PET PET
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
Become a Friend Donate
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • People
    • Press Office
    • Our History
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Friend of PET
    • Volunteer
    • Campaigns
    • Writing Scheme
    • Partnership and Sponsorship
    • Advertise with Us
  • Donate
    • Become a Friend of PET
  • BioNews
    • News
    • Comment
    • Reviews
    • Elsewhere
    • Topics
    • Glossary
    • Newsletters
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Previous Events
  • Engagement
    • Policy and Projects
      • Resources
    • Education
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • My Account
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements
PETBioNewsNewsGene clue to irregular heartbeats

BioNews

Gene clue to irregular heartbeats

Published 9 June 2009 posted in News and appears in BioNews 357

Author

BioNews

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
CC BY 4.0
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.

US researchers have pinpointed a genetic variation associated with abnormal heartbeats, a finding that could help identify people at risk of sudden heart failure. The team, based at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), has shown that different versions of a gene called NOS1AP are linked to unusually long or short 'QT...

US researchers have pinpointed a genetic variation associated with abnormal heartbeats, a finding that could help identify people at risk of sudden heart failure. The team, based at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), has shown that different versions of a gene called NOS1AP are linked to unusually long or short 'QT' intervals - an electrical measure of part of a person's heartbeat. The study, published online in the journal Nature Genetics, could lead to new preventative measures to help save the lives of people at risk of sudden cardiac death.


The QT interval measures the length of time it takes the heart to recover from the 'lub' part of the 'lub-dub' pattern of a heartbeat, which corresponds to the pumping of the two bottom chambers of the heart. Previous studies have shown that people with an unusually long or short QT interval are at higher risk of sudden cardiac death. Many different genetic and environmental factors are thought to contribute to irregular heartbeats and the risk of heart failure.


Working with scientists from Munich, Germany, and the long-term US Framingham Heart Study, the JHU researchers set out to identify genetic variations that might influence the QT interval. They studied around 1,800 US and 6,700 German adults, and identified those whose QT interval length was either shorter or longer than the normal range. They then looked at DNA samples from these individuals and a control group, focusing on common genetic variations known as SNPs . One particular SNP, associated with the NOS1AP gene, appears to account for about 1.5 per cent of the QT interval variation between people - implying that several other genes are involved.


The NOS1AP gene was already known to play an important role in nerve cells, but in the latest study, the JHU scientists showed that it is also active in the left ventricle (lower chamber) of the heart. 'In addition to finding a genetic variant that could be of clinical value for sudden cardiac death, this study demonstrates how valuable large-scale genomics studies can be in detecting novel biological targets', said team leader Aravinda Chakravarti. The scientists hope that eventually, being able to identify people predisposed to abnormal heart rhythms could help save lives, through the prescription of drugs that regulate heartbeat and, in some cases, using implantable electrical devices.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« European court denies UK prisoner's IVF request

Data-Label The UK's Leading Supplier Of Medical Labels & Asset Labels

RetiringDentist.co.uk The UK's Leading M&A Company.
easyfundraising
amazon

This month in BioNews

  • Popular
  • Recent
13 June 2022 • 2 minutes read

Drop in diversity of blood stem cells leads to old-age health issues

6 July 2022 • 1 minute read

Frozen embryo transfers linked to high blood pressure in pregnancy

5 July 2022 • 1 minute read

Anorexia in pregnancy linked to increased risk of complications

5 July 2022 • 2 minutes read

Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment does not increase risk of recurrence

5 July 2022 • 1 minute read

No difference between fresh and frozen sperm for IUI

4 July 2022 • 2 minutes read

Shorter IVF protocol reduces risk of OHSS

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856

Subscribe to BioNews and other PET updates for free.

Subscribe
PET PET

PET is an independent charity that improves choices for people affected by infertility and genetic conditions.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
Wellcome
Website redevelopment supported by Wellcome.

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • BioNews
  • Events
  • Engagement
  • Jobs & Opportunities
  • Contact Us

BioNews

  • News
  • Comment
  • Reviews
  • Elsewhere
  • Topics
  • Glossary
  • Newsletters

Other

  • My Account
  • Subscribe

Website by Impact Media Impact Media

  • Privacy Statement
  • Advertising Policy
  • Thanks and Acknowledgements

© 1992 - 2022 Progress Educational Trust. All rights reserved.

Limited company registered in England and Wales no 07405980 • Registered charity no 1139856