Department of Internal Medicine UI helps discover genetic subgroup of immune system condition  William M. Nauseef, M.D. Professor Division of Infectious Diseases Director, Inflammation Program
9/18/2009 Researchers in Canada and the United States, including the University of Iowa, have identified a new genetic subgroup of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Nearly one million people have the condition, which typically makes the immune system unable to fight off infection and also can affect the gastrointestinal system. The gene defect was found in a gene called NCF4, which codes for part of an oxidase enzyme complex, p40phox, not previously reported as a cause of CGD. The results were published in the August issue of the journal Blood and have implications for diagnosing autosomal recessive CGD in people with gastrointestinal problems who may not have the typical immune system problems. The study's senior author was Mary Dinauer, M.D., Ph.D., at the Indiana School of Medicine with significant contributions from William Nauseef, M.D., UI professor of internal medicine. For more information, see this news release issued by the Chronic Granulomatous Disorder Research Trust. |
