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Madras researchers uncover new genetic markers for coronary heat disease
Washington, April 2 (ANI): Researchers at the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation have uncovered new genetic markers that may help predict whether a person could suffer from coronary heart disease (CAD) in the future.
Carried out by Dr. M. Balasubramanyam and Dr. V. Mohan, the study shows that people who are pre-diabetic or who have Type 2 diabetes have much shorter telomeres, which prevent against genomic instability by obstructing chromosome ends from fraying and sticking to each other.
As such people are prone to CAD, an early test may indicate their susceptibility and help them alter their lifestyle to avoid the onset of the disease, say the researchers.
The researchers conducted some tests on pre-diabetics and Type 2 diabetics. They noted that telomere shortening increases as a person progresses from being a pre-diabetic to type-2 diabetic.
The investigators say that the reason for shortening of telomere may lie in the fact that diabetics are more susceptible to oxidation and inflammation. They believe that an early indication of shortening of telomeres may indicate the onset of diabetes, and ultimately be a predictor for CAD.
The study was presented at the Society for Experimental Biology’s Annual Main Meeting on Sunday. (ANI)
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