A research team led by Saitama Medical University has succeeded in discovering a new causative gene for mitochondrial disease in collaboration with Tohoku University and others.We have made progress toward elucidating the full picture of the causes that are not yet well understood.
This time, the research team conducted DNA analysis on 142 patients.As a result, there was an abnormality in a gene common to about 35% of patients.And it contained three previously unknown genes.Furthermore, it became clear that existing genes also contain many types of mutations that have never been seen before.
Identifying the causative gene is an extremely important step in developing a cure for the disease.Even for mitochondrial diseases caused by the complex intertwining of abnormalities in multiple genes, if all of them can be identified, the policy for establishing a treatment method can be clarified.It can be said that the results obtained this time will contribute to the elucidation of the whole picture.It will lead to understanding of diseases, improvement of diagnostic techniques, and establishment of treatment methods.