Cancer and Heart Disease Link
Dateline: 09/09/99
Cancer and heart disease are perhaps two of the most feared maladies in modern society. New research by scientists at Emory University in Atlanta, GA sheds light on a new class of enzymes that may be active in both diseases. The enzymes convert oxygen to a destructive form called reactive oxygen and appear to play a role in abnormal cell growth in both diseases. Reactive oxygen has been associated with damage to cells as well as damage to DNA.
The researchers studied Mox1, a member of the new class of enzymes. They found that it serves as a growth promoter for cells by producing the reactive oxygen. The oxygen in turn causes the cells to divide quicker than normal. This abnormal growth is seen in some forms of heart disease and commonly in cancer.
Abnormal cell growth can have devastating effects:
- In cancer it can result in the formation of tumors.
- In heart disease it can result in the formation of plaques on vessel walls.
In the experiment, the scientists cloned the Mox1 gene and inserted the gene into mice cells. Once inserted, the cells began to divide more quickly taking on characteristics of abnormal cells. When these cells were inserted into mice, tumors resulted.
Prior to this research it was not known if reactive oxygen was a causative agent for cancer or a by-product of cancer. This research demonstrates that the reactive oxygen can be a cause of cancer and the Mox1 enzyme (or a very similar one) can produce the reactive oxygen.
Interestingly, the scientists also found that by removing the reactive oxygen from the cells, the processes could be reversed. The scientists are hopeful that this will lead to new approaches to treating cancer and heart disease through drugs that block the production of reactive oxygen or remove the reactive oxygen once it is produced.
Furthermore, researchers in the field believe that scientists are getting close to developing practical ways to treat abnormal cell growth in a variety of ailments.
What do you think? What implications might this discovery have? Are we finding that cancer and heart disease have more in common than previously thought? Come on over to the Biology Forum to share your thoughts, feelings, and opinions. 'Til next time...
For additional information see:
- Enzyme Discovery May Link Processes In Cancer And Heart Disease
ScienceDaily report adapted from a news release issued by Emory University Health Sciences Center. - Cell Biology NetLinks
Links and information pertaining to cell biology.
