Nerdy Science Blog

ScienceDaily:

Systemic lupus can involve the joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain and blood. The disease occurs in about 31 out of every 100,000 people and affects women nine times more frequently than men. Scientists believe that lupus is caused by genetic variants that interact with each other and the environment.

The scientists found evidence of an association with multiple SNPs in three genes: ITGAM, KIAA1542 and PXK, and also at SNP rs10798269, which is not within any known gene. ITGAM is important for both the adherence of immune cells and for cleaning up pathogens. KIAA1542 is important for translating the DNA code into proteins. PXK encodes a molecule that transmits signals and controls complex processes in cells. These scientists also found association in genes previously associated with lupus and other autoimmune diseases.

Guess we need to change our lifestyle to prevent lupus. I read an interesting sentence from somewhere (I can’t remember where), it said like this, “If you won’t die because of heart disease today, you’re likely to die because of cancer.” How true.

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PHYSORG:

The Scripps Research scientists found the mutation on a single genetic locus-the position of a gene on a chromosome-called Lmb3 that plays a major role in modulating autoimmunity in transgenic mice. The cloned version of the Lmb3 mutation resulted in developmental and functional alterations in T cells, including reduced migration, survival, and activation. The study also showed that the Lmb3 autoimmune-suppressing phenotype could be transmitted only through Coro1aLmb3 T cells.

Lupus is in my family gene, just like diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. It’s just the matter of time. A curse huh? At least we die slowly.

After reading “Should Children Be Permitted To Get Genetic Testing For BRCA 1/2 Mutations?” from ScienceDaily yesterday, my answer would be a “YES”. In my opinion, prevention is always better than curing. If I have children, I would give them a genetic testing just for their sake.

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