis emerged in steppe pastoralist populations
University of Cambridge · University of Bristol · +14 more institutions
Abstract
Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuro-inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease that is most prevalent in Northern Europe. Although it is known that inherited risk for MS is located within or in close proximity to immune-related genes, it is unknown when, where and how this genetic risk originated 1 . Here, by using a large ancient genome dataset from the Mesolithic period to the Bronze Age 2 , along with new Medieval and post-Medieval genomes, we show that the genetic risk for MS rose among pastoralists from the Pontic steppe and was brought into Europe by the Yamnaya-related migration approximately 5,000 years ago. We further show that these MS-associated immunogenetic variants underwent positive…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 71.76
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 88
Authors
31Topics & keywords
- Pastoralism
- Multiple sclerosis
- Steppe
- Evolutionary biology
- Biology
- Geography
- Genetics
- Ecology
Funding
- WTWellcome Trust
- NRNational Research Foundation
- DGDanmarks GrundforskningsfondAward: DNRF94
- LLundbeckfondenAwards: R302-2018-2155, KU2016
- NNNovo Nordisk
- NNNovo Nordisk FondenAward: NNF18SA0035006
- HLH. Lundbeck A/S
- NINational Institutes of HealthAward: R01GM138634
- MRMedical Research CouncilAward: MC_UU_00036/3