A new publication in the Science Transitional Medicine journal outlines a study which assesses effectiveness of a prospective new treatment for pulmonary atrial hypertension (PAH) conditions. PAH is a rare disorder wherein blood pressure within the lungs is chronically and progressively elevated. The condition is thought to be inherited or simply bad luck, with a survival rate of 34% after 5 years. Although there has been significant progress in treating PAH in the past 20 years, current treatments are limited and do not stop progression of the condition.
Chelladurai et al. at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research conducted a study in June 2022 which focused on using new technologies to target and control specific developmental genes in order to prevent progression of the condition at the source. Developmental genes are specific DNA codes that control fetal growth, wound healing and development throughout life. Coupled with medications, this new “gene-controlling” treatment managed to slow progression of PAH by preventing degeneration of the blood vessels which in turn also improved blood pressure of the vessels in question. The results of the study suggest that reactivating specific developmental genes may be beneficial in treating the progression of PAH.
Read the article available at: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abe5407
