LRP6 Gene and Coronary Artery Disease
One of the ways researchers discover new genes is by studying families that appear to be disproportionately affected by a specific disease. In a recent study of one large family of Iranian ancestry, 28 out of 58 blood relatives were found to have early coronary artery disease with 23 of the 28 dying at young ages. They also had high LDL, high triglycerides, hypertension, and diabetes. The LRP6 gene on chromosome 12 was found to be associated with the disease in this family suggesting that something’s gone awry in the Writ signaling pathway, which is involved in cellular development.
Dr. Richard Lifton, chair of genetics at Yale:
The reason for the observed association of multiple risk factors with one another has been a mystery. Our findings have implicated the Wnt signaling pathway in the development of many risk factors and early CAD. We expect that studies of the Wnt signaling pathway in patients with early CAD, and metabolic syndrome, will provide new insight into the basic biology of disease causation and allow new approaches to disease prevention.
Speaking of coronary artery disease, I’m celebrating my first anniversary at A Hearty Life, a heart disease blog that focuses on prevention, treatment, and general heart health. For ever 1,000 page views at A Hearty Life in March, I will be donating $1 to the British Heart Foundation. Please come visit! It will be good for your health and public health.
Also for your weekend reading, check out The Gene Genie: Issue 2 over at Sciencesque.
Medical News Today, March 3, 2007
