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High levels of iron in the liver are linked to a number of serious conditions, including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular and hepatic diseases. However, measuring iron in the liver is difficult and, until recently, could only be performed through an invasive biopsy.
Researchers from the University of Exeter, UK, as well as colleagues from the University of Westminster, London, at Lund University, Sweden, and Perspectum Diagnostics , in Owford, UK, have shown that genes regulating the metabolism of iron in the body are responsible for an excess of iron in the liver. These genes are the main cause of elevated iron levels in the liver of populations of European origin, especially Celtic, and suggest that it is most likely a systemic and non-systemic problem. linked to an organ. This finding may indicate simple strategies for reducing excesses. The research is presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today (Monday).
Dr. Hanieh Yaghootkar and his colleagues conducted genome-wide badociation studies on liver iron content measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 8200 volunteers who provided biological samples to the British Biobank. Genome-wide badociation studies are working by scanning markers in complete sets of DNA from a large number of people in order to find genetic variants badociated with a particular condition.
They discovered three independent genetic variants badociated with increased iron in the liver and involved in the production of hepcidin, a protein that regulates the entry of iron into the blood. The results were validated in 1500 people whose data had been collected in the Pan-European Consortium for Research into Patient Diabetes Stratification (DIRECT).
This is the first time such a study has been conducted on a large and unselected population. "
Dr. Hanieh Yaghootkar
Researchers used a genetic approach to explore the causal relationship between a higher waist-to-hip ratio and high iron content in the liver. This provided genetic evidence that higher central (abdominal) obesity was badociated with increased iron levels in the liver.
Animal studies indicate that fat cells trigger inflammation by macrophages, a type of white blood cell, which leads to improper handling of iron in the liver. We need to deepen the research on this badociation, but it is a plausible explanation of the phenomenon. "
Dr. Hanieh Yaghootkar
The fact that the mechanisms responsible for increasing iron in the liver are generalized and non-organ specific means that high levels of iron probably occur in other organs, including the brain. The researchers discovered an badociation between iron overload and many other disorders, including neuropsychiatric disorders. Because clinical manifestations of elevated iron concentrations are very diverse, a multi-specialty approach will be required to evaluate new therapies, including the treatment of hepcidin-treated patients to reduce iron accumulation.
MRI continues for 100,000 people in the Biobank study. "This will allow us to discover many other genetic factors badociated with this trait.We are also interested in such studies in other ethnic groups, because our current results are valid only for people of European descent" will conclude Dr. Yaghootar.
Professor Joris Veltman, Director of the Institute of Genetic Medicine at the University of Newcastle in Newcastle upon Tyne (United Kingdom), President of the ESHG Conference, said:
Iron overload is bad for the body and needs to be tightly regulated. The genetic study presented at the ESHG today reveals a key role for genes regulating iron metabolism, as well as a link between certain types of obesity and overload in iron. "
Source:
European Society of Human Genetics
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