Tinnitus in the Genes? - Belgian researchers make significant strides in identifying a gene
Source: The Times OnlineBelgian� scientists have made a breakthrough discovery about a gene - known as 'TGBF1' that appears to contribute to the development of otosclerosis.� Otosclerosis is� known to be one of the commonest causes of moderate deafness in adults,� but is also associated with tinnitus in many people who suffer from otosclerosis. It seems that a 'variant' form of the normal� 'TGBF1' gene in combination with environmental factors predisposes to development of otosclerosis.
The research was presented by Ms Melissa Thys of the University of Antwerp, at the European Society of Human Genetics conference,� who said: "The gene, in which the variant is located, points to a pathway that contributes to the disease. This may be a lead for better forms of treatment in the future. Currently the best option is an operation."
�The original study was carried out in Belgium and the Netherlands and Ms Thys' research group looked at 630 patients with otosclerosis compared with the same number of unaffected healthy controls. They found that the� 'protective' variant of TGBF1 was carried by 7 per cent of healthy subjects, compared with only 2.5 per cent of the otosclerosis group. These findings have also been further confirmed in a French study of 457 patients and 497 controls.
Ms Thys also reported that they were also able to show that a more active and distinct variant of the TGBF1 gene appeared to confer protection against otosclerosis.
This important finding is a further development in the genetics field which increases our understanding about the factors involved in how tinnitus develops. Otosclerosis usually starts in people in their twenties and thirties affecting about one in 250 people. In the longer term these findings could lead to the tailored designing of drugs that could stop the development of otosclerosis. This treatment could reduce the high risk of tinnitus and the accompanying lower frequency hearing loss.
