UT Southwestern researchers identify gene linked to inherited form of fatal lung disease

piggy submitted, created time 2 weeks 5 days (www.eurekalert.org)

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have determined that a mutation in a gene known for its role in defending the lungs against invading pathogens is responsible for some inherited cases of a lethal lung disease affecting older adults. The same mutation may also be associated with lung cancer, the researchers said.

This is the third gene that UT Southwestern scientists have linked with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF. The study appears online this week and in the January issue of American Journal of Human Genetics.

In the U.S

1 comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: fibrosis lung cancer lungs SFTPA2 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis lung disease

Terriers Join Fight Against a Killer Disease in Humans

Eric wu submitted, created time 1 year 1 week (www.livescience.com)

The West Highland White Terrier, called "Westies," gets a disease very similar to humans' idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which kills as many people as breast cancer. In humans and in dogs, the patient's lungs slowly turn to scar tissue.

However, pedigree dogs' breeding records are very well kept and their disease progresses faster, making them a good model for the disease. Although, understandably, not many dog owners are volunteering their sick dogs for animal testing, it is hard to get them to agree even to donate their dogs' bodies after they die.

1 comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: aging senescence animal testing model organisms dogs lungs pulmonary disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Gene expression patterns predict rapid decline in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients

claudia submitted, created time 1 year 7 months (www.eurekalert.org)

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease typically characterized by the slow but progressive onset of shortness of breath or cough. Most patients live about five years after diagnosis. However, according to a new study being published today in the online journal PLoS ONE, a subset of patients with a specific genetic profile has a much more rapid progression to complete pulmonary failure and death without a lung transplant.

Submit comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: Gene expression idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis