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What Type of Gene Mutation Causes Asthma?

Asthma, a common respiratory disease, causes inflammation and constriction in the airway. It is estimated that 10 percent of the general population has asthma, according to Fundamentals of Respiratory Care. Although the causes of asthma are complex, it is clearly an inherited disorder for many.

  1. Causes

    • Asthma is brought about by an imbalance in inflammatory control. Genes that code for specific inflammatory agents and that are associated with excessive allergic response to various triggers have been connected to the development of asthma.

    Asthma Genes

    • Alterations in multiple gene regions, rather than a single gene, are responsible for the development of asthma. Regions of chromosome 5, chromosome 6, chromosome 20 and many other genes have been implicated in the disease.

    Considerations

    • The identification of the specific genetic processes of asthma are complicated by the interactions of multiple defective and overexpressive genes. However, researchers are getting closer to a more complete picture of the genetic processes of asthma.

    Significance

    • In the genetically susceptible host, allergens, infections, environmental exposures and other unknown triggers can produce a range of asthmatic responses. The onset of symptoms can occur in childhood or adulthood.

    Future

    • Knowledge of the human genome is being developed to better understand the genes that are responsible for causing disease. As the genetic basis for asthma continues to be explored, treatment options will continue to evolve.

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