英國研究人員說，他們發(fā)現(xiàn)了一種控制人體血紅蛋白含量的基因,，這將有助于研制治療貧血癥等病癥的藥物,。
英國帝國理工學院研究人員11日在《自然遺傳學》雜志上報告說，他們對1．6萬人的基因圖譜和血紅蛋白含量進行了分析,。結果顯示,，基因TMPRSS6控制著人體內的血紅蛋白含量。研究對象中既有歐洲人也有亞洲人,，說明這一基因的作用在全球人群中廣泛存在,。
血紅蛋白是高等生物體內負責運送氧的一種蛋白質,，如果體內血紅蛋白含量過低,，就會出現(xiàn)貧血等癥狀。但如果血紅蛋白含量太高,，也會增加中風等疾病的風險,。
研究人員說，如果能研發(fā)出增強基因TMPRSS6活動性的藥物,，就可以提高人體內的血紅蛋白含量,，幫助治療貧血癥等。同樣,，如果能用藥物抑制該基因的作用,，也可以根據(jù)需要降低血紅蛋白的含量,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Nature Genetics 11 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/ng.456
Common variants in TMPRSS6 are associated with iron status and erythrocyte volume
Beben Benyamin1, Manuel A R Ferreira1, Gonneke Willemsen2, Scott Gordon1, Rita P S Middelberg1, Brian P McEvoy1, Jouke-Jan Hottenga2, Anjali K Henders1, Megan J Campbell1, Leanne Wallace1, Ian H Frazer3, Andrew C Heath4, Eco J C de Geus2, Dale R Nyholt1, Peter M Visscher1, Brenda W Penninx5, Dorret I Boomsma2, Nicholas G Martin1, Grant W Montgomery1 & John B Whitfield1
We report a genome-wide association study to iron status. We identify an association of SNPs in TPMRSS6 to serum iron (rs855791, combined P = 1.5 10-20), transferrin saturation (combined P = 2.2 10-23) and erythrocyte mean cell volume (MCV, combined P = 1.1 10-10). We also find suggestive evidence of association with blood hemoglobin levels (combined P = 5.3 10-7). These findings demonstrate the involvement of TMPRSS6 in control of iron homeostasis and in normal erythropoiesis.
1 Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
2 Netherlands Twin Register, Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
3 Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research, University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
4 Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine and Midwest Alcoholism Research Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
5 Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
