Private MD News

New cholesterol genes identified

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Cholesterol has been known to be a major factor in determining risk of heart disease for years, but doctors and researchers have only had a rudimentary understanding of how cholesterol levels are regulated in the body.

A major new study from the Germany has uncovered 20 genes, 12 of them previously unkown, that regulate and control cholesterol - a finding which may provide new insight into heart disease risk.

"The factors uncovered may also have potential as targets for new cholesterol-lowering drugs," said Dr Rainer Pepperkok.

The researchers found the genes by starving isolated human cells of cholesterol and then seeing which genes reacted. From that list they selectively turned genes off and on to see what effect they had on cholesterol inside the cells.

The balance of HDL and LDL cholesterol in the body has an influence on cardiovascular risk and doctors recommend cholesterol testing for people at risk of the disease. Some treatments to lower high cholesterol include statins and lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, but there are those who do not respond well to specific approaches. The research from Germany may offer new treatments in the future to help people lower their high cholesterol levels.