Scientists at Manchester University have revealed that they have
discovered 14 genes that lead to rheumatoid arthritis, making a major
breakthrough in their bid to find a cure for the condition.
Lifestyle and environmental factors, such as smoking, diet, pregnancy
and infection may cause the complicated disease, but a person’s genetic
make-up also influences their susceptibility.
Manchester
University scientists believe they now know most of the disease-causing
genes with the latest research identifying ones specific to the female
X-chromosome.
The discovery, published in the journal Nature
Genetics, could explain why three times more women than men develop the
illness and scientists can use these findings to try to stop the disease
from developing.
“This work will have a great impact on the
treatment of arthritis. We have already found three genes that are
targets for drugs, leaving 43 genes with the potential for drug
development, helping the third of patients who fail to respond well to
current medications,” the
Daily Express quoted study author Dr Stephen Eyre as saying.
“The
genetic findings can help divide patients into smaller groups with more
similar types of rheumatoid arthritis and assist in the allocation of
therapies,” he noted.
The team studied 27,000 DNA samples to
identify the new genes and move closer to improving the lives of
rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
Professor Alan Silman, medical
director of Arthritis Research UK, added: “We hope that this research
will lead to a greater understanding of the disease and allow us to
develop targeted drug treatments for the people currently living with
rheumatoid arthritis.
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