DNA methylation changes in CD4 T cells isolated from multiple sclerosis patients on dimethyl fumarate.

Background: Dimethyl fumarate is an oral treatment for multiple sclerosis, whose mechanism of action is not fully understood.

Objective: To investigate the effects of dimethyl fumarate on DNA methylation in the CD4 T cells of multiple sclerosis patients.

Methods: We performed Illumina EPIC arrays to investigate the DNA methylation profiles of CD4 T cells derived from multiple sclerosis patients before and after dimethyl fumarate treatment.

Male Sex Is Independently Associated with Faster Disability Accumulation in Relapse-Onset MS but Not in Primary Progressive MS.

Background: Multiple Sclerosis is more common in women than men and females have more relapses than men. In a large international cohort we have evaluated the effect of gender on disability accumulation and disease progression to determine if male MS patients have a worse clinical outcome than females.

Methods: Using the MSBase Registry, data from 15,826 MS patients from 25 countries was analysed.