| |
Saturday, August 7, 1999
New gene may help avoid heart transplants
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
SYDNEY, AUG 6: Heart transplants could soon be replaced by a newly discovered gene which helps rebuild muscle tissue, Australian scientists said on Thursday. In a world first, a team at Sydney's Victor Chang Institute said it had isolated a growth gene which can strengthen muscle cells. According to team leader Robert Graham, the new-found gene produces a bio-chemical ``pathway'' called Growth Factor 1.Scientists believe the new gene will also bolster the body's own immune system helping to overcome the problem of tissue rejection associated with transplants. Graham said the risk of side-effects was minimal because the growth factor was produced naturally by the body, but there was a possible danger of stimulating the growth of tumour cells. Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Top
|
|
|
Printer-friendly page |
