Genetic association with a debilitating chronic autoimmune disease called as Lupus has been identified by an Indian-origin scientist.The study published in the Journal Nature Genetics analyzed more than 17,000 human DNA samples collected from blood of volunteers in four countries namely, South Korea, China, Malaysia and Japan.
‘Indian-origin scientist has successfully identified 10 new genes associated with lupus - a debilitating chronic autoimmune disease.’
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Researchers identified the condition in nearly 4,500 volunteers while the rest were taken as controls. They identified ten distinct DNA sequence variants linked to lupus."We know lupus has a strong genetic basis, but in order to better treat the disease we have to identify those genes," said Swapan Nath from Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) in US, who led the study.
One gene in particular, known as GTF2I, showed a high likelihood of being involved in the development of lupus, researchers said.
"Its genetic effect appears to be higher than previously known lupus genes discovered from Asians, and we surmise that it now may be the predominant gene involved in lupus," said Nath.
"These findings mark a significant advance in our knowledge base for lupus genes. For every gene we identify, it brings us closer to uncovering the trigger for this puzzling disease,” said Judith James from OMRF.
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