Scientists find 13 new genes linked to heart diseases
March 7th, 2011 - 12:08 pm ICT by ANILondon, Mar 7 (ANI): An international team of scientists has has identified 13 new gene sites associated with the risk of coronary artery disease and validated 10 sites found in previous studies.
“We now have identifed 23 specific genetic ‘letters’ that appear to confer risk for myocardial infarction and other aspects of coronary artery disease,” said Sekar Kathiresan at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“Knowing these sites lays the groundwork for isolating the genes responsible and developing new treatments based on those genes.”
The team of 167 investigators at research centers around the world formed the Coronary ARtery DIsease Genomewide Replication and Meta-analysis (CARDIoGRAM) Consortium.
The researchers first assembled data from 14 previous GWAS (genome-wide association studies) for meta-analysis. They reviewed data from more than 22,000 individual with heart disease and almost 65,000 controls.
The most promising sites identifed in the meta-analysis were then genotyped in another group of more than 56,600 individuals, about half with cardiac disease. The investigators also analyzed potential mechanisms and metabolic pathways by which newly identified variants might affect risk.
Results showed that 10 of 12 previously reported gene variants associated with coronary artery disease and identified 13 sites not previously reported.
Of the 23 variants validated in this study, seven are associated with LDL cholesterol levels and one with hypertension, but the others have no relation to known cardiovascular risk factors.
“The lack of apparent association with the risk factors we know so well is the source of a lot of excitement concerning these results,” Kathiresan explained.
“If these variants do not act through known mechanisms, how do they confer risk for heart disease? It suggests there are new mechanisms we don’t yet understand. Another good thing about these findings is that they are in human patients, not in cells or mice, which gives us a good starting point for figuring out new disease pathways.”
The study appears in Nature Genetics. (ANI)
- 13 genes behind heart disease uncovered - Mar 07, 2011
- Study reveals links to abnormal rhythms behind sudden death, heart damage - Dec 21, 2010
- Childhood obesity genes identified - Apr 12, 2012
- Defects in immune system enzyme 'raise arthritis, diabetes risk' - Jun 17, 2010
- Genes that aid antimalarial drug resistance identified - Apr 22, 2011
- New genetic links to ovarian cancer risk discovered - Sep 20, 2010
- Scientists isolate genes behind BP, stroke, cardiac risks - Sep 12, 2011
- Largest genetic study of anorexia nervosa detects common, rare variants - Nov 20, 2010
- Genes linked with onset age of Parkinson's disease identified - Oct 08, 2009
- Genetic variation that cuts bladder cancer risk identified - Apr 03, 2011
- Additional genes linked to age-related macular degeneration identified - Apr 13, 2010
- New gene linked to increased Alzheimer's risk identified - Apr 15, 2010
- Previously unrecognized susceptibility factor for bipolar disorder identified - Mar 04, 2011
- New approach helps pinpoint genes behind common diseases - Apr 30, 2010
- Newly found genes linked with menopause could prevent cancer, heart disease - May 18, 2009
Tags: apparent association, cardiac disease, cardiovascular risk factors, consortium, coronary artery disease, genes, genetic letters, groundwork, heart disease, heart diseases, human patients, hypertension, investigators, ldl cholesterol levels, massachusetts general hospital, mechanisms, meta analysis, metabolic pathways, myocardial infarction, replication