Researchers have found that high blood pressure, and many other diseases could be genetically linked to a common virus. It has been recently discovered that the cytomegalovirus (CMV,) which commonly effects adults, potentially affects diseases such as diabetes, stroke, kidney disease, hypertension and high blood pressure. CMV is a virus simular to herpes. It affects most adults in their life time, however not all will see symptoms. Once an adult has had CMV, the virus remains in the human body, until the immune system is compromised, where it re-emerges. It is determined now that there is a relationship between the virus, and restenosis in cardiac transplant patients (a disease where the arteries are blocked). What they examined was exactly how CMV affects the body, and how this linked to high blood pressure.
A study was done using mice, comparing what happens with normal and healthy mice, and those with a high cholesterol diet, when the CMV diet was introduced. The generally trend discovered was that when CMV was introduced, blood pressure rose. However it found that when coupled with other factors, that affect heart disease, it exponentially raised high blood pressure. The link was that CMV led to an increase in expression of the renin enzyme. This gene activates the renin-angiotensin system, which is responsible for high blood pressure. Scientist already know that virus’s have the ability to affect gene expression. What they found was that CMV virus further enhanced the expression of rennin. Links have also been discovered that associate CMV with a rise in the protein angiotensin 11. Increased expression of both renin and angiotensin 11 are important factors in hypertension in humans
While still in its early stages of research, potential long term benefits of this study include:
- further research into relationships between virus’s and their manipulation of the human gene expression on differing parts of the body.
- Anti viral drugs efficiency on immune system
- Viral infection on humans
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/07/080724150346.htm
Celia Sweeney 42060880
