Association between TNFA, IL10 and IL18 promoter gene variants and cognitive functions in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between TNFA-308G > A, IL10-1082A > G, IL18-607C > A, and cognitive functioning in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Results: In the patients' group: AG genotype of TNFA-308G > A was associated with higher serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) than GG genotype, and higher TNF-alpha levels correlated with poorer results on Symbol Digit Modalities Test; CC genotype of IL18-607C > A was related to lower score on Isaacs test, compared to AC variant; AA genotype of IL10-1082A > G was associated with abnormally low results on Paced Auditory Series Addition Test. Conclusions: TNFA-308G > A, IL10-1082A > G and IL18-607C > A gene variants may be associated with impaired cognitive functions in RRMS patients.