Scientists have long known that asthma and allergies, which are on the rise in children in the developed world, are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. What has stumped them, though, is which genes are responsible. Now, in what is thought to be a scientific first, researchers at Johns Hopkins Childrens Center and the Johns Hopkins Institute of Genetic Medicine in Maryland have identified a genetic glitch they believe is at the root of a range of allergic disorders, from peanuts to pollen to bee stings. As a result, the team is now investigating whether common drugs already widely prescribed for other conditions can halt or reverse allergic symptoms, including asthma, in animals. This is a really huge breakthrough because we are finally getting at the root causes of these diseases, lead investigator Dr. Pamela Frischmeyer-Guerrerio, an immunologist at Johns Hopkins Childrens Center, said in an interview. That gives us a huge handle on how to develop new treatments. According to researchers, the culprit is aberrant signalling abnormal communication between cells in a protein called transforming growth factor-beta. The protein, also known as TGF-beta, has widespread effects on the body, including the maturation of infants stomachs in … Continue reading →

Public release date: 24-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Ekaterina Pesheva epeshev1@jhmi.edu 410-502-9433 Johns Hopkins Medicine Newly published research by investigators at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and the Johns Hopkins Institute of Genetic Medicine reveals that a faulty genetic pathway already known for its role in some connective tissue disorders is also a potent player in many types of allergies. Scientists have long understood that allergies are the result of a complex interplay between environment and genes, but now, in what investigators believe is a scientific first, a single genetic pathway has been implicated in an array of allergic disorders. A report on the study's findings, published July 24 in Science Translational Medicine, shows that aberrant signaling by a protein called transforming growth factor-beta, or TGF-beta, may be responsible for disrupting the way immune cells respond to common foods and environmental allergens, leading to a wide range of allergic disorders. TGF-beta is well known for its widespread effects in the body, from controlling how cells in a various organs grow and develop to overseeing how they communicate with one another. Mutations in the genes that lead to abnormal TGF-beta signaling are also keys to Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndromes, … Continue reading →

PHILADELPHIA A researcher from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and colleagues have identified the genetic mutation in Africans with HIV that puts them at a much higher risk for tuberculosis (TB) infections. Africans have some of the highest rates of TB in the world, and it has long been suspected that genetic susceptibility plays a role. However, establishing candidate genes across populations to gauge risk has remained a challenge. Now, a new study, published this week in the online Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that a commonly occurring polymorphism in an immune response gene called macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) confers almost a two-and-a-half fold increased risk for severe TB in patients from Uganda who were co-infected with HIV. Low-expressers of MIF were almost twice as common among people of African ancestry as Caucasians. These results help explain the increased incidence of TB among this group, said Rituparna Das, MD, PhD, an instructor in the division of Infectious Diseases at Penn Medicine. Moreover, this is especially important in people co-infected with HIV, who have a compromised immune system and also constitute the major public health challenge of controlling … Continue reading →

BROOMFIELD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ARCA biopharma, Inc. (ABIO), a biopharmaceutical company developing genetically-targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases, today announced the Steering Committee for GENETIC-AF, the Companys Phase 2B/3 trial evaluating GencaroTM (bucindolol hydrochloride) as a potential treatment for atrial fibrillation. The Steering Committee is comprised of experts in the field of cardiology and electrophysiology, particularly in clinical development. Stuart Connolly, MD, Director of the Division of Cardiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, has been appointed Chairman of the Steering Committee. William T. Abraham, MD, Director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, has been appointed co-Chair of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee of GENETIC-AF provides a balance of atrial fibrillation and heart failure clinical trials expertise, with each member being an expert in one or the other or both, said Dr. Michael R. Bristow, President and Chief Executive Officer of ARCA. We are delighted to have Dr. Connolly chair the Steering Committee. He brings a wealth of experience over a distinguished career in the field of electrophysiology, particularly in clinical trials in atrial fibrillation, which makes him a natural fit to help guide the development of Gencaro. Dr. Abraham is also an … Continue reading →

Newswise Newly published research by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and the Johns Hopkins Institute of Genetic Medicine reveals that a faulty genetic pathway already known for its role in some connective tissue disorders is also a potent player in many types of allergies. Scientists have long understood that allergies are the result of a complex interplay between environment and genes, but now, in what investigators believe is a scientific first, a single genetic pathway has been implicated in an array of allergic disorders. A report on the study's findings, published July 24 in Science Translational Medicine, shows that aberrant signaling by a protein called transforming growth factor-beta, or TGF-beta, may be responsible for disrupting the way immune cells respond to common foods and environmental allergens, leading to a wide range of allergic disorders. TGF-beta is well known for its widespread effects in the body, from controlling how cells in various organs grow and develop to overseeing how they communicate with one another. Mutations in the genes that lead to abnormal TGF-beta signaling are also keys to Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndromes, genetic conditions marked by blood vessel laxity and dangerous stretching of the aorta, the body's largest blood … Continue reading →

July 24, 2013 Newly published research by investigators at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and the Johns Hopkins Institute of Genetic Medicine reveals that a faulty genetic pathway already known for its role in some connective tissue disorders is also a potent player in many types of allergies. Scientists have long understood that allergies are the result of a complex interplay between environment and genes, but now, in what investigators believe is a scientific first, a single genetic pathway has been implicated in an array of allergic disorders. A report on the study's findings, published July 24 in Science Translational Medicine, shows that aberrant signaling by a protein called transforming growth factor-beta, or TGF-beta, may be responsible for disrupting the way immune cells respond to common foods and environmental allergens, leading to a wide range of allergic disorders. TGF-beta is well known for its widespread effects in the body, from controlling how cells in a various organs grow and develop to overseeing how they communicate with one another. Mutations in the genes that lead to abnormal TGF-beta signaling are also keys to Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndromes, genetic conditions marked by blood vessel laxity and dangerous stretching of the aorta, the body's … Continue reading →

HIV/AIDS Stem Cell Clinical Trial: Geoff Symonds, Chief Scientific Officer, Calimmune For more information, see the CIRM HIV/AIDS fact sheet at: http://www.cirm.ca.gov/about-stem-cells/hivaids-fact-sheet On July 9th 2013, Calimmune announced t... By: California Institute for Regenerative Medicine … Continue reading →

HIV/AIDS Stem Cell Clinical Trial: Louis Breton, CEO, Calimmune For more information, see the CIRM HIV/AID fact sheet at: http://www.cirm.ca.gov/about-stem-cells/hivaids-fact-sheet On July 9th 2013, Calimmune announced th... By: California Institute for Regenerative Medicine … Continue reading →