About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Boffins Identify Gene Linked to Hereditary Incontinence

by Tanya Thomas on June 9, 2010 at 10:49 AM
Font : A-A+

 Boffins Identify Gene Linked to Hereditary Incontinence

Medical College of Georgia researchers have now put a finger to the culprit gene for a rare condition that turns smiles into grimaces and impedes bladder and bowel control.

The discovery provides new insight into urofacial syndrome as well as incontinence in general.

Advertisement

"This paper really tells us and the scientific community is that this particular gene and its encoded proteins play a very important role in controlling facial and bladder muscle function," said Dr. Jin-Xiong She, director of the MCG Center for Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine. "From this, we hope to develop studies that will benefit not only these patients but also those with the more general problem of incontinence or overactive bladder and constipation."

Dr. She, a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Genomic Medicine, is a corresponding author on the study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics. The study details identification of the gene Heparanase 2 as a cause of urofacial syndrome, a genetic condition disproportionately affecting populations with common ancestry.
Advertisement

To pass along a genetic disorder, a child must get two copies - one from each parent - of the mutated gene. Rare disorders become more common in populations where relatives marry and/or have children together.

The face, bladder and bowel all require tight control of muscle contraction. Patients with urofacial syndrome leak feces and urine, which can leak back into the kidneys and destroy them, said Dr. Bobbilynn Hawkins-Lee, a urologist at MCG, director of urodynamics and female urology at the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center and study co-author.

Lack of bowel control causes constipation as well as leakage. Lack of facial control turns smiles into grimaces. "You can pick these babies out in a nursery because their facial muscles are inverted," Lee said. Older children typically give up trying to smile, opting for a more stoic look to help mask their condition.

Untreated, most children with the disease die before adulthood.

Researchers first used DNA taken from urofacial patients in Antioquia, Colombia to do genetic mapping and identify the chromosomal region containing the suspect genes. Once they narrowed the search, Dr. Junfeng Pang, a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of MCG molecular geneticist Dr. Cong-Yi Wang, completed the painstaking task of screening the 20 genes in this chromosomal region in patients from Colombia, the United States and France, until they found one gene that was mutated in every patient. Pang subsequently cloned the gene.

"We had to look for sequence errors in patients that could result in functional changes or loss of function for the encoded protein," said Wang, a co-corresponding author. "Only animals with voiding functions have this particular gene which indicates it is very important for that function." When defective, the gene produces an equally defective protein that is critical to muscle function.

While the researchers still don't know exactly what Heparanase 2 does, its mutation in urofacial syndrome patients suggests its role in muscle control related to facial expression and voiding. The scientists anticipate publishing more findings soon about the gene's function and how the mutation causes urofacial syndrome.

They also hope the research will help those with incontinence unrelated to the syndrome. Risk factors include advanced age, childbirth, pelvic surgery and spinal cord injury.

Current incontinence treatment includes behavioral therapies such as bladder training, surgery to expand capacity or bypass the bladder, intermittent catheterizations to prevent urine refluxing into the kidneys as well as drugs to prevent involuntary contraction of bladder muscles.

Source: ANI
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Research News

Is There a Cure for Malaria Through Targeting Biological Clocks?
Malaria parasites sync their molecular rhythms with the internal 24-hour clocks of their hosts, said researchers.
Good Evening Recovery Leads to Better Work Days
A latest research suggests that the quality of a person's post-work recovery in the evening can impact their mood when they resume work the next day.
Link Between Sleep Apnea and Cognitive Decline
Researchers are working on new strategies and solutions for sleep apnea to ward off a range of health risks including cognitive decline.
Softening Stem Cells Enhances Hair Growth Potential
The scientists discovered that when the stem cells in the hair follicle are made softer, they have a higher chance of growing hair.
Potential New Strategy for Ischemic Stroke Discovered
A combinatorial therapy provided promising beneficial results among people with ischemic stroke.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Boffins Identify Gene Linked to Hereditary Incontinence Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests