International Journal of Applied Biotechnology and Biochemistry. ISSN 2248-9886 Volume 4, Number 1 (2014) pp. 1-7 © Research India Publications http://www.ripublication.com Multiple Sclerosis: Searching a Link between Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor-2B and Multiple Sclerosis Insha Zahoor, Zeenat Hamid and Ehtishamul Haq # Department of Biotechnology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. # Corresponding author: Dr. Ehtishamul Haq: Department of Biotechnology, University of Kashmir, 190006, Jammu and Kashmir, India Tel: 990-644-4123, Fax: 91-194-242-8723, e-mail: haq@kashmiruniversity.ac.in ABSTRACT Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease governed by demyelination of myelin sheath around the axons of brain and spinal cord. It is characterized by a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms. The exact etiology remains elusive. It appears to be a polygenic condition and is more prevalent in some ethnic groups than others. From the studies conducted so far, it has been found that it may be associated with a defect in candidate genes like: human leukocyte antigen (HLA), interleukin-7 receptor alpha (IL7RA), C type lectin domain family 16 (CLEC16-A), and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (EIF2B), etc. There is a strong evidence to support the notion that MS is hereditary and therefore more attention is still needed to explore new candidate genes involved in its development. This review summarises the up- to-date knowledge on association between MS and EIF2B and also highlights the role of EIF2B as a susceptibility factor for development of MS in different populations. In conclusion, this small review provides an impetus to explore the association of MS with EIF2B. Keywords: MS, Myelin, Demyelination, HLA, IL7RA, CLEC16-A, EIF2B, Heredity. INTRODUCTION Multiple Sclerosis (MS) represents an autoimmune and chronic inflammatory condition of the central nervous system (CNS) in which demyelination of the myelin