Fine Tuning Medical Treatment to Personal Genetics

Matching Tumors to Drugs is a Technology Review article which discusses personalized medicine; the idea that treatment can be tailored to one's individual genetic make-up. Malignant tumors vary and the variations hace something to do with genetic variations particular to individuals. Matching the type of chemotherapy administered so as to maximize effective treatment is the goal of personalized medicine.

Cancer drugs currently used are effective destroyers of cancer cells. The problem is they alo kill healthy non-cancerous cells. Making drugs that are more patient specific can diminish undesireable side effects. For example, mutations are specific to indivduals. Yours may differ from mine. By using mechanisms, already existing within our bodies, to regulate the expression of specific genes we can counter the effects of harmful mutations. An example would be a class of proteins known as inhibitors which, as the name implies, inhibit the expression of genes coding for another type of protein. If that other type has been corrupted by mutations to its coding sequence then inhibition of that gene's expression can avert deleterious effects on an individual's health. Perfecting methods designed to alter genetic effects according to one's individual needs is the goal of personalized medicine.

Effects of Mitochondrial Mutations

Malfunctioning Mitochondria May Cause Heart Disease, an article appearing in Wired, cites a study whose results were published in Science. Researchers altered a gene found in mitochondria of mice and in so doing discovered that the hearts of affected mice quickly degraded and and lost function. They believe this is evidence of a causal connection between heart disease and impairment of mitochondrial DNA which normally would be induced naturally through the ageing process.

ATP, a molecule essential to the transmission of energy in cellular processes, is generated within organelles called mitochondria. Mitochondria also contain DNA having only seventeen genes in humans. Yet despite the small number of genes vital functions are compromised by mutations impairing coding capacities.

The study in question correlates heart disease to high rates of mitochondrial mutations. But effects of mutations may not be limited to heart disease. Other diseases associated with ageing such as diabetes and Alzheimer's and even cancer may be traced to mutations found in the mitochondrial genome.

Can damage to mitochondrial genes be limited? Possibly. A compound known as resveratrol has been found to prevent diabetes in mice and may help humans as well.

Beneficial Prions

Prions Show Their Good Side is a Science Daily article revealing what may be a positive aspect of proteins knowm as prions. Prions are known as disease agents which have been implicated in mad cow disease and a disease afflicting humans called Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Gerald Zamponi and other researchers published a paper in the Journal of Cell Biology showing their finding that prions which are functioning normally may keep neurons alive by preventing hyperactivity. This would indicate that prions have beneficial functions unless they undergo abnormal conformations.

If interested in more details about prions this paper has them.

Benefits of Garlic

The Science Daily article titled Garlic Boosts Hydrogen Sulfide To Relax Arteries, reveals benefits that come from eating garlic. The article notes that a paper about the cited research was published in PNAS.

Data obtained from research involving rats indicates that garlic compounds interact with red blod cells. This leads to the release of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) which in turn enables blood vessels to relax. This effect makes garlic a defense against high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. The benefits are linked to the amount of hydrogen sulfide produced. The freeing up of hydrogen sulfide within cells has been linked to substances known as polysulfides found in garlic. Specifically acted on are smooth muscle cells which hydrogen sulfide induces to relax through cellular membrane channels.

Polysulfides from garlic increase the production of hydrogen sulfide within our bodies which then leads to enhanced protection of our cardiovascular systems.