Gene protects lungs from smoking damage

U.S. researchers said Monday a master gene that helps shield the lungs from pollutants could be a key to why some people are less susceptible to lung diseases.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have found that the gene is activated in response to environmental hazards, such as cigarette smoke. It then turns on 50 other antioxidant and pollutant-detoxifying genes to protect the lungs from developing emphysema and other conditions.Disruption of the gene caused earlier onset and more severe emphysema in a strain of mice that is normally resistant to emphysema related to cigarette smoke, the researchers said..Pulmonary emphysema is a major symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, the fourth most frequent cause of death in the United States. Incidences of COPD are rising in the country and also are predicted to reach worldwide epidemic proportions.”With this new gene and environmental interaction discovery, in the future we may be able to identify people who are genetically predisposed to developing lung diseases — not just COPD — that are caused by environmental factors,” said Shyam Biswal, the senior researcher.(Source: United Press, Nov 2004)