Gene link found between heart attack and diabetes

Melbourne-based gene discovery company Autogen has discovered a new link between heart disease and diabetes. The discovery provides new targets for drug therapy.

More than 75% of Australia's diabetics die of heart disease - a rate two to three times higher than for the general population. Until now, doctors have only been able to treat heart disease indirectly, using drugs for risk factors such as a high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

Autogen has discovered a gene, Tanis, which codes for a receptor protein located in the liver. Autogen believes that overproduction of this protein plays a role in both type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The company has discovered that heart disease may be linked to Tanis via an inflammatory-response protein called serum amyloid A (SAA).

"Both the Tanis receptor itself, and its role in cardiovascular disease through the SAA protein show great potential as targets for new treatments," said Professor Greg Collier, Chief Operating Officer at Autogen.

"Heart disease plays such a large part in the increased risk of mortality associated with diabetes, and improvements in treatment will significantly lower deaths. A breakthrough like this is a real opportunity to speed up the search for better treatments."

Diabetes currently affects 120 million people worldwide, and one million people in Australia. The worldwide figure is expected to increase to 240 million by 2010 and 300 million by 2025.