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Crohn’s Disease Linked To More Genetic Variations

Posted on: Monday, 30 June 2008, 12:05 CDT

Scientists revealed on Sunday new research the shows Crohn’s disease to be more complex than previously thought.

Researchers found a total of 32 genetic variations that accounted for Crohn’s disease, thus almost tripling the number of genetic regions implicated in the disease.

Scientists said there were probably many more that are still undiscovered.

"These explain only about a fifth of the genetic risk, which implies that there may be hundreds of genes implicated in the disease, each increasing susceptibility by a small amount," said Jeffrey Barrett from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at the University of Oxford, who led the research.

Published in the journal Nature Genetics, the study found surprising new links between the condition and other common diseases such as asthma, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

Previous research had found 11 genes and loci that increase susceptibility to the disease, but the most recent research was the result of an international collaboration of researchers who identified an additional 21 new genes and loci.

"Whilst this study shows the power of genome wide association studies to reveal the genetics behind common diseases, it also highlights the complexity of diseases such as Crohn's," Barrett said.

Crohn’s disease is the most common form of inflammatory bowel disease. It affects 1 in 500 and 1 in 1000 people within the UK. As much as 80 percent of people suffering from the disease will require surgery at some point.

The first two Crohn's disease susceptibility genes were discovered in 2001, followed by a third in 2006.

"It's too early for us to say how Crohn's disease and many of these other diseases, including asthma, are linked at a biological level," says Dr Miles Parkes, Consultant Gastroenterologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital and the University of Cambridge, who also worked on the study. "However, we are building up a picture of the biology underlying Crohn's disease, and the more we understand about the underlying biology of these diseases, the better equipped we will be to treat them.

Parkes added that the new research may lead to identifying targets for new drugs and therapies.

Modern biotech drugs like Abbott Laboratories' Humira, UCB's Cimzia and Johnson & Johnson's Remicade can help, but many patients end up needing surgery.

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On the Net:

Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics

Nature Genetics

Crohn’s disease - Wikipedia

Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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