Cytokines and chemokines like the proinflammatory chemokine, monocytechemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) are important for the recruitment of inflammatory cells into multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. Recently, a nucleotide substitution from adenosine to guanosine (A-->G) at position -2518 of the MCP-1 promoter was shown to be associated with increased MCP-1 expression. We analysed MCP-1 genotypes in 634 MS patients and 405 healthy controls. The allelic frequencies were comparable between both groups. No correlation was found between genotype and disease course, disease severity or age of disease onset. Although statistically no+ significant mRNA expression and MCP-1 secretion were elevated in patients carrying the mutant allele. Thus, our data could not reveal any association between the MCP-1 -2518 polymorphism and susceptibility to or clinical disease course of MS.