Advanced Search
Current and Breaking News for Professionals, Consumers and Media

Click here to learn how to advertise on this site and for ad rates.

Disease Author: Weill Cornell Medical College Last Updated: Jun 18, 2009 - 2:31:34 PM



Mutant Gene May Play Role in Crohn's Disease

By Weill Cornell Medical College
Jun 18, 2009 - 2:29:30 PM



Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for our Ezine
For Email Marketing you can trust


Email this article
 Printer friendly page
Anti-Inflammatory Protein Lowered by Mutation

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Weill Cornell scientists have discovered how a genetic mutation contributes to Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel condition. Dr. Xiaojing Ma, professor of microbiology & immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College, and his team determined that the gene mutation, found in nearly half of Crohn's patients, hampers production of an anti-inflammatory protein, called interleukin-10 (IL-10).

New results published in a recent issue of Nature Immunology show that the mutant NOD2 gene leads to a lowered production of IL-10. Before now, it was unclear how the mutation influences Crohn's in humans, because mice with the mutation produce normal levels of IL-10.

Cells harvested from human patients with the mutation were found to produce less IL-10 in laboratory experiments. The researchers hope their findings will eventually lead to therapies that can overcome the IL-10 deficiency in Crohn's patients.

Subscribe to our FREE Ezine and be eligible for Health News, discounted products/services and coupons related to your Health. We publish 24/7.
HealthNewsDigest.com

Top of Page

HealthNewsDigest.com

Disease
Latest Headlines


+ Harvard Medical School's 2010 Annual Report on Prostate Diseases
+ CDC Study Finds U.S. Herpes Rates Remain High
+ Many Lung Diseases More Prevalent in Diverse Populations
+ Parkinson's Patients Have Trouble Recognizing Emotions
+ Mosquitoes--Not Birds--May Have Carried West Nile Virus Across U.S.
+ Anemia - Brown Recluse Spider Is Sometimes to Blame
+ Hepatitis B and C Remain Public Health Issue—Up to 5.3 Million Americans Infected
+ Shedding Light On Epilepsy
+ An Ibuprofen a Day Could Keep Parkinson's Disease Away
+ Link Between Inflammatory Disease and Premature Aging



Contact Us | Job Listings | Help | Site Map | About Us
Advertising Information | HND Press Release | Submit Information | Disclaimer

Site hosted by Sanchez Productions