Innate Immunity in Heart, Lung, and Blood Disease
DNA, the genetic blueprint of life, is nearly identical from one person to the next. However, researchers have found that the minor differences in DNA between people can dramatically influence health by causing a disease, making a person more susceptible to a disease, making the disease progress more rapidly, or making medications less effective. In contrast, other genetic variations can protect people from disease.
With this study, researchers hope to determine the influence of genetic variations on four of the most widespread and important diseases: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart attack, and deep vein thrombosis. Each of these diseases is influenced by the immune system and by inflammation. To study that influence, researchers will choose 50 immune system genes that probably play a major role in airway, lung, and blood vessel inflammation. Then they'll analyze those genes in 90 people and compare the variations between them and between people with and without one of the these four diseases.
This information will be the first step to finding the genes which cause, or cause people to be very susceptible to, these important diseases-the first step in finding a cure.
To learn more about this study, visit this Web site http://pga.bwh.harvard.edu/IIPGA/
Primary focus: Genetics |
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