Researchers at Michigan State University, working with researchers from Stanford University, have made a new discovery that could help scientists better understand a rare genetic lung disorder affecting children. The team studied the TBX4 gene, which plays an important role in early lung development, and found that changes linked to the gene may contribute to pulmonary hypertension in children.
Understanding the Condition
Pulmonary hypertension caused by TBX4 gene changes is a rare condition that can place significant strain on a child’s heart because the heart must pump harder to move blood through narrowed or altered lung blood vessels. The researchers used a new disease model and three-dimensional imaging technology to examine how the condition affects lung structure.
The team found that excess muscle tissue builds up in multiple areas of the lungs, including blood vessels and the airways responsible for carrying oxygen in and out of the lungs. According to Dr. Ripla Arora, an associate professor at the MSU College of Human Medicine, the discovery helps explain why the disease can worsen over time and provides a clearer picture of the biological changes occurring inside affected lungs.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
