10/04/2010
Migraine Mutation Gene Found - There May be New Hope.
Migraine is often a disabling disease affecting approximately 37 million Americans. Approximately 20-25% of Migraineurs experience some type of aura with their attacks. A Canadian study recently explored a large multifamily line of Migraineurs with aura and identified a gene mutation on a KCNK18 potassium channel gene. Gene identification can play a key role in disease identification, management and treatment.
Aura is the second phase of a Migraine attack, but not all Migraineurs experience it. Visual aura symptoms can vary from flashing lights, wavy lines and blurry vision to temporary blindness. Other aura symptoms may include:
Aura is the second phase of a Migraine attack, but not all Migraineurs experience it. Visual aura symptoms can vary from flashing lights, wavy lines and blurry vision to temporary blindness. Other aura symptoms may include:
- olfactory hallucinations (smelling things that are not there)
- auditory hallucinations (seeing things that are not there)
- dizziness
- confusion
To learn more about the symptoms that may accompany a Migraine attack, take a look at this article, Migraine with Aura - What Is It?
The gene mutation, KCNK18, prevents the potassium channel TRESK protein from working properly. TRESK's role is just one part of nerve cell communication. In the large familial study group of Migraineurs, the TRESK mutation virtually stopped the potassium channels (KCNK18) gene from doing its job.
Identifying this gene mutation may eventually alllow esearchers to discover new medications that help Migraineurs with aura. This does offer Migraineurs new hope. But we need to be realistic and realize that this will not happen overnight.
The gene mutation, KCNK18, prevents the potassium channel TRESK protein from working properly. TRESK's role is just one part of nerve cell communication. In the large familial study group of Migraineurs, the TRESK mutation virtually stopped the potassium channels (KCNK18) gene from doing its job.
Identifying this gene mutation may eventually alllow esearchers to discover new medications that help Migraineurs with aura. This does offer Migraineurs new hope. But we need to be realistic and realize that this will not happen overnight.
____________
Resources:
Resources:
Lafrenière, Ronald G; Cader, M Zameel; Poulin, Jean-François; Andres-Enguix, Isabelle; Simoneau, Maryse; Gupta, Namrata; Boisvert, Karine; Lafrenière, François; McLaughlan, Shannon; Dubé, Marie-Pierre; Marcinkiewicz, Martin M; Ramagopalan, Sreeram; Ansorge, Olaf; Brais, Bernard; Sequeiros, Jorge; Pereira-Monteiro, Jose Maria; Griffiths, Lyn R; Tucker, Stephen J; Ebers, George; Rouleau1, Guy A. "A dominant-negative mutation in the TRESK potassium channel is linked to familial migraine with aura". Nature Medicine. September, 2010. doi:10.1038/nm.2216
Science News. Health and Medicine. Gene Linked to Common Form of Migraine Discovered. Science Daily. September, 27, 2010.
Thanks, and feel well,
Follow me on 
or 
or
© Nancy Harris Bonk, 2010.Last updated October 4, 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment