British researchers have found a genetic target that could help in the treatment of a rare lung and heart condition, it was announced yesterday.
The gene regulates zinc levels in cells – using a protein called ZIP12 – and becomes active when pulmonary hypertension develops, according to the researchers at Imperial College, London.
They reported their findings in Nature yesterday.
Pulmonary hypertension is a lung condition caused by lack of oxygen – but the researchers say their findings offer hope for a related disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The findings come from a study of rats, bred to lack the ZIP12 gene. Researchers found the animals were protected from pulmonary hypertension at low levels of oxygen.
The scientists then found the gene is active in the lungs of people with pulmonary arterial hypertension – but not in healthy lungs.
The findings may also be applied to the care of people living in low oxygen climates – or undertaking expeditions.
Researcher Professor Martin Wilkins said: “Very little is known about the link between zinc transporters and cardiovascular disease. With this research we show that a gene involved in the way that zinc is transported within our cells is also involved in a chronic illness called pulmonary arterial hypertension.
"Our research provides a new opportunity to understand how pulmonary hypertension develops, and with this find new ways to treat this illness.”
The finding was welcomed by the British Heart Foundation.
Its associate medical director Professor Jeremy Pearson said: "Professor Wilkins’ group has found completely unexpectedly that a gene regulating zinc uptake into cells controls the development of pulmonary hypertension when oxygen levels are low, that the same gene is switched on in the lungs of people suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension, and that blocking it can protect rats from the disease.
"These exciting findings hold out the hope of designing completely novel drugs to tackle this serious disease.”
The zinc transporter ZIP12 regulates the pulmonary vascular response to chronic hypoxia Nature 10 August 2015 [abstract]
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