Sulla stampa internazionale di oggi viene dato grante rilievo allo
studio di Eric J. Topol della Cleveland Clinic, che ha identificato
il primo gene coinvolto in modo diretto nell'infarto del miocardio.

Lo studio è pubblicato sul numero di Science oggi in pubblicazione.

Maggiori informazioni saranno riportate sui siti

GENOMICA : www.genomica.net

cardioGENOMICA : www.cardiogenomica.net

cordialmente

professor Enzo Reale

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- The first gene linked directly to heart attacks
has been isolated from an extended Iowa family that has been plagued
for generations with rampant coronary artery disease.

The gene, called MEF2A, plays a role in protecting the artery walls
from building up plaque that can impede blood flow and lead to heart
attacks, said Dr. Eric J. Topol of the Cleveland Clinic, head of a
team that discovered the gene.

"This is the first heart attack gene," said Topol. "Everyone who has
this gene mutation is destined to have the disease. If you don't have
this gene in this family, you appear to free from developing this
disease."

A report on the discovery Friday was in the journal Science.
Topol said that his team analyzed the genes of about 100 members of
an Iowa family where heart disease and heart attack have been common
for generation after generation.

They found that members of the family with heart disease had a MEF2A
gene that lacked some key bits of DNA. This apparently causes the
arteries to thicken and become clogged.

It will take more study to determine if MEF2A plays a role in heart
disease among people outside of families where the mutation is
inherited. The gene makes a protein that regulates some other genes
and Topol said those will now be analyzed to see if they can be
linked generally to heart disease.

"We have learned from other genetic studies that once you get the
first gene it starts to unlock the whole story," said Topol.