First heart attack gene found
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 walls of the arteries of plaque buildup that can impair blood flow and cause heart attacks, said Dr. Eric J. Topol, the Cleveland Clinic, heads a team that discovered the gene. This is the first gene for heart attack, Topol said. All those who have this genetic mutation is likely to have the disease.If you do not have this gene in this family, feel free to develop the disease.A report on Friday was the discovery in the journal Science. Topol said his team, the genes of about 100 members of a family where heart disease and stroke, Iowa has been analyzed
and to a past generation. They found that family members with heart disease is a MEF2A gene was missing some key pieces of DNA. This effect seems to thicken and clog arteries. There is more work to determine whether MEF2A plays a role in heart disease among people outside the family where the mutation is inherited.The gene produces a protein that regulates other genes and Topol said those will now be analyzed to see if they can be linked generally to heart disease.We learned from other genetic studies, which begins once the first gene to unlock the whole story, says Topol.