 |
|
Scientists find gene that modifies severity of cystic fibrosis lung disease
March 04, 2009WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, and colleagues, have identified a gene that modifies the severity of lung disease in people with cystic fibrosis, a lethal genetic condition. The findings open the door to possible new targets for treatment, researchers say.
The study appeared online last week in advance of print publication in Nature. It is the first published study to search the entire genome looking for genes that modify the severity of cystic fibrosis lung disease.
"This is a good example of researchers with different expertise coming together and using the knowledge gained from mapping the human genome to make discoveries that improve our understanding of cystic fibrosis," said Carl Langefeld, Ph.D., a study co-author and Wake Forest University School of Medicine researcher. "It may also help in the identification of targets for drug development and the development of tools for the earlier diagnosis of individuals with cystic fibrosis who are susceptible to severe lung disease."
After analyzing the genetic makeup of nearly 3,000 cystic fibrosis patients, researchers found that small genetic differences in a gene called IFRD1 correlate with lung disease severity. While probing how the gene might alter the disease's course, researchers discovered the protein encoded by IFRD1 is particularly abundant in a type of white blood cell called neutrophils, and that it regulates their function. Part of the immune system, neutrophils are known to cause inflammatory damage to the airways of people with cystic fibrosis.
"Neutrophils appear to be particularly bad actors in cystic fibrosis," said senior investigator Christopher Karp, M.D., the director of Molecular Immunology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. "They are important to the immune system's response to bacterial infection. In cystic fibrosis, however, neutrophilic airway inflammation is dysregulated, eventually destroying the lung."
Although it's been known for 20 years that cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, the molecular mechanisms that link these mutations to the generation of lung disease still remain unclear. Increasingly evident in recent years is that variations in other genes also play a role in controlling cystic fibrosis lung disease severity.
Prior to the current study, IFRD1 was not really considered by researchers looking for genetic modifiers of disease severity, although the gene had been linked to stress responses in muscle and other tissues.
To further explore IFRD1's role in the disease process, the researchers studied mice in which the IFRD1 gene was removed. Deleting the gene confirmed its role in regulating inflammation and disease. While the absence resulted in delayed clearance of bacteria from the airway, it also resulted in less inflammation and disease.
The researchers also studied blood samples from healthy human volunteers to verify the impact of genetic differences in IFRD1 on neutrophil regulation. They found that the same IFRD1 variations that modified cystic fibrosis lung disease severity also altered neutrophil function in the healthy volunteers.
In a finding that may be the basis for novel approaches to treating cystic fibrosis, the investigators also determined that IFRD1's regulation of neutrophil function depends on its interaction with histone deacetylases - enzymes important for regulating gene transcription. Additional research is needed to better understand this interaction before its potential role for treatment is known, researchers report.
"It's possible that IFRD1 itself could become a target for treatment, but right now it's a signpost to pathways for further study," Karp said. "We want to find out what other genes and proteins IFRD1 interacts with, and how this is connected to inflammation in cystic fibrosis lung disease."
According to the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States and 70,000 worldwide. The defect in the CFTR gene causes the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. It also obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have allowed people to live into their 30s or 40s. Despite these advances, the norm remains an ongoing decline in pulmonary function.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
After analyzing the genetic makeup of nearly 3,000 cystic fibrosis patients, researchers found that small genetic differences in a gene called IFRD1 correlate with lung disease severity. While probing how the gene might alter the disease's course, researchers discovered the protein encoded by IFRD1 is particularly abundant in a type of white blood cell called neutrophils, and that it regulates their function. Part of the immune system, neutrophils are known to cause inflammatory damage to the airways of people with cystic fibrosis.
"Neutrophils appear to be particularly bad actors in cystic fibrosis," said senior investigator Christopher Karp, M.D., the director of Molecular Immunology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. "They are important to the immune system's response to bacterial infection. In cystic fibrosis, however, neutrophilic airway inflammation is dysregulated, eventually destroying the lung."
Although it's been known for 20 years that cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, the molecular mechanisms that link these mutations to the generation of lung disease still remain unclear. Increasingly evident in recent years is that variations in other genes also play a role in controlling cystic fibrosis lung disease severity.
Prior to the current study, IFRD1 was not really considered by researchers looking for genetic modifiers of disease severity, although the gene had been linked to stress responses in muscle and other tissues.
To further explore IFRD1's role in the disease process, the researchers studied mice in which the IFRD1 gene was removed. Deleting the gene confirmed its role in regulating inflammation and disease. While the absence resulted in delayed clearance of bacteria from the airway, it also resulted in less inflammation and disease.
The researchers also studied blood samples from healthy human volunteers to verify the impact of genetic differences in IFRD1 on neutrophil regulation. They found that the same IFRD1 variations that modified cystic fibrosis lung disease severity also altered neutrophil function in the healthy volunteers.
In a finding that may be the basis for novel approaches to treating cystic fibrosis, the investigators also determined that IFRD1's regulation of neutrophil function depends on its interaction with histone deacetylases - enzymes important for regulating gene transcription. Additional research is needed to better understand this interaction before its potential role for treatment is known, researchers report.
"It's possible that IFRD1 itself could become a target for treatment, but right now it's a signpost to pathways for further study," Karp said. "We want to find out what other genes and proteins IFRD1 interacts with, and how this is connected to inflammation in cystic fibrosis lung disease."
According to the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States and 70,000 worldwide. The defect in the CFTR gene causes the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. It also obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have allowed people to live into their 30s or 40s. Despite these advances, the norm remains an ongoing decline in pulmonary function.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Cystic Fibrosis Current Events and Cystic Fibrosis News RSSCausative gene of a rare disorder discovered by sequencing only protein-coding regions of genome
For the first time, scientists have successfully used a method called exome sequencing to quickly discover a previously unknown gene responsible for a mendelian disorder.
Bacteria 'launch a shield' to resist attack
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the Technical University of Denmark along with other collaborators in Denmark and the US found that the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa can 'switch on' production of molecules that kill white blood cells - preventing the bacteria being eliminated by the body's immune system.
Protein critical for insulin secretion may be contributor to diabetes
A cellular protein from a family involved in several human diseases is crucial for the proper production and release of insulin, new research has found, suggesting that the protein might play a role in diabetes.
New clinical guidelines for exacerbations in cystic fibrosis
The American Thoracic Society has released new clinical guidelines for the treatment of exacerbations in cystic fibrosis based on a review of the literature on current clinical practices.
Nanoparticle treatment for burns curbs infection, reduces inflammation
Treating second-degree burns with a nanoemulsion lotion sharply curbs bacterial growth and reduces inflammation that otherwise can jeopardize recovery, University of Michigan scientists have shown in initial laboratory studies.
Research Matters at the Arizona Health Sciences Center (AHSC): UA Researchers Seek Safer Cystic Fibrosis Test
Researchers from The University of Arizona Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine are teaming up to try to invent a novel non-invasive lung test for cystic fibrosis sufferers.
Species diversity helps ASU researchers refine analyses of human gene mutations
In the new era of personalized medicine, physicians hope to provide earlier diagnoses and improve therapy by evaluating patients' genetic blueprints. But, as a new bioinformatics study emphasizes, the first step must be to correctly decipher the deluge of information locked in our DNA and determine its impact on human health.
New developments in reproductive medicine
Three out of ten women who undergo polar body diagnosis go on to have a child.
Faster, cheaper way to find disease genes in human genome passes initial test
University of Washington (UW) researchers have successfully developed a novel genome-analysis strategy for more rapid, lower cost discovery of possible gene-disease links.
Mutation responsible for cystic fibrosis also involved in muscle atrophy
Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) usually experience significant muscle loss, a symptom traditionally considered to be a secondary complication of the devastating genetic disease.
More Cystic Fibrosis Current Events and Cystic Fibrosis News Articles
 |
Cystic Fibrosis: A Guide for Patient and Family by David M Orenstein (Editor) Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA. Text is designed specifically for patients with cystic fibrosis and their families. Explains the disease process, outlines the fundamentals of diagnosing and screening, and addresses the challenges of treatment for those living with CF. Includes new material on carrier testing, infection control, and more. Previous edition: c1997. Softcover. |
 |
Cystic Fibrosis: Everything You Need To Know (Your Personal Health) by Wayne Kepron MD FRCPC (Author) Cystic fibrosis afflicts approximately 30,000 Americans. The average age of survival has been steadily increasing, but not quickly enough: a child born with cystic fibrosis today can only expect to live 35 to 40 years. In this valuable new addition to the Your Personal Health series, Dr. Wayne Kepron offers a comprehensive look at the disease that afflicts so many young people. Topics include: - Symptoms of cystic fibrosis - Making a diagnosis - Complications of the disease - Treatments (including lung transplants) - Techniques and precautions in lung care - Transition into adulthood - Prospects for gene therapy - End-of-life issues Using diagrams, charts and case studies, Cystic Fibrosis is designed for patients, their families, and caregivers. It is both a quick... |
 |
With Every Breath: stories by and about people living with cystic fibrosis by Katherine Russell and Margot Russell (Author), Katherine Russell and Margot Russell (Editor) Over 30,000 people in the US have cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. Physically, fighting it is a very perilous struggle. Emotionally, coping can oftentimes be even harder. With Every Breath consists of stories by and about people living with cystic fibrosis. Created to motivate, inspire, and generate positivity for those living with cystic fibrosis, this book is something you can open time and time again. Designed for all ages, this collection of diverse stories offers unique perspectives from patients, a CF doctor and nurse, and family members of those living with the illness. Patients aren't the only ones who will want to read With Every Breath as family members, friends, and doctors can all find inspiration when they... |
 |
Cystic Fibrosis (Facts) by Ann Harris (Author), Anne Thomson (Author) Cystic Fibrosis: The Facts provides a much needed simple and understandable source book about this disease. It is aimed at those living with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), either themselves or members of their families or their friends. The book explains clearly what is happening to the body in CF, what causes it and what treatment options are available for the different aspects of the disease. There are more detailed chapters for those wanting to find out about the genetics of the disease and specific aspects such as how it affects life choices and employment. It looks to the future in terms of potential new therapies for CF and provides useful information on organizations that can provide help and further information across those areas of the world where the disease is prevalent. |
 |
The Stones Applaud: How Cystic Fibrosis Shaped My Childhood by Teresa Anne Mullin (Author) Teresa Mullin was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at four years of age, but it was not until she was nine that she learned most children with the disease were not expected to live to adulthood. What had been a nuisance soon became a force that molded her childhood, youth, and future. In The Stones Applaud, Mullin writes of absences from school, serving as a poster child, frequent hospitalizations, medical treatments, and most painful the isolation that came with cystic fibrosis, an inherited condition that damages the lungs and affects the digestive system. With dry humor and sharp insights, Mullin describes her battles with the disease, teachers, fellow students, and even medical professionals who tried to hold her back from experiencing life. Alternately funny, frank, poignant, and... |
 |
The Power of Two: A Twin Triumph over Cystic Fibrosis by Isabel Stenzel Byrnes; Anabel Stenzel (Author) The tragedy of cystic fibrosis has been touchingly recounted before, but this is the first book to portray the symbiotic relationship between twins who share this life-threatening disease through adulthood. Isabel Stenzel Byrnes and Anabel Stenzel tell of their struggle to pursue normal lives while grappling with the realization that they might die young. Their story reflects the physical and emotional challenges of a particularly aggressive form of CF and tells how the twins bicultural heritage Japanese and German influenced the way they coped. The Power of Two is an honest and gripping portrayal of day-to-day health care, the impact of chronic illness on marriage and family, and the importance of a support network to continuing survival. These two remarkable sisters have much to teach... |
 |
Cadberry's Letters by Jennifer Racek (Author) Cadberry's mom is very forgetful. Every time they visit his doctor together she talks about C & F. She never remembers the other letters. When Cadberry draws a set of letters to help his mother remember them all, he discovers what C & F really mean and how those two tiny letters affect so much of his life. Developed for pre-school-age children, Cadberry's Letters uses simple, easy-to-follow language to explain Cystic Fibrosis and the daily care that goes along with it in terms young children can understand. Children will learn along with Cadberry about things like Pancreatic Enzymes, Chest Physical Therapy and more. Bright, full-page illustrations bring the story to life and feature a lot of the equipment and medications CF patients may use in their daily lives. |
 |
Cystic Fibrosis by Margaret Hodson (Author), Duncan Geddes (Author), Andrew Bush (Author) This international and authoritative work, which brings together current knowledge in the field of cystic fibrosis, has become established in previous editions as a leading reference in the field. The third edition continues to provide everything that the clinician or allied health professional treating patients with cystic fibrosis will need in a single manageable volume. Thoroughly revised and updated throughout, it reflects the significant advances that have been made in the field since the second edition published in 2000. Cystic Fibrosis outlines in detail the basic science that underlies the disease and its progression, putting it into a clinical context. Diagnostic and clinical aspects are covered in depth, as are monitoring the condition and the importance of... |
 |
Understanding Cystic Fibrosis (Understanding Health and Sickness Series) by Ph.D., Karen Hopkin (Author) Since the discovery of the CF gene in 1989, scientists have learned a great deal about the biology of this disease which strikes one child in every 3,300 births. With the gene pinpointed, scientists are now working on ways to replace it and are developing better tests for earlier diagnosis. Understanding CF charts the progress that has been made in a disease whose symptoms can range from mild respiratory distress to life-threatening lung infections |
 |
Taking Cystic Fibrosis to School by Cynthia S. Henry (Author), Cynthia S. Henry (Author), Tom Dineen (Author), Tom Dineen (Illustrator) These beautifully illustrated and fun-to-read storybooks simplify and normalize complicated childhood conditions, like cystic fibrosis. When read aloud, other children can identify why a peer may be treated differently and begin to empathize with them. In addition, children whose conditions set them apart as being different begin to feel accepted and safe. Each book includes a Kids' Quiz to reinforce new information and Ten Tips for Teachers to provide additional facts and ideas for teacher use. In Taking Cystic Fibrosis to School, Jessie explains to her classmates that even though she has cystic fibrosis, she can still attend school. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |