'Master Gene' Discovery Will Lead to Improved Treatments for Heart Disease and Cancer

Researchers from University of Minnesota have identified the 'master gene' behind blood vessel development.

In a breakthrough study, researchers from University of Minnesota have identified the master gene behind blood vessel development.

They hope that the new discovery will lead to improve treatments for heart disease and cancer.

Cholesterol - Lipoproteins - Functions - Normal Blood Cholesterol Levels - Causes - Treatment - FAQs
Cholesterol is produced by the body (liver) and is essential for normal body functioning.

In the genetically engineered mice, researchers were able to identify a protein called Nkx2-5.

This protein turns on a certain gene and determines the fate of a group of cells in a developing embryo.

If we can understand the mechanism, or how certain stem cells choose a particular path, we can alter it to prevent or treat disease, said Daniel Garry, M.D., Ph.D., lead researcher, executive director of the institute, and chief of the cardiovascular division in the Department of Medicine.

High Cholesterol | Hypercholesterolemia - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
High cholesterol level in blood are a risk for heart disease and stroke. They get deposited in the wall of the arteries and clog the circulation posing a threat to life.

This gene discovery provides the key to unlocking the secret of how blood vessels grow, he added.

The researchers knew that certain precursor cells, or progenitor cells, become the three types of cells that make up the cardiovascular system: smooth muscle, endothelial -blood vessel, and cardiac muscle.

About Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease affects the children that involve the skin, mouth and blood vessels. It can be treated with acetaminophen, aspirin and intravenous gamma globulin.

By understanding how the cells develop, Garry said they will be able to study how they might modify the gene to create a desired response.

Next we are looking at how we could over-express the gene or knock it down, he added.

Mitral Valve Stenosis And Mitral Valve Replacement - Brief Information
Mitral valve replacement is a surgical heart procedure to correct either the narrowing (stenosis) or the leakage (regurgitation).

The study appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Source-ANI
SPH