NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - European and Canadian researchers have identified a gene that appears to play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma, according to a report published in the April 9th issue of Science.
Previous research had suggested that asthma susceptibility genes may reside on chromosome 7p. Using genotypic analysis, Dr. Juha Kere, from the University of Helsinki in Finland, and colleagues identified two genes that appeared to be involved in asthma risk.
One of the genes, known as AAAI, did not appear to be a protein-coding gene and it did not have a murine ortholog to allow further analysis. The other gene, by contrast, coded for an orphan G protein-coupled receptor named GPRA.
Testing for GPRA in humans revealed distinct isoform patterns in healthy versus asthmatic subjects. Moreover, certain GPRA polymorphisms were strongly associated with asthma and atopy. In mice, the ortholog of GPRA was found to be increased in a model of ovalbumin-induced inflammation.
“The properties of GPRA make it a strong candidate for involvement in the pathogenesis of asthma and other IgE-mediated diseases, as well as a possible drug target,” the investigators point out.
Source: Science 2004;304:300-304. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Polymorphism, Single NucleotideCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.