Indians probably have a double copy , considering the
horrendous heart disease and even though they eat ten times
less fat than eskimos
Gene is linked to heart attacks
A tiny mutation may be the key Scientists have pinpointed a
gene which seems to play a crucial role in heart attacks.
They found that a particular mutation of the gene occurs
more frequently in people who have had a heart attack.
It is thought the gene controls inflammation in the arteries
supplying blood to the heart. A blockage here can trigger a
heart attack.
The research, by Toyko's Institute of Physical and Chemical
Research, is published in Nature.
The Japanese team hopes its work will prove to be a crucial
step towards a better understanding of the underlying causes
of heart attacks.
The scientists found that the key mutation is caused by just
one tiny change to the chemical components of DNA.
Their work is based on an analysis of DNA samples from more
than 2,600 heart attack patients.
These were compared with samples from 2,500 volunteers from
the general population.
The heart attack patients were significantly more likely to
carry a specific mutation in a gene that produces a protein
called galectin-2.
Galectin-2 is known to bind to a molecule that assists
inflammation - lymphtoxin-alpha (LTA) - and which is
released when a coronary artery ruptures.
Secretion effect
The gene mutation appears to change galectin-2, and in
turn to affect the amount of LTA that is secreted -
possibly boosting inflammation and increasing the risk of
a heart attack.
Professor Jeremy Pearson, of the British Heart Foundation,
said: "Over the last decade or so, scientists have
realised that the fatty deposits (atherosclerosis) which
accumulate in blood vessels are in fact due to a chronic
inflammatory disease.
"The current paper strengthens this view, with the novel
implication that genes which can control the release of
inflammatory proteins from cells may also be related to
heart disease risk."
Heart disease is the biggest killer in the western world,
claiming 110,000 lives each year in England alone.
A total of 275,000 people in England suffer a heart attack
each year.