Ten new genes linked to lupus discovered

WASHINGTON: Researchers led by an Indian- origin scientist have successfully identified 10 new genes associated with lupus - a debilitating chronic autoimmune disease where the body's immune system becomes unbalanced and attacks its own tissues.

They analysed more than 17,000 human DNA samples collected from blood gathered from volunteers in four countries - South Korea, China, Malaysia and Japan.

Of those samples, nearly 4,500 had confirmed cases of lupus, while the rest served as healthy controls for the research.

From the analysis, researchers identified 10 distinct DNA sequence variants linked to lupus.

It can result in damage to many different body systems, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart and lungs.

"We know lupus has a strong genetic basis, but in order to better treat the disease we have to identify those genes," said Swapan Nath from Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) in US, who led the study.

One gene in particular, known as GTF2I, showed a high likelihood of being involved in the development of lupus, researchers said.

"Its genetic effect appears to be higher than previously known lupus genes discovered from Asians, and we surmise that it now may be the predominant gene involved in lupus," Nath said.

"These findings mark a significant advance in our knowledge base for lupus genes," said Judith James from OMRF.

"For every gene we identify, it brings us closer to uncovering the trigger for this puzzling disease," James said.

Understanding where and how the defects arise will allow scientists to develop more effective therapies specifically targeting those genes, researchers said.

The findings were published in the journal Nature Genetics.