Deafness gene has health benefit

11 May 2006

Researchers have concluded that a gene responsible for most cases of hereditary deafness may have an unexpected benefit: it may protect you from infection.

Stella Man, a member of David Kelsell's team at Queen Mary, University of London, spoke at the European Society of Human Genetics meeting in Amsterdam. She announced that the Cx26 protein encoded by a deafness gene might help wounds to heal.

Faster healing should help to prevent infection, for example by limiting bacteria's access to the blood after surgery, she says. "It's speculation, but maybe the Cx26 deafness mutations have been selected owing to their beneficial effects on wounds."

Researchers looked at the Cx26 protein in skin cells grown in the laboratory, to which they were able to add a mutated version of Cx26. When they added the aggressive bacteria Shigella to the cultures, cells containing the mutant gene were invaded by fewer bacteria.

They also found that, compared with normal cells, cells containing the mutant gene moved more rapidly around a Petri dish; such movement is a characteristic feature of cells involved in rapid wound healing.

The discovery is interesting not just for its insight into the preservation of the Cx26 mutation; it may also have pharmaceutical benefits. Man told the meeting that a drug developed to temporarily knock out normal Cx26 could be useful in improving wound healing.

Source: Nature
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