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Home arrow Holyrood news arrow News categories arrow Health & Wellbeing (HCL07) arrow Researchers identify asthma gene defect
Researchers identify asthma gene defect Print E-mail
Monday, 18 June 2007

A gene defect that affects the day-to-day management of asthma for roughly one in four asthma sufferers has been identified by researchers at the University of Dundee.

The Dundee research team, who last year identified the gene that causes eczema and associated forms of asthma, discovered that defects on the same gene can make asthma sufferers three to six times more likely to have to use their inhaler every day.

Now the team, which includes asthma physician Dr Somnath Mukhopadhyay, scientist Dr Colin Palmer and genetic skin disease expert Professor Irwin McLean, has identified how the gene can determine the amount of treatment that a child or young adult with asthma needs on a day-to-day basis.

The gene, which produces the protein filaggrin, is normally found in large quantities in the outermost layers of the skin and helps provide a protective layer that keeps water in and foreign organisms out. However, for those with filaggrin mutations foreign substances can easily enter the skin, which can lead to eczema and, in some people, asthma.

Mukhopadhyay said: “Our findings show that these gene defects that affect the skin barrier which filaggrin provides has a significant effect on day-to-day asthma morbidity and medication use.

“If these genetic skin barrier defects directly exacerbate asthma, young asthma sufferers who show these barrier defects may respond better to allergen withdrawal strategies, which would lead to a significant long-term reduction in asthma medication requirements."
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Last Updated ( Monday, 18 June 2007 )
 
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