Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
| An international team, led by researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the National Eye Institute, has identified gene variants on chromosome 2 that are associated with glaucoma in Blacks.
“The cause and progression of glaucoma are poorly understood, although we know there is a strong genetic predisposition to the disease,” said study co-author Dr. Robert N. Weinreb. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among Blacks, affecting close to 5% of the population. In Barbados, where the study was conducted, the incidence of glaucoma is nearly 10% because of a strong genetic influence.
Looking at 249 patients with glaucoma and 128 “healthy” subjects, the study identified gene variants in close to 40% of individuals with glaucoma, which explains nearly one-third of their genetic risk for the disease. “Once we understand the specific gene or protein structure that is altered in the disease, we are one step closer to developing gene or stem cell-based therapies to treat glaucoma,” said co-researcher Kang Zhang, Director of the Institute for Genomic Medicine and a Professor of Ophthalmology and Human Genetics at the Shiley Eye Center at UCSD.
Source :
Medecine News Today
Medecine Net |
 |
|
