New Variant Of Anemia Gene Identified

A new variant of anemia gene TMPRSS6 has been identified by researchers at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), Australia.

The gene has previously been linked to a severe form of anaemia, and these findings provide information about the subtle natural variation in iron control amongst healthy people. For they had studied the genome of 4,800 healthy individuals from Australian and the Netherlands. The researchers have now concluded that 40 per cent of Europeans and 60 per cent of Asian populations have this variant. The gene helps to regulate iron and haemoglobin levels, it is pointed out. The findings improve our understanding of iron metabolism and may have implications for the management of iron overload and hereditary anaemia.

According to QIMR researcher, Dr Beben Benyamin, “An iron imbalance can lead to a range of diseases – an overload can cause haemochromatosis which may cause liver failure; a deficiency may result in anaemia.”

“This research gives us a better understanding of the genetic influences of iron control and red cell production. We hope to continue to search for other genes involved in the regulation of iron levels in otherwise healthy individuals.”

 “We have also found that the variant has an additive effect. A person with two copies of the variant has lower iron and haemoglobin levels than those carrying only one copy,” explained Dr Benyamin.

The study was undertaken by researchers at QIMR and The University of Queensland in collaboration with institutes in the United States and the Netherlands.

The paper was published in Nature Genetics.

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Source-Medindia
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