The Role of tas2r16 in Neuroinflammatory Disorders: Optic Neuritis With Multiple Sclerosis

Introduction Optic neuritis (ON) is a multifactorial inflammatory condition of the optic nerve, often associated with central nervous system demyelination, infections or autoimmune diseases [1]. It typically manifests as vision loss and pain during eye movement [2]. ON is classified into two types: typical and atypical. Typical ON, which is often idiopathic, is strongly linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) and influenced by genetic and environmental factors. In contrast, atypical ON is typically caused by infections or autoimmune conditions [3]. Risk factors for ON include age, with most cases presenting around 36 years, and gender, as women are affected approximately twice as often as men [4]. The TAS2R family of bitter taste receptors, distributed across various tissues, has been implicated in immune and inflammatory processes [5]. Considering the potential role of TAS2R16 in ON pathogenesis, our study investigates the association of TAS2R16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs860170, rs978739, rs1357949) in ON patients with MS. Aim To investigate the impact of TAS2R16 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms with the onset of optic neuritis with multiple sclerosis. Methods The study involved 82 patients with ON and 160 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes using the DNA salting-out method. The DNA concentration was measured and prepared for genotyping. SNPs analyses of TAS2R16 rs860170, rs978739, rs1357949 was performed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Statistical analysis was performed with "IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0". Results considered statistically significant at p<0.05. Results The analysis of alleles frequencies and genotypes in patients with ON with and without MS did not reveal statistically significant differences. Binary logistic regression for ON patients without MS did not yield significant results. However, binary logistic regression revealed that the TAS2R16 rs1357949 AG genotype, relative to AA genotype, was associated with a 2.5-fold (OR = 2.480, 95% CI: 1.018 – 6.042, p = 0.046) increased risk on ON with MS under the codominant genetic model. Moreover, the combined GG and AG genotypes, when compared to the AA genotype, were associated with a 2.4-fold (OR = 2.393, 95% CI: 1.014 – 5.649, p = 0.046) increase risk of ON with MS by under the dominant genetic model. Conclusions Our study revealed associations between TAS2R16 rs1357949 and optic neuritis patients with multiple sclerosis